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

Clinical Pharmacy Specialists are employees of their medical center's Pharmacy Service, to ensure they receive all professional guidance, policy and communications, along with department missions and goals, especially regarding the VA National Formulary, VISN and local medical center Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee objectives for formulary management activities and patient safety. The primary function of the clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) in mental health is to maintain an innovative clinical pharmacy practice in the mental health services at C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. Responsibilities of the mental health clinical pharmacy specialist (MHCPS) are to include the following: Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned mental health care setting Participates in multidisciplinary team discussions and provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, formulary, and pharmacoeconomics May initiate, modify, or discontinue medications with appropriate follow-up monitoring under authority given through approved scope of practice Interviews and/or evaluates mental health patients for the appropriateness of pharmacological therapy, (including suicide prevention measures) and will create and document pharmaceutical care plans and/or suicide prevention safety plans in a progress note Improves pharmacy services by serving as a direct contact for providers and mental health patients Utilizes evidence-based medicine and current guidelines to promote drug prescribing and drug and laboratory monitoring to maximize patient outcomes Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate Assists in discharge planning and supports efforts to ensure continuity of care for patients leaving the hospital Supports effective drug usage criteria approved by the national VHA pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), VISN PBM and local PBM to help insure cost-effective, quality patient care. Completes (approves/disapproves) Prior Authorization/Restricted Drug Consults for mental health and behavioral science patients and other patient care areas when assigned. Provides written and oral consultation to providers regarding drug therapy in an accurate and timely fashion. Ensures that clinical pharmacy resources are used effectively and required workload data is gathered and collected in an accurate and timely fashion Monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues Exhibits leadership skills and seeks out opportunities for new pharmacy initiatives Provides training to pharmacists, pharmacy residents, pharmacy interns, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy student Provides education to patients and family members as needed. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Various Tours; primarily between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Telework: Available; Adhoc Functional Statement #: 2022F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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. 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. 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: GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: Candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Specialized experience includes: Handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations; Reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; Processing and filling medication orders; Interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; Reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; Contacting providers as appropriate; Documenting recommendations and interventions; Providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; Taking health and medication histories; Performing medication reconciliation; Providing drug information; Assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; Documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); Assisting in medical emergencies; Providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The following knowledge, Skills and abilities are also required at the GS-13 grade level: 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 and monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies comma including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: PGY2 Residency Completion in Mental Health or equivalent work history. Current prescribing privileges in a Mental Health management setting, Board Certification (BCPP, BCPS) or equivalent. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15 dated June 7, 2012.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching.

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 CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Janice Lord
• Phone: 207-800-5649
• Email: [email protected]