The Clinical Pharmacist will be assigned to the Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Hickory, NC, which is a part of the VA's Western North Carolina Healthcare System. This is an Open-Continuous announcement. The first certificate will be issued on 2/16/24 and new certs will be issued every two weeks and will remain open until a selection has been made. All interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications sooner rather than later.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) in Ambulatory Care functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy. Under an advanced scope of practice, the CPP works independently providing expertise and direct patient care. The CPP is responsible for the clinical and program management of pharmacy services in the Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT). FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION Clinical a. Obtains comprehensive health history including but not limited to medication therapy, medical history, laboratory and diagnostic study results, and limited physical assessment. b. Identifies patient-specific medication issues including, but not limited to, drug interactions, adverse effects, efficacy, appropriateness, medication safety concerns and adherence problems. c. Develops customized therapeutic plans utilizing effective, safe, and economical medication treatments that incorporates Veteran's preference and adherence. d. Provides comprehensive medication and disease state management services and prescribing medications and treatments in accordance with their individualized scope of practice and in collaboration with healthcare professionals responsible for the Veterans' care. e. Educates the Veteran and caregivers on disease state management and proper use of prescribed medications. Evaluates patient's ability to understand medication instructions, and provides oral and written counseling on their drug therapy. f. Orders, performs, reviews and/or analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the Veteran's drug therapy as a member of the treatment team. g. Orders consults (i.e. dietician, social work) as appropriate to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes. h. Communicates actions and recommendations to appropriate individuals and documents relevant findings in the Veteran's medical record. i. Documents patient safety events such as medication errors, adverse events, and near misses appropriately.j. Completes pharmacy consults applying clinical knowledge in accordance with established policies and procedures. k. Assists in the management of medical emergencies and adverse drug reactions. l. Verifies providers orders to be complete and appropriate for dose, route, and frequency to facilitate Veteran care. m. Assists with continuity of care for Veterans during transitions of care. Program Management a. Serves as a resource and expert in drug therapy knowledge and demonstrates skills in utilizing the evidence as it pertains practice area(s). b. Serves as a liaison between the Pharmacy Service and the assigned practice area(s). c. Responsible for managing all clinical pharmacy services within the assigned practice area(s). d. Captures workload, documents clinical activities, and maintains productivity consistent with applicable performance measures and monitors. e. Maintains an expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy within the assigned practice area(s). f. Assists in the development of policies, guidelines, and protocols in practice area assuring they are consistent with current standards of practice, VHA Guidelines and Directives. g. Complies with VA, Hospital and Pharmacy Service policies and procedures relevant to the assigned practice area(s). h. Represents pharmacy service in team meetings, local, VISN, and national committees, task forces, and workgroups relating to the assigned practice area(s). i. Participates in quality assurance, process improvement activities, and performance monitors. j. Provides expertise to leadership for pharmacy issues including, but not limited to patient safety, drug shortages, adverse drug events. Education and Personal Competence a. Communicates effectively with Veterans, co-workers, hospital staff and pharmacy management. b. Remains current with all required training, e.g. licensure, BLS, TMS, certification. c. Provides pharmacy related education and reference materials to medical staff, nursing staff, residents, students, and other healthcare professionals in the assigned practice area(s). d. Attends and participates in clinical pharmacy activities, e.g., clinical pharmacy staff meetings, staff development, residency conferences, journal club. e. Engages in the training of pharmacy staff, residents, and students. f. Serves as an effective preceptor of residents and students as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 0730 - 4:00PM Telework: This position is approved for Ad-Hoc Telework Only. All requests for Telework must be approved by your supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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. (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 (TOEFLIBT). 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: (a) Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignments: Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent. 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: 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: PGY 1 with at least 3 years experience in VA Primary Care, PGY 2 Ambulatory Care training or board certification in ambulatory care pharmacy is highly preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 JUNE 7, 2012The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of supplies weighing at least 50 pounds, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling of automated dispensing cabinets through various terrains. Benefits: Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

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 Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: John Westling
• Phone: 828-333-3451
• Email: [email protected]