The clinical pharmacy specialist functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. A CPS functions as a member of the acute care team and serves as a mid-level provider to independently initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for medication therapy management services.

Duties

Functions of the Position: The CPS provider manages medication therapy by initiating, modifying and discontinuing medication both independently and in collaboration with other practitioners when needed. The CPS provider interfaces with providers, including physicians, PAs, ARNPs in the design of the veterans' treatment regimen to achieve optimization of rational and cost-effective drug therapy. The CPS will directly assist clinicians in rational drug selection by providing written and/or verbal consultation. From a verbal or written patient presentation of signs, symptoms, laboratory tests and diagnoses, recognizes and lists important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values that may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen or which may be induced by drug therapy. The CPS provider refers to the appropriate level of care for patients when needed and is responsible for providing and documenting care of assigned patients. The CPS provider has knowledge of VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, Veterans Affairs (VA) performance measures, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) initiatives and will integrate these standards into practice. Indirect patient care activities include teaching/mentoring trainees, participating in quality assurance and improvement projects, supporting research, staff education and consultation. Major Duties and Responsibilities: A. Clinical: Direct Patient Care Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Orders, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy including changes in medication therapy, referral to primary care, or specialty provider. Performs medication reconciliation upon admission, transfer and discharge from the assigned service and informs appropriate healthcare providers of any discrepancies noted. Provides recommendations for discharge and acts as a liaison between inpatient and outpatient pharmacies. B. Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Utilizes VAADERs Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting system to monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Enters and documents medication errors or findings in the medication reporting system. Documents clinical interventions in Electronic Health Medical Record in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care, recognizes significant abnormalities, and makes dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. C. Medication Dispensing and Distribution Responsible for processing all electronic orders (inpatient/outpatient) for assigned team as requested or needed including verifying patient information, correct medication dose, route, and frequency of administration. All orders are checked for patient allergies, drug interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority. Does not verify, check, or release any prescription/medication order that they prescribed. Identifies, interprets, and resolves prescribing and dispensing issues, including pharmacotherapeutics and the formulary. Documents interventions within the specified timeframe if applicable. D. Educational Provides formal and informal education and in-services to pharmacy, medical, nursing and other staff as requested. Serves as a subject matter expert for medication management for assigned committees, workgroups or interdisciplinary teams. Provides education to patients, their families and caregivers about medications, patient responsibilities, and information on health promotion. Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining his/her professional competency by keeping up with information on new drugs, new drug therapies, innovations in pharmacy practice, and integrating this information in his/her daily practice. Work Schedule: Every Saturday & Sunday 0700-1730. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Licensed Pharmacist(CPS) - Acute/PD000000 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/30/2024. 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. Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English 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. GS-13 GRADE EXPERIENCE Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Preferred Experience: In addition to basic Qualification Standard: completion of ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and/or PGY-2 Specialty Pharmacy Residency (in an applicable specialty) or equivalent experience in the major duties for at least 3 years. Assignment. 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. 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: 1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. 2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. 3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. 4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. 5. Advanced 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, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: Employees are typically expected to work forty hours per week. This may include evenings and weekends functioning as a CPS. Principle duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., handling prescriptions, use of a computer keyboard, etc.). May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 25lbs.), including boxes, packages, and equipment, stooping or kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers, etc.); sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours). Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively; must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color. An ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously is necessary. Employees must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used on the job. Employees may be asked to work voluntary overtime within different pharmacy locations during periods of extreme staffing shortages. If there are no volunteers, reverse seniority will be utilized to work mandatory overtime within their respective clinical areas or as coverage for fellow pharmacy specialists. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Doug Madel
• Phone: 608-667-6533
• Email: [email protected]