The Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient Pharmacy Staffing/Chemotherapy) will be assigned to centralized staffing duties within the Inpatient Pharmacy. The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for provision of pharmaceutical care in the Inpatient Pharmacy setting - order review and verification, dispensing and distribution, inventory management, sterile and nonsterile compounding, and oversight of technicians.

Duties

MEDICATION DISPENSING AND DISTRIBUTION: Identifies, interprets, and resolves prescribing and dispensing issues; provides pharmacotherapeutic analyses and medication reconciliation upon admission. Interventions documented when appropriate. Dispenses controlled substances for inpatients and outpatients with accuracy, per current policies and procedures of the institution. Ensures compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations. Utilizes Vista Chemotherapy Manager (VCM) for chemotherapy order verification and oversees compounding and dispensing of hazardous compounded sterile products (CSPs). CLINICAL FUNCTIONS: Participates in physician collaboration/education; provides drug information, assesses patient response to therapy, and provides appropriate recommendations for treatment/alternatives. Offers interventions to maximize patient care outcomes, considering choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and cost. Evaluates patients upon inpatient admission for medication reconciliation and appropriateness of pharmacologic therapy. Documents all therapeutic related recommendations pertaining to patient care in a pharmacy admission note as necessary. Reviews chemotherapy orders/prior authorization drug requests for dosage, frequency, cycle, and appropriateness of therapy based on cancer type, laboratory values, and other monitoring parameters as indicated. Provides documentation in a progress note as necessary. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/ADMINISTRATIVE: Assists with the guidance and direction of the clinical pharmacy program and assists in reviewing the work and projects of pharmacy residents and students. Actively provides insight and direction for clinical activities within the department among all Clinical Pharmacy Specialists. Enforces the policies of the CSP/USP program for hazardous and non-hazardous sterile products through safe and accurate compounding and dispensing. Serves as an authoritative information source on pharmaceuticals and their utilization in therapy for hospital-wide councils and committees responsible for establishing and reviewing drug use policies. Designs, conducts, and participates in studies, audits, and evaluations concerning the utilization of drugs. Manages the hospital formulary and ensures its appropriate utilization by healthcare providers. Participates in the prior authorization drug request review process of the Medical Center and appropriately documents the evaluation of the prior authorization drug request. EDUCATION: Serves as preceptor for Doctor of Pharmacy Students from the University of Illinois, College of Pharmacy and other educational institutions, when needed. Provides guidance and instruction pertaining to the practice of pharmacy and serves as a mentor. Serves as preceptor for Pharmacy Practice Residents (PGY-1), when needed. Provides guidance concerning the practice of pharmacy, educates on clinical issues, and serves as a mentor. Provides in-services and/or educational presentations to interdisciplinary healthcare staff as needed. Educates patients, family members, and caregivers regarding proper use and storage of medications. Provides patient educational materials and directly instructs patients on the proper administration, use, potential side effects, and contraindications of prescribed medication therapy. Collaborates with other healthcare providers and administrators to ensure compliance with currently established pharmacy and medical center policies and procedures. Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 6:00am - 2:30pm, 7:00am - 3:30pm, 11:00am - 7:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays to include 3:00pm - 11:30pm evening shift as needed. Subject to other tours of duty based on the needs of Pharmacy Service. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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: You 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. 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. 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). GS-11 Grade Determinations: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS-12 Grade Determinations: Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11 OR, 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. GS-12 Assignment: A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. AND, Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. 2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. 3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. 4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55, PART II, APPENDIX G15. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: There may be some walking, standing, sitting, bending, and carrying of light items.

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 Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Yasmin Scott
• Phone: 910-488-2120 X1499
• Email: [email protected]