The Associate Chief of Pharmacy - Special Programs is responsible for providing supervision, professional, administrative, and clinical leadership and guidance to multiple, diverse pharmacy programs at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. The incumbent functions at the higher level with a significant scope and complexity and a high level of administrative independence.

Duties

Duties of the position include but aren't limited to: Administration/Supervision/Leadership 1. Responsible for the management of all programs under the purview of reporting programs. Manages all special program activities, ensuring collaboration with appropriate stakeholders. 2. Responsible for the management of: a. Pharmacy formulary b. Informatics and program analysis c. Inventory and procurement, in collaboration with respective operational leaders d. Quality and regulatory compliance e. Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and PDMP (PMOP) f. Antimicrobial stewardship 3. Ensure compliance with all Joint Commission, VACO, union contract, EEO regulations, and local standards and guidelines as well as federal and state laws as staffing and resources permit. 4. Responsible for Joint Commission oversight within respective managed areas. 5. Responsible for training and competencies of pharmacy staff. 6. Review all concurrent monitors for reporting programs as directed by the Chief, Pharmacy Service. The incumbent is responsible for planning and updating new or existing monitors in order to ensure that quality of service is maintained. Clinical Activities: 1. Responsible for all clinical pharmacy activities within the special programs section of pharmacy, including oversight of pharmacists' scopes of practice, clinical pharmacy guidelines, evidence-based medication utilization, and cost-effective care. 2. Serves as a consultant within Pharmacy Services and with other facility healthcare staff in monitoring and evaluating healthcare delivery to patients. 3. Assesses, plans, and evaluates the scope and quality of pharmacy programs to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of pharmacy services and the overall delivery of healthcare. 4. Provides accurate and unbiased information to the professional and health care providers in order to resolve drug related questions and to disseminate current information and ensure effective pharmaceutical therapy. 5. Researches and develops or delegates patient education materials for the pharmacy staff to use in patient instruction, as applicable. 6. Verifies providers' orders to ensure appropriate dose, route, and frequency. Contacts providers to clarify any changes for allergies, drug interactions and non-formulary agents. Education: 1. Identifies continuing education and training needs based on performance of all subordinate staff. 2. Maintains preceptor status. As a preceptor for pharmacy students and residents, develops training programs for the applicable pharmacy rotations. Monitors all resident/student development and reports progress to the program director. 3. Provides or delegate training and continuing education to subordinate employees in order to prepare them for new assignments, improve job performance, and/or maintain self-development. 4. Responsible for completing or delegating training and orientation of new pharmacists and technicians to the procedures and operations of all aspects of the inpatient pharmacy.

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 (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. 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: GS-14 (a) Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) 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. Associate Service Chief/ Associate CMOP Director. Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. (c) Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs. Skill in managing multiple and diverse people or programs. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs, and bending/stooping. The work may entail repetitive wrist movement while using various size syringes, vial cap removal, and typing.

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Traci Strong
• Phone: 503-610-0897
• Email: [email protected]