The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) practices a majority of the time in direct patient care with the Inpatient Mental Health (MH) - Acute Care Psychiatry team. The Inpatient MH CPS has a responsibility to promote safe and effective use of medications leading to improved patient outcomes and cost effectiveness. The Inpatient MH CPS serves as an additional provider to assist with the provision of medication management services to veterans admitted to the acute care ward.

Duties

Clinical: Conducts comprehensive appraisals of the health status of patients followed by the acute inpatient psychiatry team by taking health and drug histories. Evaluates drug therapy through direct patient care involvement, with clinical assessment and objective findings relating to patient's responses to drug therapy and communicating and documenting those findings and recommendations to appropriate individuals and in appropriate records. Assists in the development and documentation of therapeutic plans as a member of the treatment team, utilizing effective, safe, and economical medication treatments. With approved clinical scope of practice, assumes authority to direct drug therapy and order, perform, review and/or analyze appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy as a member of the treatment team. Performs physical measurements necessary to assure the proper responses to drug therapy are appropriate. Assists in the management of medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic disease states related to mental health. Identifies and takes specific corrective action for drug-induced problems as a member of the treatment team. Completes transitions of care review upon admission and discharge from the inpatient psychiatric ward to ensure comprehensive medication reconciliation and patient understanding is documented. Assists traveling veterans with medication fills and renewals as necessary within the assigned clinical scope of practice. Orders consults (i.e., dietician, social work) as appropriate to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes Serves as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and Inpatient Mental Health Services. Staffs inpatient central pharmacy operational tasks as needed. Education: Assists in the training of pharmacy employees, pharmacy residents and PharmD students as assigned. Participates in the development and implementation of formal and informal drug education/clinical consultation to medical, surgical, nursing, and pharmacy staff in the form of in-services and continuing education programs. Interfaces with other health-care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy policies and procedures. Maintains a system of self-evaluation, documenting continued professional growth for submission to supervisor as self-evaluation. Maintains ASHP preceptor qualifications and serves as a clinical preceptor and mentor for PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents and Doctor of Pharmacy students. Attends and actively participates in clinical pharmacy activities (i.e., staff development, residency conferences, and journal clubs). Promotes membership and participation in professional pharmacy organizations. Administrative: Attends team meetings, clinical rounds, conferences, and other activities as required for the purpose of making recommendations and providing consultation in all pharmacotherapeutic related matters. Participate in interdisciplinary care conferences related to the VHA Psychiatric Pharmacy Listserv. Promotes Pharmacy Clinical Service's philosophy of multidisciplinary teamwork and customer service. Design and conduct continuous quality improvement initiatives including medication use evaluation and the collection and analysis of data. Participate in the appropriate, effective, and safe use of pharmaceuticals by contributing to criteria development, data collection, and drug use evaluation and other quality improvement activities as assigned. Ensures compliance with medication management standards outlined by The Joint Commission, Department of VA, and other accrediting bodies. Collaborates with pharmacy supervisors, leadership, and staff to develop processes for more efficient prescription processing and formulary management within pharmacy service and specialty areas of practice. Participates as a Prior Authorization Drug Request consult reviewer for assigned area(s) and completes consults within established timeframe. Research: Fosters and assists with development, conducting, and implementation of mental health medicine related research studies. Demonstrates knowledge of the design and conducts and interpretation of controlled clinical drug trials or other research related to mental health medicine as applicable. Participates in developing criteria for drug utilization evaluations, data collection, trending reports, and other quality assurance activities as required ensuring appropriate and safe drug utilization. Participates as a preceptor for pharmacy resident research projects. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-3:30 pm 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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 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.) 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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: GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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 Preferred Experience: Completion of ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, and/or PGY-2 Mental Health / Psychiatry Pharmacy Residency / Fellowship or 3 years equivalent experience in Psychiatry, and/or Board of Pharmacy Specialty certification as a Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) References: VA Handbook, 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, June 7, 2012 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over); Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); Light lifting (under 15 pounds); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Standing (6 hours); Repeated bending (2 hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental & Emotional Stability. Environment Factors: Constant noise; Dust; Extensive Keyboard/mouse use; Working closely with others; Working alone; Protracted or irregular hours of work.

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 VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Michelle Rootes
• Phone: (907)257-3713
• Email: [email protected]