This Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient Staff Pharmacist) position is in the VA Maine Healthcare System, located at the Togus location. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

The Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient Staff Pharmacist) functions as a member of the health care team by providing services which are based on the knowledge and skills represented by licensure as a registered pharmacist. Duties include, but are not limited to: Verify the legality of each prescription and checking the patient's medication profile for appropriate therapeutic use and dosage, therapeutic duplication and polypharmacy/polyprescribing, allergies, drug interactions, other potential contraindications and patient eligibility before processing and verifying orders. View the patient's medications, notes, allergies, labs and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems. Evaluate all chemotherapy orders for appropriateness based on disease state, regimen, patient specific factors and laboratory results and ensures the double-check is completed on all orders prior to dispensing. Contact the provider to clarify orders as needed prior to dispensing. Complete medication histories, including patient or caregiver interviews, to reconcile medications and assure an accurate medication profile for both VA and non VA medications. This may include, but is not limited to, contacting the patient's provider to resolve major discrepancies, adding or removing non-VA medications, discontinuing duplicate medications or medications the patient is no longer taking. Document all evaluations of potential medication related complications, including how they were investigated and resolved. Document all clinical interventions in the medical record. Monitor and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Provide pharmacokinetic and other consultations in accordance with local policy, procedure or protocol. Enter orders including supply items, therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions per local policy, procedure or protocol. Extend refills of appropriate orders until the next scheduled appointment per local policy, procedure or protocol. Counsel patients or caregivers on medication regimens to ensure proper use, compliance, and understanding of therapy. Oversight of pharmacy technician work for all aspects of preparation and distribution. Responsible for monthly inspections of pharmacy, ward and/or clinic stocks of medication for compliance with national and local regulations. Emergency crash cart maintenance is also included in the pharmacist's responsibility. Have knowledge of all the duties of technicians and supervise them in these duties in their assigned area. Dispense controlled dangerous substances and other drugs and supplies according to state, federal, VA and local regulations. Responsible for routine supervision of clerical and technical employees, volunteers, pharmacy students, residents and temporary employees. Work Schedule: Full-Time Various schedules Compressed/Flexible:Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework on an ad-hoc basis. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F02913 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. This is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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 Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. OR 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). License: 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. OR Exception: Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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 basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: GS-11 Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient Staff Pharmacist): Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient Staff 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. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. 2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. 3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. 4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 11 to GS 12. Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling.

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 Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Donna Davies
• Phone: (603) 624-4366 X5077
• Email: [email protected]