The Outpatient Clinical Pharmacist is the primary specialist in clinical and distributive functions within the clinic pharmacy. The Pharmacist acts as the custodian, distributor and consultant for all pharmaceutical agents and adjuncts, including their national uses and appropriate administration.

Duties

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf The Clinical Pharmacist: Consults with physicians and other providers on appropriate pharmaceutical treatment regimens for patients. Evaluates non-formulary consults in accordance with VA criteria for use of non-formulary medications. Monitors use of non-formulary medications on discharge and fee prescriptions to ensure that VA patients receive appropriate medications according to VA criteria of use. Processes pharmacy interventions regarding medication changes in therapy, drug-interactions, drug allergy processing, dosage errors, and other pharmacy interventions. Records pharmacy interventions in appropriate intervention software to track and trend interventions for quality assurance purposes. Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy. Completes medication histories including patient interviews. Serves as a drug information resource to health care professionals, patients and caregivers. Participates in patient care rounds, review charts, evaluates pertinent laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies. Assesses drug safety and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms. Reports adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors Recommends formulary alternatives and completes non-formulary consults as assigned. Participates in medical emergencies including code teams (if BLS or ACLS certified) and emergency preparedness activities. Provides pharmacokinetic consultation, including dosing vancomycin and aminoglycosides. Implements P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions. Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule. Assumes an active role in staff development of peers and provides educational in-services to nursing, medical staff or to other ancillary services. Interprets and evaluates physician medication orders for both accuracy and appropriateness. Verifies provider medication orders in VistA to include drug interaction monitoring, proper dose, rate, and dosage form. Utilizes all applicable manual, automated and computerized prescription processing and dispensing systems. Prepares and dispenses medications in accordance with dosage form requirements, including routine outpatient prescriptions compounded preparations and sterile products (including Rx admixtures). Prepares all medications and supplies according to all applicable VA rules and regulations, FDA, DEA, State and Federal laws, rules and requirements. This includes keeping all necessary paperwork, inventories, signature logs and any other documentation necessary to comply with all VA, FDA, DEA, local, State and Federal laws, rules and regulations and compliance requirements. Participates in in-service training programs for house staff (i.e., CPR instructor) Serves as a preceptor to students of Affiliated Schools of Pharmacy. Represents Pharmacy services in a professional manner that focuses on the needs of the patient and not on personal or competing agendas. Periodically performs all necessary departmental supervisory functions in the absence of the supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 2:00pm - 10:30pm 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) Telework: Available (Ad Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Pharmacist (Clinical Outpatient) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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: (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. Exception: Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. 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). Preferred Experience: (1) Comprehensive knowledge of pharmacy workflow to include pharmacy operations as well as pharmacy administration and paperwork (2) Possesses ability to analyze systems and streamline processes to maintain and improve patient care through the most efficient and timely delivery of prescription medications to VA patients (3) Comprehensive knowledge of pharmacy to efficiently offer cost effective, criteria-based medication therapy outcomes for VA patients (4 Possesses personal skills and ability to interact with tact, courtesy, and diplomacy to represented pharmacy service professionally when interacting with external and internal customers Grade Determinations: GS-11 Pharmacist: Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement listed above). Assignment: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist: 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. NOTE: Pharmacists at the GS-11 grade level serve in a developmental capacity. 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. 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. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 dated June 7, 2012 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds Straight pulling, 1 hour Pushing, 1 hour Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Both hands required Walking, 2 hours Repeated bending, 2 hours Both legs required Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Depth perception Ability to distinguish basic colors Ability to distinguish shades of colors Hearing (aid permitted)

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts are not required, however, failure to provide transcript may result in non-referral of your application if your education cannot be verified.

The Pharmacist must be a 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.
OR
Graduate of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED)
NOTE: Graduates of foreign pharmacy programs must 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).

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Note: If your school was accredited by ACPE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the ACPE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
NOTE: 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/. Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.

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 VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]