The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Acute Care) uses expertise in pharmacotherapy to optimize patient care. Serves as a licensed independent provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice. The primary responsibility for the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Acute Care) is provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers.

Duties

Functions: A. Clinical Directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Acts as a provider with specialty training and scope of practice in Acute Care providing expertise to other providers, pharmacists, nursing and other disciplines as appropriate. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in electronic health record (EHR) and/or to provider as appropriate. Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and appropriate therapeutic outcomes. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Participates in multidisciplinary team rounds and provides drug information, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, formulary, and pharmacoeconomics. Evaluates drug therapy for appropriateness, effectiveness and cost-benefit and communicates with physicians and pharmacy services. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. Has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. B. Program Management Assists with internal audits medication use evaluations, adverse drug event reporting, drug regimen reviews, drug monographs and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and quality improvement related activities as assigned. Effectively organizes, directs, and manages all patient care related activities. Ensures services provided meet or exceed professional legal standards and maintain compliance with TJC, Federal/State, OIG, DEA, VHA, VISN and Medical Center requirements, regulations, standards, directives, handbooks, policies, and procedures as applicable. C. Administrative Actively seeks opportunities for cost savings and implements fiscally responsible interventions based on sound clinical and fiscal practice. Assists Pharmacy Leadership in efficiently managing Medical Center's medication budget while maximizing service. Develops and maintains cooperative working relationship with other departments such that the overall activities and scope of pharmacy services are successful and efficient. B. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Rotating Schedule to include nights, weekends, holidays Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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.) [TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] (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). [YOU MUST SUBMIT COPY OF FPGEC CERTIFICATION WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE]. 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. Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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: The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Acute Care) must be a licensed pharmacist with current inpatient clinical experience and understanding of the goals, objectives, and performance measures associated with the development, implementation, maintenance, and improvement of clinical pharmacy program. Advanced degree (Pharm.D., M.S., MBA, MPH, or equivalent), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and/or PGY2 Specialty Residency, board certification (BCPS, BCCCP) are preferred. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Acute Care) is responsible to coordinate national, VISN and local initiatives to meet performance goals and support quality patient care activities. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignments. 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. 1. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standards, dated June 7, 2012. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 . Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary. Typically, the Pharmacist sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small pieces of equipment and supplies, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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 Las Vegas VA Medical Center 6900 North Pecos Road North Las Vegas, NV 89086 US
• Name: Maria Canales
• Phone: 830-377-4138
• Email: [email protected]