This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The Clinical Pharmacist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics. The incumbent is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure patients receive optimal drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs. The primary function of a clinical pharmacist is to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications and be an advocate of rational drug therapy through evaluation of the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient specific factors. Clinical Functions: Provide appropriate drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and monitor for efficacy, side effects, and clinical outcome. Provide patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicate relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing. Recommend alternative therapeutic options in cases where drug therapies have failed to produce desired results. Perform continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy. Serve as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers, other health care professionals, patients, and caregivers. Perform medication reconciliation during transitions of care, including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications. Maintain effective interdepartmental relationships by committee membership, active problem resolution skills, and close cooperation with other services in accomplishing the medical center mission and goals. Manage recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule. Serve as a role model to pharmacy technicians and as a preceptor to pharmacy trainees. Keep abreast of new developments in pharmacy practice and drug therapy by reading pharmacy and medical literature and participate in continuing education programs. Participate in medical emergencies and emergency preparedness. Dispensing Functions: Interpret and verify doctors' orders, perform patient medication profile review (allergy, drug interaction screens, etc.) and provide drug and policy information to patients and medical center staff. Consult with patients and medical center staff whenever there are questions concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient prescriptions or inpatient (residential treatment unit) orders. Ensure all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record appropriately. Review medication profiles and monitor for compliance or potential abuse. Select, reconstitute, fill, and dispense a range of drugs and supply items including controlled and non-controlled substances, special medication formulations, oncolytic agents, ward or clinic stock orders in both outpatient and residential treatment areas. Maintain proper records for all transactions in compliance with medical center policies and federal regulations. Work under general guidance and direction of the Associate Service Chief of Outpatient Pharmacy Operations. Manage information security within areas of responsibility to assure computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained and employee access to sensitive information is limited only to what the employee requires to perform their duties. Report and address violations of information security. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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: Ad-hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S. Code 7407). 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. (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. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: GS-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement above.) Assignment. Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) 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, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. 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. References: Former VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, 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: The work requires light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds); reaching above the shoulder; use of fingers; walking (up to 1 hour); standing (up to 1 hour); repeated bending (up to 1 hour); and hearing (aid may be permitted).

Education

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. If selected for this position, you must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact [email protected] for questions/assistance.

IMPORTANT: This position has a positive education or training requirement. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of the required degree or program is required and must include the name of the school, your name, date conferred or completed, and degree or certificate type.

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 Jonathan M Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center 77 Wainwright Drive Walla Walla, WA 99362 US
• Name: Joe Julkowski
• Phone: 509-434-7382
• Email: [email protected]