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

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws This position is located in the Pharmacy section at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. The Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is responsible for planning, implementing and operating the medicine drug monitoring and utilization programs. He/she is the internal medicine expert in all areas related to medications utilized in general medicine patient care areas and functions as a consultant to other health care professionals. The incumbent functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. Duties include, but not limited to: Clinical Functions Operates independently with a defined scope of practice to directly care for patients in a complex and diverse inpatient internal medicine setting. Provides a higher level of clinical pharmacy practice by demonstrating advanced skills in medication management services and offering expe1t knowledge on pharmacology, therapeutics, drug-drug interactions, medication safety, compatibility guidelines and aseptic techniques. Performs comprehensive assessment of patients upon admission to the hospital and as necessary during hospitalization for appropriateness of pharmacologic therapy. Designs, implements, monitors, and documents pharmaceutical care plans to achieve positive, patient-centric outcomes. Actively contributes on multidisciplinary team rounds to provide drug information, observe and monitor patient response to therapy, and make appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes. Educational Functions Acquisition and maintenance of the clinical knowledge necessary to provide clinical pharmacy services to the inpatient and ambulatory care areas. Contributions to informational and educational publications for the medical center house staff and attending physicians. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the broad area of advanced pharmacotherapy, with special emphasis on internal medicine. Administrative Functions Assumes an ownership role for administrative activities related to advanced practice setting, including reviewing consults in a timely manner, accurately closing encounters, independently resolving provider and patient care issues, and assuring appropriate coverage for clinical services. Maintains an expert understanding of all regulatory standards specific to clinical practice area, including but not limited to VA, DEA and Joint Commission regulations. Takes initiative to identify issues and implement changes to ensure compliance, including developing or updating policies, providing in-service education, and participating in Pharmacy Service Joint Commission Continuous Readiness Reviews. Distributive Functions Computer verifying of provider order entered inpatient and outpatient prescriptions. Provides oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution, where applicable. Reviews and interprets physician orders for IV and oral medications for accuracy eligibility, availability, and therapeutic appropriateness. Compounds and dispenses all extemporaneous preparation, even those that require a high degree of technical and pharmaceutical knowledge. Use aseptic techniques and proper safety precautions in mixing all IV solutions for all specialties (including Oncology, Cardiology and PCA pumps). Provide professional guidance on IV admixtures or related matters to medical and nursing staff. Inputs and/ or verifies all prescription orders via CPRS per assigned area. Ensures orders are processed and filled in a timely, accurate manner, including point-of-care drug distribution, where applicable. Interpersonal Relations Functions Contact with patients, relatives, staff members and other individuals dealing with the Medical Center demonstrates a concerned, compassionate, and helpful attitude to enhance a positive image of the Medical Center and the VA system. Provides timely verbal and/or written information that is thorough and correct, using clear and precise communication methods to ensure patients and other health care providers understand. Performs other duties as assigned by management. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, or 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, rotating weekends and holidays. Tour of duty subject to change based on agency needs. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:PD50810A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Please contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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: Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignments. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. 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: PGY1 residency and Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification (critical care, pharmacotherapy, and/or emergency medicine).OR PGY1 Residency and PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in internal medicine, surgery, critical care or emergency medicine. OR Pharmacists with 2 years of clinical experience in or related to internal medicine, surgery, critical care or emergency medicine. References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standards. The full performance level of 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Michael Walsh
• Phone: 727-717-0391
• Email: [email protected]