The incumbent will serve as the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System pharmacy representative and special consultant for geriatric issues and has full responsibility to develop necessary services such as physician consultation, patient monitoring, patient counseling and medication management clinics within the Geriatric Clinical Specialty Program with the West Palm Beach VAMC Extended Care Program.

Duties

Interfaces with providers, including physicians, PAs, ARNPs in the design of the veteran's treatment regimen to achieve optimization of rational and cost-effective drug therapy Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy, with special emphasis on medication use in geriatric patients. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs, with a special emphasis in medications used in Cardiology. From a verbal or written patient presentation of signs, symptoms, laboratory tests and diagnoses, recognizes and lists important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values that may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen or which may be induced by drug therapy. Establishes and expands the patient data base through interpreting the drug history, medical history, physical examination and ongoing patient specific monitoring of therapy, with documentation in the formal patient medical record. Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information, that includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, electing an appropriate drug and related therapy, and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen. Monitors and assesses therapeutic and adverse effects of drug therapy (including drug interactions) through selection and evaluation of physical and laboratory parameters. Under appropriate supervision by a physician and with approved clinical privileges assumes authority to direct therapy, order lab tests as indicated for appropriate patient monitoring and approve the use of nonformulary medications. Designs, implements and supervises the clinical education and training program for pharmacy students' and pharmacy residents' clinical pharmacy clerkship in Geriatric Medicine. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the area of advanced pharmacotherapy. Collaborates with the other clinical specialists in the provision of specialized training programs and assists in the development of innovative training concepts aimed at improving the knowledge and quality of pharmacy and other clinical service staff. Performs inservice training as scheduled. Actively participates in Medication Use Committee activities. Concurrently reviews medication usage in geriatric patients as part of the overall quality assurance program and prepares necessary reports as required. Participates in the Peer Review Program. Independently designs, secures funding and conducts clinical research within the scope of Geriatric Medicine and Pharmacy Actively collaborates with Geriatric Medicine staff in the design and implementation of research protocols, and collection of data and participates in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Work Schedule: Tours of Duty to include: 12A- 12P Rotating Shifts; Holidays; Weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #629-00499-F: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: (a) 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.) (b) Foreign degrees: 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. GRADE DETERMINATION: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, GS-13 Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA). 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard. Dated June 7. 2012. Preferred Experience: PGY1 Residency or Board Certification in Geriatrics or 3-5 years experience in related field. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertions, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 50 lbs. and bending/stooping.

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 New Orleans VA Medical Center 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 US
• Name: Heather Caudill
• Phone: (217) 274-5442
• Email: [email protected]