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

Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols and criteria. Identifies problems are communicated to the patient's physician. Verifies and processes inpatient unit dose medication orders in the VISTA Inpatient Medication package accurately. Ensures inpatients medications are labeled appropriately (i.e.: inhalers). Processes and interprets IV orders and enters them into VISTA IV Admixture package. Ensures IV medications (IV admixtures, IV piggybacks, TPN, etc.) are prepared accurately using aseptic technique. Checks IVs prepared by Pharmacy Technicians or prepares accurately using aseptic technique. Provides medications to wards via Omnicell. Enters controlled substances dispensed or returned accurately and timely into the VISTA Controlled Substances package and Omnicell. Supervises inpatient Pharmacy Technicians in all aspects of Unit Dose and/or IV Admixture areas. Checks all manually prepackaged medications using Prepackage Logbook, and checks automated packaging steps appropriately. Responds to Pharmacokinetic Consult and appropriately orders labs and antibiotics. Follows up on labs and follows protocol. Interprets new outpatient prescriptions and enters them into the VISTA Outpatient Pharmacy package appropriately, using professional judgment and VA guidelines. Processes prescription refill requests via the VISTA Outpatient Pharmacy package appropriately. Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols. Identified problems are communicated to the patient's physician. Fills prescriptions timely, accurately, and appropriately using ScriptPro. Checks prescriptions filled by Pharmacy Technicians using ScriptPro. Dispenses prescriptions using ScriptPro, including asking patient to show Veteran ID Card (VIC). If no VIC, patient must have 2 other forms of identification (complete name and social security number). Supervises Pharmacy Technicians when filling, mailing and/or dispensing prescriptions, and compounding products. Renews outpatient prescriptions when appropriate in CPRS. Requests, evaluates restricted and non-formulary requests, and applies national and local guidelines to arrive at an informed decision to approve or disapprove. Follows through with physician regarding appropriate Formulary alternatives and dosages. Consults with patients regarding how to take new medication appropriately, side effects and precautions. Provides written drug information. Consults with nurses concerning drug dosage, availability, and order changes. Provides medication information to nurses, physicians, and other health personnel. Provides inhaler patient information upon consult request. Enters CPRS note upon consult completion. Requests, provides direct patient care activities via a variety of pharmacist run clinics (examples include anticoagulation clinic and new patient pharmacy consults). Work Schedule: M-F, Weekends, Holidays, Hours Vary from 6:00am-10:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53080-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact mailto:[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. 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.) 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). 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. 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 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: GS-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 2c(1) above.) 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 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. Assignment: A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-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: 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Cory Carter
• Phone: 702-791-9000 X15094
• Email: [email protected]