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

Major Duties of GS13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Internal Medicine) Major Duties of GS13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Internal Medicine) include but not limited to: Conducting comprehensive medical and medication histories from patients and/or their records and summarizing the significant findings as documented in the medical record to ensure safe and effective care Evaluating drug therapy through direct patient care involvement with clinical assessment of subjective and objective findings relating to patient's response(s) to drug therapy Developing, recommending , assessing, and monitoring most effective, least toxic and most therapeutic plans utilizing economical pharmacological treatment under scope of practice Prescribing medications, including initiation, continuation, discontinuation, and adjusting therapy (based upon the established Formulary and published Criteria for Use or Treatment Guidelines) as approved within Scope of Practice Initiating, modifying, renewing, refilling, or discontinuing medication therapy under scope of practice. The CPS will NOT write or renew any controlled substances. Ordering labs and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy under scope of practice. Documenting, reporting, and monitoring of medication errors, adverse drug events (ADEs), and medication allergies per policy. Interacting directly with patients and/or caregivers, providing oral and written counseling on their medication therapy Reconciling patients' medication orders Documenting encounters and interventions in the patient electronic medical record. Performing consultative services Assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews, prior authorization drug requests, and medication usage evaluations. Participating in VAMHCS,VISN, and and VHA National committees as well as interdisciplinary team meetings/clinical rounds/huddles representing Pharmacy Service as assigned Serving as preceptor to students of affiliated schools and Pharmacy Practice residents Performing other duties as assigned VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30 pm (All shifts are determined or approved by management and based on service needs). Telework: Position suitable for Telework. Telework eligibility and work hours permissible to telework are under the discretion of management at all times. Functional Statement #:000000 EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Clinical Pharmacy Specialists are essential employees and follow VA Maryland Health Care System guidance's, rules, policies, directives, and/or other notifications for essential employees during emergency and/or inclement weather.

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. 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. 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/ 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) 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). Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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: 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 in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters Preferred Experience: PGY1 Residency and 2 or more years of clinical experience in or related to internal medicine, surgery, critical care or emergency medicine OR PGY1 and Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification (critical care, pharmacotherapy, and/or emergency medicine) OR PGY1 Residency and PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in internal medicine, surgery, critical care or emergency medicine OR Pharmacists with 2 years of clinical experience in or related to internal medicine, surgery, critical care or emergency medicine. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Physical demands of the position require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, pushing and pulling of large carts. The job may include significant time at a computer terminal.

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 VA Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Lacreasha Blanding
• Phone: 410-605-7000
• Email: [email protected]