The position functions in areas which primarily service the internal medicine teaching team of the inpatient section of Pharmacy Service. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is responsible for planning, developing and maintaining effective clinical pharmacy programs by implementing rational cost-effective drug therapy to improve patient outcomes. In this capacity, the incumbent assists with clinical education activities and provides drug information.

Duties

CLINICAL: Participates in inpatient rounds with internal medicine teaching team. Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and evaluation, in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs as it applies to patient care. Interfaces with physicians and treatment teams in the design of dosage regimens from current pharmacokinetics principles and specific patient parameters, and effectively communicates recommendations to the patient's provider and documents activity in the patient's medical record. Utilizes a scope of practice to design and implement a therapeutic regimen or plan based on patient specific information that includes a therapeutic endpoint, selecting an appropriate drug and dosage regimen, and providing alternative regimens in cases where the initially developed regimen fails to achieve the desire therapeutic result. Provides consultation on selection of appropriate dosage regimens as follow-up when non-therapeutic drug levels are obtained for inpatient medical/surgical patients. Initiates requests for appropriate laboratory and other diagnostic studies when needed for monitoring drug therapy, with notification of the primary provider. Performs medication reconciliation and summarizes significant findings which are documented in the medical record and reported to the primary provider. Identifies any drug-induced problem that may be affecting the patient or contributing to the need for hospitalization, including adverse effects, allergic reactions, toxicities, improper dosage regimen design, noncompliance, etc. Participates in formulary management through participation in the non-formulary drug consult service. Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or families on request and appropriate discharge counseling when necessary. DRUG DISPENSING: Enters and/or edits prescription/medication orders. Processes refills and renewal prescription requests as needed. Accurately dispenses medication orders and supplies. Checks clinical pharmacy technician prepared orders when necessary. ADMINISTRATION: Supports the clinical and administrative aspects of the inpatient clinical pharmacy services in coordination with the clinical coordinator for pharmacy services. Actively supports the Medical Center mission through membership on various center-wide committees. Works closely with Pharmacy Administration to coordinate quality patient care and the priorities of pharmacy services for the patients of CTVHCS. Performs other administrative duties as needed and assigned by Pharmacy Service. TEACHING/EDUCATION: Develops and provides systematic in-service training programs for the pharmacists to facilitate continued growth of knowledge and skills which will help to insure a high level of quality in professional activities of pharmacists. Coordinates the education, training, and utilization of pharmacists to successfully expand their clinical practice in their practice settings. Develops and provides in-service training programs for pharmacy students and residents to facilitate continued growth of knowledge and skills which help to insure an high level of quality in professional activities. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members. Conducts on-the-job training and provides guidance through designated programs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Not available Functional Statement #: 000000 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Citizenship: You must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. ? 7407(a). English Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. License: You must possess a full, current and unrestricted state license to practice as a Clinical Pharmacist in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. 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 Health System 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 (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination. Education: You must be a 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. Or A graduate 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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. If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 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 also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) of a GS-12 listed below: Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. In addition to the next level Grade which is the GS-12 applicants must also be able to perform the GS-13 KSA's listed below: Experience GS-13 Level: Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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. Preferred Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Internal Medicine Board Certification or > 5 years experience in acute care setting Experience in rounding and facilitation of transitions of care References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55, PART II APPENDIX G15 The full performance level of Clinical Pharmacist (Internal Medicine) is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. 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 VA Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: Spencer Lane
• Phone: 2162127241
• Email: [email protected]