The Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) works independently at the highest level of clinical practice within Ambulatory Care areas within CTVHCS as an integral part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. They serve as a mid-level provider with an advanced scope of practice functioning to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for comprehensive medication therapy management services within their practice area.

Duties

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Major duties include but not limited to: Clinical Practice: Promote the appropriate, economical, safe, and effective use of medication therapy through maintaining independent Ambulatory Care clinical pharmacy practice sites. Practice sites may include but are not limited to: a. Anticoagulation Management Clinics b. Primary Care/PACT Clinics c. Specialty Care Clinics d. Mental Health Maintain collaborative and comprehensive medication therapy management clinics and services in designated areas of practice, under a scope of practice. This shall include physical assessment, ordering lab tests necessary to manage medication therapy, referring patients to appropriate health care providers as needed, performing patient triage functions, and independently initiating, adjusting, and discontinuing medications Deliver direct care to patients through a variety of modalities which may include but are not limited to: Face-to-Face care, telephone, video/telemedicine, e-consults, shared medical appointments, drop-in group medical appointments, group education classes and/or secured messaging interactions Document encounters and clinical decisions in electronic health record (EHR) progress notes Maintain a collaborative case management relationship with interdisciplinary team within designated practice areas. The CPS will provide appropriate independent medication changes including initiation, adjustment and discontinuation for patients seen and evaluated then presented to the CPS and deemed to be within the CPS scope of practice for disease state management Critically review restricted drug requests (RDR) or prior authorization drug requests (PADR) according to criteria for use for appropriateness, safety, cost-effectiveness and utilizing evidence-based decision-making Provide professional consultative services related to their designated area of practice to other health care providers. Professional consultative services include, but are not limited to, extensive drug information services, formulary management and medication recommendations Work independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team within the CPS practice site to help achieve positive patient centric outcomes, such as SAIL, PDSI, or other population health measures Solve complex drug related problems or clinical patient care issues; coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise Function independently in day-to-day clinical and administrative duties associated with the position, consulting with higher level provider in clinical setting and pharmacy supervisors only when required. In general, uses a high degree of professional judgment to solve complex problems which routinely arise throughout the workday Educational Activities: Supervise and train pharmacist residents and Doctor of Pharmacy students on rotation in practice setting Serve as a preceptor/trainer for health care professionals, fellows, residents, interns, or students who want to broaden their knowledge and skills and/or establish their own clinical practices Research: May actively participate in research or quality improvement (QI) project activities May provide professional and technical assistance to research investigators or QI project leaders when needed Administrative Functions: Assist in Medication Usage Evaluation which monitors the usage of medications in their practice setting Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) 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: May be Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist/PD00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: a. 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.) b. 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). c. 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. (1) 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. (2) Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. d. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. e. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: GS-13, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (a) Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) 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: 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. Preferred Experience: PGY1 Residency Completion BCPS/BCACP certification (if eligible) 2+ years work experience in Women's Health Preceptor certification or experience working with pharmacy interns and residents Completion of a University-affiliated or ASHP accredited Teaching certificate References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15 Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-660 Veterans Health Administration dated June 7, 2012. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 Physical Requirements: A. Must be able to don/doff protective garments and use equipment as necessary for assignment. May work with cleaning and disinfecting products occasionally. B. Some lifting (25 lbs.), stretching and forward and overhead reaching is involved. Walking and standing 8-12 hours. May have to kneel to retrieve product(s) from lower cabinets or the floor. C. Must be able to rapidly coordinate mental and muscular duties simultaneously. Computer keyboard activity and computer monitor use is a required activity. D. Hearing acuity is required for phone communication, patient counseling and professional communication (hearing aid use is permitted). E. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials. F. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. G. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Works closely with others. May have protracted or irregular hours of work. Shift rotation may be required.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Accreditation Information: Baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

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: 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 VA Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]