This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. A CPS functions as a member of the interdisciplinary medical team and serves as a mid-level provider to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for medication therapy management services. The incumbent has full time responsibility for providing expert pharmacotherapy services to optimize patient response and resource utilization for professional staff under approved Scope of Practice. The incumbent carries out the following duties and responsibilities: After the establishment of a working diagnosis and initial treatment plan by the patient's provider(s) and in accordance with accepted standards of practice or the pharmacologic management guidelines established by local, VISN-8 and National committees: Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Monitors therapy on an ongoing basis to assess therapeutic outcomes, adverse effects and compliance. 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 laboratory or test results to discuss the plan of therapy including changes in medication therapy, referral to primary care or specialty provider. Analyzes laboratory data to rule out drug interferences and to modify drug dosing, when necessary. Initiates, adjusts and renews medications as approved in the individual Scope of Practice, except for controlled substances and chemotherapeutic agents. Takes appropriate measures to ensure that therapy is continued for those patients who are followed at San Juan VAMC, its affiliated clinics and at other VA facilities. Adjusts medication regimens based upon pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data. Interviews and/or evaluates patients upon admission and daily during hospital stay for appropriateness of pharmacological therapy and makes a pharmaceutical care plan will be documented in the pharmacy initial assessment or progress note. Interviews patients to determine medication history for potential drug interactions, therapeutic duplications, efficacy of current medication regimens, compliance patterns and/or drug reactions and acts to resolve identified problems. Participates in rounds with their assigned medical team and provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and formulary issues. Exercises Antibiotic Stewardship Program initiatives. Assesses need for prophylactic therapies including DVT and GI prophylaxis and immunizations. Reviews available medication profiles for appropriateness, contraindications to drug use, side effects, relevant laboratory data, evidence of drug use/misuse/abuse, compliance, patient education needs, therapeutic duplication, poly-pharmacy, allergies, adverse drug reactions, drug-drug-interactions, drug-food interactions, and cost-minimization. Identifies drug-induced problems that may be affecting the patient and communicates these findings to the patient's provider. Recommends therapeutic alternatives based upon the patient care assessment and desired outcome, drug safety, efficacy, and cost to optimize drug product selection. Reviews age/gender specific monitoring of therapy, reviews for poly-pharmacy, dose adjustments, and appropriateness of therapy. Complies with appropriate credentialing process to maintain Scope of Practice. Work Schedule: Main Tour of Duty: Monday-Friday 3:00pm - 11:30pm and/or 11:00pm - 7:00am. Requires working weekends, holidays and on-call. May rotate shifts including first shift. Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: INPATIENT CLINICAL PHARMACY SPECIALIST WITH SCOPE Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Education 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. 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. 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. GS-13 Requirement: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Specialized experience includes: Handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations; Reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; Processing and filling medication orders; Interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; Reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; Contacting providers as appropriate; Documenting recommendations and interventions; Providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; Taking health and medication histories; Performing medication reconciliation; Providing drug information; Assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; Documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); Assisting in medical emergencies; Providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: required at the GS-13 grade level: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced skill and monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies comma including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Must be proficient in written and spoken Spanish. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15 dated June 7, 2012.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 Physical Requirements: The work of this position involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residences or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 321-370-3040
• Email: [email protected]