The Clinical Pharmacist Spec. (Internal Medicine/Acute Care) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and as a member of their assigned team(s) in the internal medicine/acute care settings, working with a high level of autonomy and independent decision making within the parameters of their scope of practice and facility Continuation of Care Agreement. This announcement is for two positions. One is permanent and the other is temporary, not to exceed 3 years. Both full time: 40hrs/wk.

Duties

The CPP will provide comprehensive medication management through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams to help achieve positive patient centric outcomes. Core activities include but are not limited to, intensive medication therapy management services (i.e., therapeutic plans), comprehensive medication history and medication reconciliation, medication counseling/education, team rounds, anticoagulation management, pharmacokinetic monitoring, renal dose adjustments, ordering labs, and antimicrobial stewardship. Other duties include but are not limited to: Utilizes the highest level of clinical privileges for clinical pharmacist practitioners (CPP) as a provider in the internal medicine/acute care area (as authorized by his/her scope of practice) to design therapeutic regimens or plans based on patient-specific information, which includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, initiating, and maintaining an appropriate drug therapy, and ordering appropriate laboratory tests for effective therapeutic drug monitoring. Participates in inpatient rounds with the medical team(s) in their assigned patient care areas. The CPP interfaces with inpatient providers (including physicians, PA's, APRN's), as well as other services (including Nursing, Social Work, Nutrition) in the design of patient-centered treatment regimens to assure medication therapy is both appropriate and cost effective. In consultation with other providers, writes orders for medication and laboratory orders in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) under a scope of practice. In accordance with established policies, the CPP may independently manage patients on medications requiring intensive therapeutic drug monitoring to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions and adverse drug effects. Provides comprehensive therapeutic drug monitoring for inpatients in collaboration with Inpatient Pharmacy, ID and Antimicrobial Stewardship Team on vancomycin, aminoglycosides and other parenteral or oral antibiotics. The CPP may order the appropriate dose and lab orders for monitoring, and initiate dose adjustments and subsequent lab orders as indicated throughout treatment. Documents dosing and rationale in CPRS. Manages inpatient warfarin dosing and monitoring by initiating dose changes, ordering labs, and documenting activity in CPRS. Coordinates the anticoagulation transition of care for patients by establishing a plan and follow-up for warfarin and DOAC patients at discharge with the Outpatient Anticoagulation Clinic as indicated. May assist with other Inpatient anticoagulation as needed. Designs dosage regimens from current pharmacokinetics principles and specific patient parameters (i.e., renal function), initiates dose adjustments and enters laboratory orders in accordance with their scope of practice, effectively communicates and documents activity in the patient's medical record. Independently participates in the facility Antimicrobial Stewardship Program by reviewing antimicrobial orders for appropriateness and making interventions as necessary. Involves the Antimicrobial Stewardship Team (Pharmacy Fellows, Inpatient Pharmacy, etc.) as appropriate. Follows policies related to formulary restriction, de-escalation, renal dosage adjustment, and IV to PO conversions. Provides alternative therapeutic regimens in cases where the initially developed regimen fails to achieve the desire therapeutic result. The CPP is expected to effectively communicate this information to the patient's provider. Provides consultation on selection of appropriate dosage regimens as follow-up when non-therapeutic drug levels are obtained for inpatient medical patients. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; days between hours of 7am-5:30pm. Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service. One vacancy in this announcement is a temporary, not to exceed THREE YEARS position which may be extended or converted to a permanent position without further competitive procedures. The other is permanent. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is eligible for coverage by a Bargaining Unit, but is not currently represented. This position is covered by a special rate. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) 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). Grade Determinations GS-13: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 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: Candidates for CPP should possess the skills outlined for this position. They should have at least 3 years (recent) of internal medicine/acute care/inpatient pharmacy experience. Preferred candidates could have an advanced Pharmacy degree (PharmD.), board certification (BPS), PGY1 or PGY2 Pharmacy Practice Residency in Internal Medicine/Acute Care, or equivalent. Candidate should have experience in direct patient care and comprehensive medication management. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (14-44 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.) use of fingers; walking (3 hours per day); standing (up to 8 hours per day); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing aid permitted.

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 Providence Healthcare System 830 Chalkstone Avenue Providence, RI 02908 US
• Name: Courtney Kreshak
• Phone: 4012737100
• Email: [email protected]