The Pharmacoeconomics & Quality Assurance Program Manager will develop the pharmacoeconomic program, implement, monitor and report for Pharmacy service. Focus on medication utilization, monitoring, budget planning, staff education, and inform stakeholders. Conduct pharmacy-based projects, cost savings, drug conversions, and other assignments. The candidate will attend the Medication Use Committee and VISN8 Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee, Med Error workgroup, and other committees as assigned.

Duties

Pharmacoeconomic Program Management Manages all aspects of the Pharmacoeconomic Program, including policy development, identifying quality resources for the program, and employing specialty functions, knowledge, and skills to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. The incumbent is responsible for the development and maintenance of all pharmaceutical outcome projects and economic analysis programs at the WPB VAHCS. The incumbent: (a) Designs, completes, and reports drug utilization evaluations. (b) Develops, implements, and manages programs to contain drug therapy costs, including participation in the development of medication use algorithms and disease management programs Interfaces with internal and external customers to identify, develop and implement appropriate cost containment monitoring opportunities and outcomes development activities with the understanding that education and communication with health-system staff is vital to successful implementation of such programs. Designs and coordinates the implementation of pharmacoeconomic decision analysis tools, including the development of outcome instruments (quantitative and qualitative). Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Program Management Coordinates the development, maintenance, and operation of the Pharmacy Service. Assists in training pharmacy personnel in these areas when assigned. Identifies quality improvement initiatives to address issues in patient care, staff effectiveness, or use of resources; develops proposals for procedures to implement changes; identifies resources needed to affect change; assists in training of affected personnel; and helps establish monitoring methods to assess effectiveness of changes. Analyzes data, identifies trends, prepares and/or reviews reports involving trend analyses in response to requests by the Pharmacy service management team. Brings to the attention of the Associate Chief and Chief of Pharmacy those areas of possible weakness and performs follow-up in areas of concern as assigned. Functions as a consultant to management personnel regarding pharmacy activities related to The Joint Commission (TJC), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), etc. and patient safety initiatives. Functions as a point of contact for medication safety policies and procedures involving pharmacy service. Committee Activities Serves as a member of and/or participate in WPB VAHCS committees where drug utilization issues are involved. Assists in developing and coordinating, through these committees, the WPB VA-wide implementation of prescribing restrictions, guidelines for use, and criteria for use for formulary and non-formulary drugs. Monitors and reports strategic initiatives at the WPB VAHCS level related to cost-effective drug therapy. Serves as backup to the WPB VAHCS information managers to assist committees and providers in identifying patients requiring therapeutic changes based on drug utilization review, contract or preferred drug compliance initiatives, and or implementation of prescribing restrictions/guidelines/or criteria for use. Projects Coordinates and participates in the conceptualization, development and implementation of WPB VA HCS pharmacy medication and service-related studies and projects. Ensures that all studies are conceptualized and completed according to acceptable and publishable HIPPA guidelines and appropriate research methodology, including: patient consent, study design, data collection, statistical and non-statistical analysis. Coordinates the routine development and maintenance of WPB VA HCS communication tools by which pharmacy benefits management information can be effectively distributed. Staff Development and Education Participates in continuing educational programs and in-service training programs within the medical center. Provides medication safety training, knowledge, and skills to medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy staff and allied health personnel, students and trainees as assigned. Works with appropriate administrative personnel in those respective departments as needed to provide education and training. Participates in the training and orientation of newly hired pharmacists, students and residents. Assist the PGY1 Residency Director to assign each PGY-1 pharmacy resident to prepare one drug class review, monograph, treatment guideline, or protocol. Updates the pharmacy staff on the pharmacy cost avoidance, Medication Use Committee changes and updates. Ensures that all staff are knowledgeable concerning Medical Center and Pharmacy Service policies and procedures related to medication safety. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday Telework: Available, ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 41590F

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: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: 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. 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. 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Pharmacy Supervisor, GS-13. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Assignments. Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs. Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities. The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs. Preferred Experience: Pharmacy residency trained PGY1, PGY2 Specialty Residency, or acquire 3 years of experience in Pharmacoeconomics and Quality Assurance Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work may require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending, stooping, and crawling. Incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.

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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Thomas Ellis
• Phone: 713-791-1414 X141007
• Email: [email protected]