The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist works independently under the Associate Chief of Pharmacy and Chief of Pharmacy Service and keeps them apprised of trends/problems associated with their assigned activities. Primary responsibility of the Mental Health Clinical Pharmacist is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct interaction with patients & collaboration with providers to pursue optimal medication therapy management for patients with psychiatric disorders.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and acts as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing mental status exams and measurement based care, as well as ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate. Serves as a primary provider in the Mental Health Service to initiate, modify or discontinue patient's medication therapy. Provides patient-specific drug therapy modifications to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and polypharmacy while providing cost-effective treatment. Is actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for cost effective drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Orders, performs, reviews and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility procedures. Is able to apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. Has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Assists with medication use evaluations and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics activities. Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Performs drug conversions and assists with drug shortages when needed. All documentation will be signed within the appropriate time frame as set for by the BC VAMC. Education and Research Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other medical center personnel as required. Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Is able to accurately assess patient comprehension. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. May serve as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established protocols. Assists in new employee orientation sessions as scheduled. Assists in the development of proposals for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services. Serves as a resource for advanced drug information support and expertise in mental health to other pharmacists and staff. Drug Information Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. Interpersonal Communications Works and communicates effectively with others while remaining courteous, tactful, and understanding when interacting with others, even in potentially difficult or volatile situations. Treats patient, team members, other facility employees and visitors with respect. Responds to needs appropriate for the service in a courteous and timely manner. Other Performs administrative/continuous quality improvement activities as assigned/directed by supervisor or Chief of Pharmacy Service. Performs all other duties as assigned by the supervisor or Chief of Pharmacy Service. Cleans durable medical equipment according to procedure manual. Travels to remote locations to provide services to Veterans; therefore valid state's driver's license is required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 730am-4pm Telework: Ad-hoc with Supervisor Approval Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91415-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Education: (1) Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). Licensure: Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Completion of a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY-2 Mental Health focused residency. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard, dated June 7, 2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. The physical demands of the work includes moderate lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 44 lbs., pushing and pulling of large medication carts, light lifting of under 15 pounds, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required), walking up to 4 hours, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, kneeling, repeated bending/stooping, climbing, use of legs and arms, operation of vehicle/motorized cart, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, specific visual requirement, ability to read fine print on labels, depth perceptions, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), clear speech, and emotional stability.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Battle Creek VA Medical Center 5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037 US
• Name: Shawn Hinen
• Phone: (260) 258-4168
• Email: [email protected]