This is the position of Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Patient Safety Manager at the VA Health Care System in Birmingham, Alabama. The incumbent functions as a manager, coordinator, and point of contact for patient safety policies and activities developed by the VA National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) at the healthcare facility to which he/she is assigned.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws A. Provides Clinical Support: 1. Uses clinical knowledge to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of clinical performance within the facility, using data collected by internal and external monitoring processes. Relays this information to clinical leadership and senior leaders. 2. Uses clinical knowledge to provide day-to-day evaluation of situations which might pose clinical risk, implementing risk mitigation strategies to improve clinical care delivery. Develops relevant risk mitigation plans and tracks clinical outcomes to determine compliance with, and sustainability of, said plans. 3. Uses clinical knowledge to complete individual quality reviews and/or case assessments to determine which improvement efforts are necessary to improve clinical care delivery. Implements relevant improvement strategies, which may include, but are not limited to, one- on-one teaching, group educational sessions, process redesign, and/or peer review. 4. Uses clinical judgment to determine if clinical error has occurred. Develops a plan to address such error. 5. Utilizes knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, medical and nursing diagnoses, reading, and interpreting orders, lab values, progress notes, medications, and treatment plans, to be able to determine and discuss the appropriateness of health care provided by various clinical professionals at BVAHCS. B. Provides Data Analysis: 1. The incumbent conducts preliminary site investigations to obtain baseline data, and then prepares advisory criteria for smaller or less complex issues. 2. Explores background information (literature, reports, and discussions with others having specialized knowledge of the issue) and consults with supervisor in evaluating information and in presenting the information in an effective manner. 3. Prepares focused reviews and issue briefs. 4. Makes appropriate trade-offs to accomplish analysis in a manner fitting operational timeliness. Understands the need for developing analysis and recommendations for an audience with diverse backgrounds. 5. Gathers and integrates knowledge from databases of adverse events and safety alerts from many different sources, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP), The Joint Commission (TJC), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 6. Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative and qualitative basis, the effectiveness of NCPS program activities and operations in meeting established goals and objectives. 7. Identifies opportunities, issues, and concerns, which may impact future NCPS initiatives on patient safety. C. Performs Administration Work: 1. Provides accurate and timely electronic clinical data reports and assessments to the Senior Leadership team, facility service chiefs, and VISN patient safety staff as appropriate. 2. Maintains clear communication between the facility and NCPS, communicating relevant patient safety information and lessons learned, including issues which have potential impact beyond the local level. 3. Plays a critical support role in developing and coordinating internal review systems to assure that both clinical and administrative activities comply with agency and accrediting and regulatory requirements. 4. Assists the Quality Manager, the healthcare system Director, and Senior Leadership in the development or improvement of policies that will ultimately affect patient safety. 5. Maintains program requirement/validation criteria for the facility's patient safety program. D. Uses Research Principles: 1. Assists in developing clinical reviews and/or audits to analyze problems in depth, including selection of study samples, identification of data required to define the problem, establishing data collection methodologies, analyzing the data, recommending corrective action when necessary, and assessing effectiveness of the action. 2. Guides others, both within Quality Management Service and throughout the health care system in the development of performance improvement strategies rooted in the scientific method and research methodology. 3. Uses evidence-based decision-making when evaluating clinical outcomes. *Note: These are not the fully listed duties, you may request a copy of the full functional statement that lists all the duties for this job series from your service supervisor* Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS 53229 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: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 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 or Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program that meets the educational requirement and can 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. I have a 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. 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: 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 practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. To be creditable, experience must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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. Additional Special Qualifications: Ability to communicate orally to individuals and groups of people in person while at conferences, via video-conferencing and during teleconferences Ability to communicate in writing for a variety of purposes including the preparation of reports and analysis, publications, and newsletters Ability to organize projects of broad scope and objective without the use of established methods and procedures Knowledge of VA National Center for Patient Safety reporting systems Knowledge of pharmacy automated dispensing devices and equipment Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique Knowledge of basic inventory procedures Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G-15 and FS 53229 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include, but are not limited to: significant computer work/typing, prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. The incumbent should be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds without significant difficulty. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging.

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 Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: Gilda Martinez
• Email: [email protected]