The Associate Chief, Inpatient Pharmacy Services is responsible for providing supervision, professional, administrative, and clinical leadership and guidance to multiple, diverse programs at the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System (Montgomery/Tuskegee). The incumbent functions at the higher level with a significant scope and complexity and a high level of administrative independence.

Duties

Duties: Inpatient clinical operations, including all clinical guidelines related to medication management, all cost avoidance and budgeting, and management of clinical pharmacy programs and procedures. Inpatient pharmacy operations, including provision of medications to inpatients, unit dose and IV dispensing, and all inpatient automation. All aspects of pharmacy services within the community living center (CLC) including provision of medications, quality assurance related specifically to the CLC and pharmacist clinical review of the CLC patient. Inpatient discharge medication reconciliation services. Ensure compliance with all Joint Commission, VACO, union contract, EEO regulations, and local standards and guidelines as well as federal and state laws as staffing and resources permit. Responsible for all regulatory and quality standards related to USP 797. Responsible for training and competencies of pharmacy staff on safe handline of chemotherapeutic agents as outlined by OSHA (if applicable to services). Review all concurrent monitors for inpatient pharmacy as directed by the Chief, Pharmacy Service. The incumbent is responsible for planning and updating new or existing monitors in order to ensure that quality of service is maintained. Responsible for all performance improvement activities in the Inpatient Pharmacy including audits, peer reviews, and accuracy screening. Gathers statistical information preparing periodic reports on inpatient pharmacy programs and providing justifications for budgetary, personnel, equipment, and space requirements. The incumbent will prepare other special data and reports as required. Manages and ensures optimum utilization of all resources (personnel, fiscal, equipment, space, etc.) available to the section. As a fund control point official, complies with all guidelines for appropriate management of the budget. Monitor and maintains appropriate data and prepares reports and correspondence in a complete, accurate, and timely manner. Plan, organize, assign, and review work of subordinates; this includes scheduling of priorities and personnel for the effective completion of pharmacy program objectives. Provide advice, counsel, or instructions to subordinate employees on both work and administrative matters. This includes hearing and resolving complaints or grievances from employees and referring the more serious complaints not resolved to the appropriate channels. Keep subordinate employees informed of pertinent information by conducting regularly scheduled staff meetings with the Chief, Pharmacy Service. Conduct on-going and annual performance evaluation of subordinates. Counsel employees on performance when necessary and/or recognize high level performance as appropriate. Interview applicants for vacancies, determine their suitability for the position, and make recommendations to the Chief, Pharmacy Service. When appropriate, provide progressive discipline to subordinate employees in accordance with current VA personnel policies and practices. Recommendations will be made to the Chief, Pharmacy Service on matters requiring action more serious than that of a reprimand. Maintain control of leave and attendance of subordinate employees and ensures those absences are charged to proper leave status and that the timekeeper is promptly notified. Initiate and demonstrates actions to support Equal Employment Opportunity. Maintain physical layout of equipment and fixtures in inpatient pharmacy in a manner that allows efficient and effective flow of work. The incumbent will ensure that equipment is properly utilized and is maintained in good operating condition. Supervise the procurement, storage, and dispensing of all medications and supplies used in the inpatient pharmacy programs. Ensures that monthly ward and clinical inspections are conducted in order to ensure that drugs are properly stored and have not deteriorated or expired. Participate in interdisciplinary healthcare system committees and patient rounds as a member representing Pharmacy Service. The incumbent serves on quality assurance and administrative investigations when appointed by the healthcare system director. Review all concurrent monitors for inpatient pharmacy operations as directed by the Chief, Pharmacy Service. The incumbent is responsible for planning and updating new or existing monitors in order to ensure that quality of service is maintained. Represents Pharmacy Service on designated healthcare system committees and potential VISN or National Committees. Develop, monitor, and maintain effective customer service oriented pharmacy programs consistent with the Pharmaceutical Care philosophy. Serve as Acting Chief, Pharmacy Service when requested. Serve as a member of the local Professional Standards Board. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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. 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: Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignments. Associate Service Chief. 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. Responsible for coordinating multiple programs in pharmacy service in a medical facility. Serves as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief. Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and in compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies. Responsible for pharmacy utilization of resources and budget. Makes selections, assigns personnel, and serves as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential. Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level, and the specific KSA designated by an asterisk (*).1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.2. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technicalissues.3. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.4. Skill in managing multiple and diverse people or programs.5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.*6. Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of the pharmacy staff. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:--Completion of PGY1 residency--Completion of PGY2 residency in Internal Medicine or Related Acute Care Specialty--BPS Certification in Pharmacy Specialty--Past Supervisory Experience--Acute Care Experience (clinical and operational) References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G-15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-14 to GS-14. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery 215 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36109 US
• Name: Ashley Lafi
• Phone: 708-940-8495
• Email: [email protected]