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 Harm Reduction Coordinator (HRC) Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is responsible for providing leadership, direction, organization, planning, implementation, and evaluation of harm reduction efforts at the Alexandria Veterans Affairs Health Care System (AVAHCS), including but not limited to overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND), syringe services program (SSP), and fentanyl test strip distribution initiatives. This individual has in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in harm reduction, OEND, SSP, and fentanyl test strip program implementation. The HRC CPP will function at the highest level of clinical practice and licensure, serve as an advanced practice provider, and work independently with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's scope of practice, up to 20% of scheduled work hours. The HRC CPP will participate in quality improvement, process improvement, and/or research activities and will serve as a preceptor for pharmacy residents and/or students. Duties include but are not limited to: 1) Develops, implements, expands, and evaluates outcomes of harm reduction initiatives: a) OEND b) SSP c) Fentanyl test strip distribution system 2) Identifies: a) Vendors and sources to obtain harm reduction supplies b) Harm reduction opportunities via clinical dashboards c) Community harm reduction organizations to refer veterans who decline or are unable to receive VA harm reduction services 3) Partners, collaborates, and consults with: a) Key facility services and programs, such as Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO), Infectious Disease (ID) Clinic, Liver Clinic, Addiction Recovery Treatment Services, Mental Health Service, Pharmacy Service, Medicine Service, Nursing Service, Logistics Service, and the Pain Management, Opioid Safety, Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMOP) Committee b) Local and national community harm reduction organizations for program improvement and partnership c) Office of General Counsel (OGC) District Counsel to determine if any SSP services/supplies are legally prohibited d) National VA offices, such as VA Hepatitis and Related Conditions (HRRC), Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP), Academic Detailing Service, Clinical Pharmacy Practice Office (CPPO), for collaboration and development of new harm reduction resources 4) Participates in relevant local, regional, and national workgroups: a) Leads the facility OEND Workgroup i. Conducting annual risk assessments of VA campuses to ensure timely access to naloxone ii. iii. iv. v. Developing and maintaining relevant facility policies Expanding naloxone availability in VA parking garages, VA transportation vehicles, and veteran housing facilities Tracking reports of naloxone use (e.g., code blue events, Suicide Behavior and Overdose Report (SBOR) notes, HUD- VASH staff) Monitoring outcomes to ensure compliance with VA naloxone distribution goals b) Participates in the National VA HIV/SSP Affinity Group: i. Developing new SSP resources, including veteran and staff education resources, standardized harm reduction kits, and a standardized note template ii. Sharing best practices and lessons learned c) Participates in the National VA HIV Care and Prevention Affinity Group d) Participates in the National VA Harm Reduction Support and Development Workgroup e) Participates in the National VA Fentanyl Test Strip Workgroup 5) Advocates for policy and program changes to enhance harm reduction services for veterans. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Eligible Functional Statement #: 502-00505-F EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Education: (1) 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/. (2) 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: GS13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated KSAs. The KSAs shown below apply to all assignments at this grade level. 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Preferred Experience: None listed References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Position may require heavy lifting & carrying, 45 pounds and over. Pushing may be required up to 2 hours. Must be able to reach above shoulder, utilize fingers, use of both hands required. Walking up to 6 hours, standing up to 6 hours, keeling up to 2 hours, repeated bending up to 6 hours, climbing using legs up to 2 hours, use of both legs required, use of both eyes required, depth perception and ability to distinguish basic colors, and shades of colors is required; hearing (aid may be permitted).

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 Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: Teri Bankhead
• Phone: 2057719942
• Email: [email protected]