The incumbent has full time responsibility for providing expert pharmacotherapy services to optimize patient response and resource utilization for professional staff. Subsequent to the admission of the patient to the VACHS HBPC program and initial treatment plan by the patient's provider(s) and in accordance with accepted standards of practice or the pharmacologic management guidelines established by national, VISN and local policies.

Duties

The practice of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in HBPC program covers direct and indirect patient care, drug therapy monitoring, quality assurance, staff/patient education, consultation and research, often in association with or in support of physicians and other health care practitioners in the management of patients admitted to the program. 1. The incumbent has full time responsibility for providing expert pharmacotherapy services to optimize patient response and resource utilization for professional staff. The incumbent carries out the following duties and responsibilities: 2. Subsequent to the admission of the patient to the V ACHS HBPC program and initial treatment plan by the patient's provider(s) and in accordance with accepted standards of practice or the pharmacologic management guidelines established by local, VISN-8 and National committees: Practices as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the V ACHS HBPC program. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist supervises all pharmacotherapy provided by team members to ensure that National Treatment Guidelines are being followed in addition to adherence to the National Fonnulary, VISN, and local policies. Utilizes the highest level of clinical privileges for Clinical Pharmacy Specialists to manage assigned patients if requested under approved Scope of Practice. Interfaces with providers, including physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and physicians in the design of the veteran's treatment regimen to achieve optimization ofrational and cost-effective drug therapy. Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy, with special emphasis on medications used in the treatment of the assigned patients. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs, with a special emphasis in medications used in geriatric patients. From a verbal or written patient presentation of signs, symptoms, laboratory tests and diagnoses, recognizes and lists important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values that may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen or which may be induced by drug therapy. Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information, which includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, electing an appropriate drug and related therapy, and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen. Monitors and assesses therapeutic and adverse effects of drug therapy (including drug interactions) through selection and evaluation of physical and laboratory parameters. Under appropriate supervision by a physician and with approved clinical privileges assumes authority to direct therapy, order lab tests as indicated for appropriate patient monitoring. Provides consultation on selection of appropriate therapeutic regimens as a follow-up of non-therapeutic drug concentrations obtained from HBPC patients. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the broad area of advanced pharmacotherapy, with special emphasis on geriatrics. Provides physicians and other providers a focal resource for discussion of medical problems requiring a pharmaceutical intervention. Interviews patient and/or caregiver, conducting a medication history and formulating a pharmaceutical care plan. Identifies all drug-induced problems that may be affecting the patient or contributing to a need for hospitalization. This would include drug side effects, allergic reactions, toxicities, improper dosage regimens, non­ compliance, etc. Makes recommendations to the responsible physician based upon the patient care assessment and desired outcome, drug safety, efficacy, and cost to optimized drug product selection. Evaluates the risk-benefit ratio of various therapeutic alternatives, develops a therapeutic plan utilizing the most efficacious, least toxic and most economical pharmacological treatment modalities available, and communicates these plans to the patients' physician. Manages the medication programs of patients by writing orders for appropriate medications, laboratories, etc., in the patients' medical records, in consultation with the responsible physician. Reviews age/gender specific monitoring of therapy, reviews for polypharmacy, dose adjustments, and appropriateness of therapy. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm. Required to work second and third shifts; Weekends, Holidays and On-Call. Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 61717F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. 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(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. GS-13 Requirement: In addition to the basic requirements, 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. In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Must be proficient in writing and spoken Spanish. 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 of this position involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, and residences or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 321-370-3040
• Email: [email protected]