The clinical pharmacy practitioner (CPP) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. A CPP functions as a member of the assigned Internal Medicine (IM) team and serves as a mid-level provider to independently initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for medication therapy management services.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities that require a scope of practice: Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Orders, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy including changes in medication therapy, referral to primary care, or specialty provider. Performs medication reconciliation upon admission, transfer and discharge from the assigned service and informs appropriate healthcare providers of any discrepancies noted. Provides recommendations for discharge and acts as a liaison between inpatient and outpatient pharmacies Independently adjusts medication regimens based upon, laboratory, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data as available. Interviews and/or evaluates patients upon admission and discharge from the assigned service stay for appropriateness of pharmacological therapy and makes a pharmaceutical care plan for each patient that will be documented via a progress note in the electronic health record. Participates in daily rounds with their assigned/covering medical team and provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and formulary issues. Exercises antibiotic stewardship and oversees responding to restricted ID approvals for their assigned team as directed within the required time frame. Responsible for managing the patient's entire anticoagulation therapy management during the inpatient stay as well as coordinating any necessary follow up. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results as applicable, to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e. changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements. Attends Code Blue and Rapid Responses as required. Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Utilizes VAADERs Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting system to monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Enters and documents medication errors or findings in the medication reporting system. Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. Apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care, recognizes significant abnormalities, and makes dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable and as assigned. Supports effective drug usage criteria approved by the national VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM), VISN PBM and local Pharmacy & Therapeutic (P & T) which help to ensure quality patient care in a cost-effective manner. Ensures appropriate utilization of the VHA formulary by health care providers. Develop, upgrade, and disseminate acceptable criteria for use of formulary and non-formulary medications and other high-cost items directed at employed cost effectiveness with compromising the quality of patient care. Dissemination of information may occur in a setting requiring speaking in front of a large group of providers. Medication dispensing and distribution Responsible for processing all electronic orders (inpatient/outpatient) for assigned team as requested or needed including verifying patient information, correct medication dose, route, and frequency of administration. All orders are checked for patient allergies, drug interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority. Education: Serves as a preceptor for students, PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents at Hines VA Hospital and maintains preceptor qualifications that aligns with American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) and set forth by the residency program director. Administration/Technical Support, Customer Service and information Security, Confidentiality and Occupational Safety and Health. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday- Friday 7:30am-4:00pm with - Rotating Weekends, Rotating Holidays, and off tour hours as needed. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship. 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.) 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: (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.) OR 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of GS-13 employment. Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. AND Perform 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 at least 25% of the time. 1. 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. AND 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. Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board. (2) Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination). (3) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination. Preferred experience: PGY-2 in Internal Medicine or equivalent experience preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the duties of this position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing/sitting for prolonged periods of time, frequent twisting/turning, and bending/stooping. The incumbent must be able to perform lifting/carrying, pushing, or pulling different types of equipment such as cabinets, carts or supplies weighing at minimum 50 pounds through various terrains.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Vanessa Houliston
• Phone: 725-210-2766
• Email: [email protected]