The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist serves as a collaborating provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's scope of practice for Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in Geriatrics. 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 and in accordance with accreditation pertinent to the area.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels. The CPS will follow patients in direct care setting to achieve therapeutic goals identified by the physician. reviews patient's medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, 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. designs, implements, and monitors therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. utilizes expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical records and/or to the provider as appropriate. performs in the drug use evaluations on behalf of national, VISN and local medical center initiatives, for assigned patients as needed. provides patient-specific drug therapy modifications to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and polypharmacy while providing cost- effective treatment. The assessments are based on clinical reviews and objectives measures. Clinical pharmacy specialists will determine a referral to the physician is necessary when disease progression occur, or adverse drug events require treatment interventions. orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and 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 provider or specialty care physician) monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, patient compliance issues. documents findings per facility procedure. provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in advanced pharmacotherapeutics in geriatrics. serves as a clinical resource for the pharmacy staff in matters associated with care of geriatric patients. reviews and evaluates request for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance of establish criteria where applicable. promotes and monitors compliance for establish drug therapy policies. works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Participates in training and in-servicing of medical staff, nursing staff, residents, students, and other allied health professionals as required. 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 refers patients to educational programs and provided at the medical center by multiple disciplinary teams. uses both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. assists in new employee orientation sessions as scheduled. assists in the development of proposals for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services. independently designs and conducts clinical research with the scope of Geriatric and Pharmacy service. assists in the training of new pharmacy staff. serves as a preceptor to students of Affiliated Schools of Pharmacy and pharmacy residents in accordance with established protocols. serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance with medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. uses appropriate references to research drug information. utilizes working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. Duties are continued in the education section of this announcement. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4: 30 PM (Central). Must be able to work the hours of the facility. Virtual: This is not a Virtual position Telework: Not Authorized Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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 website at: ACPE. (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. 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(/)). 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. Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for Iicensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Note: VA Employees who have been continuously employed as Pharmacists within VA Since 2/7/2018, release of the current Pharmacist Qualification Standard may meet the Basic Requirements for this posting through the Grandfathering Provision. Grade Determination: 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. *Experience must be gained while having a full, unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. State or Territory. Pharmacists assigned to this position 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. Preferred Experience: PGY-2 Primary Care Residency (preferred) or PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency (minimum required) Comprehensive knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy such as quality assurance/utilization review, informatics systems, drug information, etc. This level of knowledge is usually characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification Comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacoeconomics, and pharmacotherapeutics. This level of knowledge is characterized by at least 1 year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/certification Extensive skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters Ability to design specific treatment regimens based on specific disease states for mental health patients to establish appropriate therapeutic outcomes. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-660 Veterans Health Administration June 7, 2012. Physical Requirements: moderate lifting/ carrying (15-44 pounds use of fingers; straight pulling/pushing (1 hour), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required; walking/repeated bending/standing, both legs required, (2 hours), ability for rapid menta and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid may be 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.

Accreditation Information: 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: ACPE. (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).

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by ACPE at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACPE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.



Duties Continued:

• provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.
• complies with safety and environmental rules and regulations for safe job performance.
• uses and maintains personal protective equipment when required and provided
• promptly reports all accidents and/or illnesses to supervisor.
• notifies supervisor of all unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace and works to eliminate such conditions.
• represents Pharmacy Services in a professional manner that focuses on the needs of the Pharmacy and Geriatric Services and not on personal or competing agendas.
• maintains licensure in good standing
• obtains and maintains Basic Cardiac Life Support Certification.
• completes continuing professional education required to maintain licensure and keep current with state-of-the-art professional knowledge.
• completes the number of employee education hours necessary to comply with organizational standards.

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]