The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) - Inpatient Mental Health functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently (under a scope of practice as defined by the Medical Center to directly care for patients. The CPP supports a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider by initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy, and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws 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. The CPP is an acute care pharmacist and will work with interdisciplinary mental health (MH) teams to manage patients with various serious mental illnesses (SMIs) and conditions admitted to the inpatient MH service/wards. Patients who are referred to the CPP provider are those who may benefit from close monitoring and ongoing assessment and titration of medication therapy to improve the safe use of medications. Duties include, but not limited to: A. CLINICAL TEAM LEADERSHIP The CPP provider shall routinely maintain an outstanding and up-to-date clinical knowledge base with regard to medication therapy, contemporary journal articles, and contemporary pharmacy practice. Incumbent will routinely provide and support leadership and management oversight as it relates to the clinical programs and clinical activities of assigned personnel. Scanning the internal and external environments to determine opportunities to enhance pharmacy services to support patient education, patient adherence, clinical outcomes, and team member growth and development. Monitor drug utilization (formulary, non-formulary, restricted) and intervene to ensure formulary adherence and optimal evidence-based clinical outcomes. Monitor the educational needs of providers, pharmacists, and patients, and make recommendations to address any deficiencies. Actively participate in supporting any defined educational programs and activities. Routinely benchmark with national contemporary programs and make recommendations for clinical pharmacy service and lead program changes when directly involved in the assigned practice area. Analyze and interpret the published literature, and appropriately apply one's findings. In addition, demonstrate a willingness to maintain a current understanding in terms of the breadth and depth of the literature in appropriate clinical areas. B. CLINICAL AND PHARMACOECONOMIC ACTIVITIES: The CPP provider shall routinely provide and support pharmacoeconomic and clinical pharmacy staff activities and is directly responsible for monitoring and managing medication therapy for assigned patients. Clinical pharmacy and pharmacoeconomic activities shall be performed in accordance with the individual's approved scope of practice and shall include: Routine review of medical orders for appropriateness of the drug, dosage, schedule, duration, and directions. Objectively support adherence to the formulary and demonstrate the assertiveness and poise that is needed to handle any untoward situations. Support the review and adjudication of non-formulary medication orders consistent with departmental guidelines / policy. Routine polypharmacy reviews to identify opportunities to reduce medication and therapeutic duplications and enhance patient medication administration compliance. Routine formulation of clinical medication therapy management decisions based on a review of the patients' computerized medication profile, remote computerized patient record system, patient consultations, and provider consultations. C. DRUG INFORMATION SERVICES The CPP provider shall be responsible for providing medication information and drug literature analysis as requested. The incumbent shall: Routinely provide medication information to providers, assigned patients, and members of the clinical pharmacy team. This activity is both formal and informal and may involve both written and oral communication. Medication information consultations generally cover all aspects of clinical pharmacotherapy, including the rational and appropriate use of drugs, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicology, and the management of drug and chemical toxicities. Evaluate and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources of clinical drug literature as needed to support clinical decisions and patient/provider education. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 07:00am - 3:30pm or 07:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized according to Agency policy 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. 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/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) (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. 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 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). 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: (1) 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. (2) 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. (3) 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must possess the following grade requirements. GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: Applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. In addition, applicants must meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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: PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy or 3 years of inpatient mental health experience. Health Professional Trainees are encouraged to apply References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G15. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. Physical Requirements: Some of the work involves extended periods of time standing, sitting or doing computer work. Duties regularly involve lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, lifting to stock shelves, bending/stooping, and walking to various parts of the Carl T. Hayden Medical Center grounds which may involve some minor exertion. Endurance of very stressful periods may be required due to uncontrollable workload demands. This position requires average agility and dexterity. Professional appearances per Pharmacy dress code, attitude and demeanor are required.

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Felicia Markham
• Phone: 909-583-6134
• Email: [email protected]