The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. The primary functions include serving as a consultant for medication therapy management services, as well as initiating, modifying, discontinuing and monitoring medications according to their specific scope of practice.

Duties

Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities requiring a scope of practice (dependent upon the incumbent's training and experience) Completes face to face, telephone, and virtual patient visits for comprehensive medication management of complex patients with chronic disease states including, but not limited to, anticoagulation, diabetes, hepatitis C, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Functions as a mid-level provider to implement and monitor therapeutic drug plans through direct interactions with providers and patients. Orders and follows up on appropriate lab testing to monitor and support recommended drug therapy Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities . Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed Obtains medication histories from patients, assesses adverse drug reactions, allergies, patient compliance and drug errors, and documents all appropriately in CPRS in a timely and professional manner. Evaluates restricted and non-formulary requests and applies national and VISN guidelines to arrive at an informed decision to approve or offer alternatives. Performs and directs medication usage reviews and other safety initiatives in the outpatient area Drug Information Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, dosing and compliance to medical staff, nursing, technicians and trainees. Has a good working knowledge of information resources and uses appropriate references to research drug information. Provides timely and accurate unbiased drug information to all customers and documents this provision. Provides patient education which focuses upon patients' disease states and their medications. Is able to accurately assess and document patient comprehension. Participates in multidisciplinary team educational programs as requested. Education Coordinates University of Montana pharmacy student rotations through the Ambulatory Care area. This includes an appointment as Faculty Affiliate to the University of Montana and as a clinical instructor and preceptor for the students (as applicable to location). Provides supervision, training, education and overall coordination of clinical activities performed by pharmacy residents in the Ambulatory Care area (Fort Harrison only). Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. Program Management Completes quality management data compilation for outpatient clinical pharmacy activities, as referenced in the current facility Medication Use Review plan. Serves as a consultant or as a member on various medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Adheres to all medical center and pharmacy policies and procedures. Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained, and that employee access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties. Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53893-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. 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: 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). Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. 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: Completion of ASHP Accredited Pharmacy Residency Program Pharmacy Board Certification; Previous experience in a direct patient setting working under a Pharmacy Scope of Practice. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 . Physical Requirements: Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include but are not limited to: significant computer work/typing involving documenting patient encounters in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. The incumbent should be able to lift and carry up to 45 pounds without significant difficulty. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging.

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 Fort Harrison VA Medical Center 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: Kelli Ann Crumpton
• Phone: 720-369-1396
• Email: [email protected]