The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) performs the full range of accepted ethical and professional practices of pharmacy, observing all legal requirements. The primary responsibility of the CPS is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct care with patients and consultation with other providers on their team.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF ASSIGNED DUTIES. a. Directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. b. Actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, medication reconciliation, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. c. Able to apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. d. Is an expert in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. e. Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. f. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate. g. Performs drug use evaluations on behalf of national, VISN and local medical center initiatives as needed. h. Reviews and verifies medication orders to be administered to patients in primary care, prior to administration, for appropriateness and to reduce potential risk of adverse drug event. i. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. j. Unique functions requiring the individual to maintain a SOP: Serves as the primary provider to initiate, modify, or discontinue patient's medication therapy. Provides patient-specific drug therapy modifications to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and polypharmacy while providing cost-effective treatment. Other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy (i.e., changes in medication therapy, monitoring and evaluation, additional testing requirements, referral to primary care or specialty care physician) k. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues, documents findings per facility procedures. l. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. m. Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. n. Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. o. Performs drug conversions and assists with drug shortages when needed. p. Participates in professional staff recommendations designed to influence rational and cost-effective drug therapy in Primary Care. EDUCATION AND DRUG INFORMATION a. Participates in the training and in-servicing of medical staff, nursing staff, residents, students, and other allied health professionals as required. b. Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices; adjusts communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations; accurately assesses and documents patient comprehension; and refers patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams. c. Utilizes both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. d. Assists in new pharmacy residents and employee orientation sessions as scheduled. e. Assists in the development of proposals for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services. f. Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information. g. Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. h. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. Work Schedule: Rotating 8 and 12 hour tours. Either 6:00 am - 6:30 pm or 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible:Authorized Telework: not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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 Policy. 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 : 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. Foreign Education: 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. 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: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Preferred Experience: Board Certified Pharmacist or other recognized pharmacy certification applicable to the major duties of the position. Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and/or PGY2 Pharmacy Residency (in one of the specialty areas of practice) or equivalent experience in the major duties for at least 3 years is preferred. Eligibility to work under a scope of practice: Doctor of Pharmacy degree AND completion of a Pharmacy or Specialty Residency with substantial component (>50%) of direct patient care activities in one or more of the specialty services. OR Completion of a minimum of 3 years of pharmacy practice experience with a substantial component (>50%) of direct patient care activities in one or more of the specialty services or other specialized area of practice OR Receipt of recognized board certification through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II Appendix G15, Licensed PharmacistQualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. This position is above full performance level (GS-13). Physical Requirements: Use of fingers and hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include working alone. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).

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 John L McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital 4300 West Seventh Street Little Rock, AR 72205 US
• Name: Krista Smith
• Phone: 501-274-6635
• Email: [email protected]