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

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include but are not limited to the following description: The clinical pharmacist functions independently with prescribing privileges under a scope of practice in the acute care setting. The clinical pharmacist is fully responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining highly innovative and progressive clinical pharmacy programs in their assigned area by implementing rational cost-effective drug therapy to improve patient outcomes. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans; helping achieve positive patient-centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams; and ordering laboratory tests to help determine efficiency and toxicity of medication therapy. The clinical pharmacist assists with clinical education activities, provides drug information, contributes to medication use evaluation (MUE) activities, and provides support to the Medication Management Committee (MMC). The clinical pharmacist must be capable of using professional judgment and clinical expertise to solve complex problems and to provide clinical information to VA Connecticut Healthcare providers and Veterans. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 9:30am-8:00pm, 60-hour/pay period, rotating weekends and holidays. Telework: Ad-hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F2465 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Contact Amy Haley at [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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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. 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.)(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. 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 Determination: GS- 11 Clinical Pharmacist Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS- 12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. In addition, Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice, Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff, Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security, Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Functions include but are not limited to the following description: Clinical Patient Care Skills In consultation with other providers, writes orders for medication and laboratory orders in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) under a scope of practice. In accordance with established policies, the clinical pharmacist will independently manage patients on medications requiring intensive therapeutic drug monitoring (i.e. vancomycin, aminoglycosides, warfarin) to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions and adverse drug effects. Designs dosage regimens from current pharmacokinetics principles and specific patient parameters, initiates dose adjustments and enters laboratory orders in accordance with their scope of practice, effectively communicates and documents activity in the patient's medical record. Participates in the facility Antimicrobial Stewardship Program by reviewing antimicrobial orders for appropriateness and making interventions as necessary. Follows polices related to formulary restriction, de-escalation, renal dosage adjustment, and IV to PO conversions. Medication Dispensing and Distribution Performs all pharmacy distributive functions according to the VHA and local policies to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical services in a timely fashion to meet the needs of our patients and medical center staff. Exhibits a high degree of accuracy in receiving and processing of inpatient medication orders and discharge prescriptions and in all areas of drug accountability. Ability to counsel patients and provide all required patient information regarding medication dispensed to the patient (e.g., PMI's, FDA MedGuides). Conducts medication reconciliation for patients admitted to or discharged from the hospital or transferred from one patient care area to another. Documents such action in the patient's electronic record. Administrative & Program Management Participates in the development and enforcement of Pharmacy and Health System policies and procedures. Assists in the dissemination and enforcement of guidelines established by the Medication Management Committee regarding the use of formulary, non-formulary, and restricted drugs. Reviews electronically-submitted non-formulary drug requests (NFDR) for patients assigned to the area which the specialist is practicing and/or covering. The pharmacist will take into account appropriateness of therapy, cost and adherence to National VA PBM Criteria for Use. Completes review and documents adjudication in CPRS in a timely manner as determined by VISN and National PBM leadership. Identifies factors pertinent to cost, distribution and utilization of all therapeutic agents. Education and Training Creates an environment to stimulate, encourage and support the participation of pharmacy personnel in providing drug information to the hospital staff and other facilities as deemed appropriate. Acts as a source of drug information for health professionals in the inpatient medical/surgical areas through direct response to specific inquiries concerning medications and therapy. In conjunction with the clinical coordinator, provides inservice education programs directed to the development of the pharmacy staff and education of other health care disciplines. Research and Quality Serves as a preceptor of residents' research projects as assigned Participates in the development of administrative and clinical pharmacy research protocols, activities, or projects which may ultimately serve to upgrade the quality of patient care by the VA Healthcare System. Preferred Experience: Preferred 3 years of inpatient pharmacy experience. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard) dated June 7, 2012. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour) reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental 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 to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid 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.

Contacts

• Address West Haven VA Medical Center 950 Campbell Avenue West Haven, CT 06516 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]