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

The Program Manager is responsible for developing and implementing appropriate procedures; overseeing compliance with all USP chapters and other applicable laws, regulations, and standards; ensuring competency of personnel; and ensuring environmental control of the storage and compounding areas. The Program Manager is responsible for the development, organization and management of the Sterile and Non-Sterile Compounding program in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (e.g. Joint Commission, USP 797, 795, 800, OIG, FDA, DEA, NIOSH etc. and any future regulations in this area) for the WTVAHCS Pharmacy. The Program Manager is responsible for maintaining reports of testing/sampling performed in our pharmacy areas and acting on the results. The Program Manager is responsible for all information and automation systems associated with sterile and non-sterile compounding. Thorough knowledge and understanding of various regulations including FDA, DEA, USP, NIOSH, OIG and the Joint Commission and VHA national and local handbooks and directives, policies and standard operating procedures pertaining to the practice of pharmacy is required. The incumbent develops and implements appropriate procedures, oversees and assures facility compliance with USP Chapters 795, 797, and 800 and other applicable laws, regulations, and standards, ensuring competency of personnel, and assuring environmental control of all compounding areas. Reviews sterile and non-sterile compounding policies and procedures at minimum every 2 years or more frequently as needed and recommends updates. Communicates updates and provides informational updates to impacted personnel as needed. The incumbent directs and oversees activities of all assigned operational, technical and professional personnel, with a particular emphasis on assuring that all USP Chapter 795, 797 and 800 CSP compliance requirements are met in Compounding and Hazardous Drug Management due to their inherent high-risk status in regard to the care of our patients. Maintenance of all required processes and documentation for completely meeting USP Chapters 795, 797, and 800 are a primary focus of this position. This includes assigned drug distribution-associated recordkeeping, competency assessments, documentation logs, personnel and process testing reporting for USP Chapters 795, 797, 800 report processing and monitoring including reports of all testing from all contractors and laboratories on facilities, CSPs, and/or components. Collaborates with the facility Quality Management, Safety, Infection Prevention, Engineering, and the Pharmacy Leadership teams to develop a formal written CSP Safety and Quality Assurance (QA) Plan with mechanism(s) for monitoring, evaluating, and implementing a contingency plan to obtain CSPs from another source if the VA facility CSP preparations or delivery are suspended. Consultation for the development and implementation of the Safety and QA Plan will be provided by the multidisciplinary team. Responsible for performing risk assessment for all drugs to determine if the drugs are listed on the NIOSH list. Risk level of drugs released to market after publication of the NIOSH list will need to be assessed as they are added to the local drug file. Intervals for risk assessment include initial, annual and upon publication of new NIOSH list. Collaborates with facility staff to ensure the AHEC room temperature (20-25°C) and humidity (20-60% relative humidity) is monitored while ensuring that cache items are stored in a manner consistent with VHA Directive 1108.07, Pharmacy General Requirements. Ensures that safe, timely, efficient and cost-effective distribution services are being provided within the assigned section of the Pharmacy Service. Responsible for broad areas of administrative and management functions to include program planning, personnel management, cost effectiveness reviews, records maintenance, and preparation of reports. Continually evaluates the assigned medication distribution system and recommends and coordinates changes and improvements with the Associate Chief, Pharmacy, while ensuring continuity of care for the veteran patient. Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm / 8:30am - 5:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Facility Program manager (Compounding, Hazardous Drug Compliance/AHEC) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 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. Foreign Education: 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. 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: Facility Program Manager, GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs. Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities. The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs. Demonstrated KSAs. Pharmacists assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Completion of Doctor of Pharmacy with strong clinical P4 pharmacy practice experiences Professional Pharmacy Practice to include direct patient contact including patient counseling Professional Pharmacy Practice to include monitoring drug therapies and interpretation of laboratory parameters. Professional pharmacy experience to include assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 dated June 7, 2012 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting and Carrying (under 15 lbs.); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking/Standing (up to 2 hours); Repeated Bending ( up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and emotional stability; Cognitive stability.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Failure to provide transcripts may result in non-referral of your application if education cannot be verified.

The Pharmacist 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
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 (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED)

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Note: If your school was accredited by ACPE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the ACPE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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 George H O'Brien Jr VA Medical Center 300 Veterans Boulevard Big Spring, TX 79720 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]