This position serves as the Decentralized Acute Care Clinical Pharmacist in the Pharmacy Department. The Decentralized Pharmacist conducts both operational and clinical duties and serves as a medication expert in the acute care setting. This position works with an interdisciplinary team while triaging and resolving complicated issues independently, and serve as a liaison between all inpatient staff and Pharmacy Service in reference to VA/local policy and procedure.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Decentralized Acute Care Clinical Pharmacist duties include, but are not limited to the following: Participates in interdisciplinary patient rounds in assigned ward/unit. Makes recommendations to the responsible provider for optimal management of drug-induced problems either verbally or in writing. Evaluates the risk-benefit ratio of various therapeutic alternatives, develops a therapeutic plan utilizing the most efficacious, least toxic and most economical pharmacological treatment modalities available, and communicates these plans to the patient's provider. Selects appropriate objective and subjective parameters necessary to monitor the pharmacologic and toxic effects of the drugs being administered. Continuously monitoring drug side effects, allergic reactions, toxicity, improper dosage regimens, and laboratory test data, contacting prescribers when necessary, to ensure a good therapeutic outcome. Monitors anticoagulation therapies (warfarin, heparin, etc.) during acute care stays. Recommends monitoring and dosing plans to providers. Provides education to patients regarding anticoagulation therapies and facilitates patient enrollment into the outpatient anticoagulation clinics. Performs antibiotic surveillance in coordination with the Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist and makes recommendations, if needed, to patient's provider for changes in medication regimen, dosing, monitoring, etc. Actively participates in assuring appropriate pharmacokinetic monitoring of medications as indicated. Determines appropriate timing for blood samples to be drawn for therapeutic drug monitoring. Processing prescriptions including entry of written prescriptions into the computer system and finishing electronic medication orders, incorporating prescription review to identify and address problems with doses, formulary, drug interactions and allergies. Overseeing and directing the work of Pharmacy Technicians assigned to their area, ensuring that all products, to include IV Admixtures and unit dose medications, are prepared, labeled, and delivered IAW locally established guidelines. Greeting patients presenting for window pickup, counseling them on medication dosing, proper administration of the product, possible side effects, what to do in case of an allergic response and the importance of adherence to directions in achieving a good outcome. Processing Outpatient prescriptions in VistA, filling, dispensing and providing consultation to health care providers on issues related to medication therapy to enhance probability of good therapeutic outcomes. Exercising proper stewardship when handling or overseeing prescribing, dispensing or inventory of Controlled Substances. Checking all prescriptions filled by technicians prior to dispensing, utilizing technicians to achieve maximum productivity in the absence of the Supervisor or when working in a one-to-one situation. Orienting and training new pharmacy employees and students in each aspect of the processes utilized to carry out the various functions within pharmacy to produce a safe, efficient, patient centered/staff friendly, pharmaceutical product. Providing assistance and training to providers and other staff members to ensure safe, efficient operations in the production and delivery of quality pharmaceutical services. Documenting errors and interventions for use in improving the processes utilized in producing pharmaceutical services and products. Work Schedule: Rotating compressed schedule, and rotating holidays. Telework: Ad hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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 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: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following: (1) 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, OR (2) Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Inpatient Pharmacy Experience References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G15. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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: Hilda Cobb
• Phone: (919) 408-1864
• Email: [email protected]