The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and top of licensure and serves as an advanced practice provider working independently with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's practice area-based scope of practice. The CPS provider delivers evidence-based comprehensive medication management (CMM) through direct patient care and as part of the interdisciplinary teams providing Pain Management and/or substance use disorder treatment.

Duties

Clinical - Direct Patient Care: Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned mental health care setting. In cooperation with the mental health team providers, initiates alternative drug therapies designed to reduce cost of medications while still ensuring optimal therapeutic response. May initiate, modify, or discontinue mental health medications with appropriate follow-up monitoring under authority given through approved scope of practice. Interviews and/or evaluates mental health patients in the outpatient clinic setting for appropriateness of pharmacological therapy and makes a pharmaceutical care plan for those patients who need pharmaceutical care and will document the pharmaceutical care plan in the pharmacy initial assessment or progress note. Completes and documents medication history when requested by mental health team. Will help determine if a referral to other medical service is necessary when co-morbidities interfere with mental health treatment. Clinical - Indirect Patient Care: Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate. Supports effective drug usage criteria approved by the national VHA PBM (pharmacy benefits manager), VISN PBM and local PBM which help insure quality patient care in a cost-effective manner. Ensures appropriate utilization of the VHA formulary by health care providers. Completes (approves/disapproves) Non-Formulary/Restricted Drug Consults for mental health and behavioral science patients and other patient care areas when assigned. Actively participates in ensuring that resources dedicated to clinical pharmacy activities are used effectively and required workload data is gathered and collected in an accurate and timely manner. Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. Monitors and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Actively participates in the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting program. Participates in the provision of pharmaceutical care support services as required including drug distribution, drug information, and database management. Works to develop, upgrade, and disseminate acceptable criteria for use of formulary and non-formulary medications and other high cost items directed at employing cost effectiveness without compromising the quality of patient care. Dissemination of information may occur in a setting requiring speaking in front of a large group of providers. Education: Participates in self-development activities to maintain and increase professional competence. Serves as a resource for advanced drug information support and expertise in psychiatry to other pharmacists and clinic staff. When assigned, acts as clinical instructor and preceptor for pharmacy students and residents. Participates in education of students from other allied health professions assigned to pharmacist's clinical area. Educates patients on the proper use and care of their medications through the day-to-day personal interactions with the patients. Documents patient education and counseling in the medical record. Patient education may occur in a group clinic setting. Attends and actively participates in all clinical pharmacy activities, i.e., staff development, residency conferences, journal club. Program Management: Participates 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. Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships by committee membership, active problem resolution skills, and close cooperation with other services in accomplishing the medical center mission and goals. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 0800-1630 Telework: Eligible - as determined by the agency policy. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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. (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. 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). All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. GRADE REQUIREMENTS Creditable Experience Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board. Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination. Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacist employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment stated above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Preferred Experience: Psychiatric PGY2 or equivalent experience and Current DEA registration or willingness to obtain DEA within the first year of employment. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, GS-13 Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS12). Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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. References: VA Pharmacist Qualification Standards, GS-660., VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, dated June 7, 2012 Physical Requirements: The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective care. Use and function of all normal motor and sensory anatomy for provision of patient care, reading, writing, listening, observing/seeing, heavy lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, stooping, squatting, walking, standing, use of fine motor muscles. In an eight-hour day, must be able to sit for 3 hours, stand for 3 hours, and walk for 1 hour. The position also requires ability to work on computers for extended periods of time. Requires use of hands for actions such as typing, simple grasping, fine manipulation, and repetitive actions. Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demands and priorities; emotional intelligence to respond to stressful and/or emergent situations and crises appropriately and calmly; self-care skills to maintain physical, psychological, and emotional health. Heavy lifting of 35 pounds and over, heavy carrying of 35 pounds and over, straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste and chemicals.

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 Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Marisella Souza
• Phone: 925-356-4088
• Email: [email protected]