The Formulary Program Manager has the primary responsibility for overseeing operationalization of the VHA National Formulary and local formulary initiatives throughout the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Formulary Program Manager has the primary responsibility for overseeing operationalization of the VHA National Formulary and local formulary initiatives throughout the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Responsibilities include organizing, developing, managing, evaluating, reporting, and improving the VA Puget Sound's drug utilization within a National Formulary program. Formulary management functions include outcomes analysis, optimization of resource utilization, analysis of quality, and quality improvement. Program Management Oversees the local implementation of the VA National Formulary and compliance to 'VHA Directive 1108.08 - VHA Formulary Management Process' ensuring timely and uniform access to medications while promoting safety, clinical efficacy, and cost-effective utilization of medications. Coordinates the implementation of formulary management, drug protocols, decision analysis tools and outcome instruments. Designs and develops tools and mechanisms to document and quantify the effects of formulary management changes on clinical outcomes. Designs, completes and reports comprehensive drug utilization evaluations/medication use evaluations. Updates the local drug file to reflect the clinical practice updates and changes made by VA national PBM as well as VISN and local Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committee decisions as appropriate. Coordinate the communication and dissemination of drug and formulary related updates/alerts to all relevant stakeholders in the facility to facilitate safe, efficient, and standardized drug distribution. Conducts initial training to new staff and ongoing training to current staff regarding the prior authorization/non formulary drug request process and all related standard operation procedures. Manages and resolves all higher-level review prior authorization/non formulary drug requests which includes (but not limited to) appeals, new medication and supply requests, high-cost medications, and specialty ordering medications. Coordinates select requests to be presented at P&T committee when appropriate and follows up on decisions made by P&T committee. Collaborates with the Pharmacoeconomics Program Manager to develop and implement a pharmacy cost containment strategic plan. Collaborates with the Pharmacoeconomics Program Manager by providing clinical review and recommendations to develop drug conversion plans to address drug shortages, pharmacoeconomic initiatives and emerging safety concerns. Develops routine reports on the prior authorization drug request and non-formulary drug request process to ensure quality of review, equity of workload, compliance to nationally mandated metrics and goals, continuous quality improvement, and identification of opportunities for formulary-related proposals that can be taken to VISN P&T committee and national PBM. Oversees FDA REMS (Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy) regulated drugs. Creates procedures and SOPs as applicable for each REMS drug as well as facilitate routine auditing to ensure compliance to the FDA regulations Oversees dispensing of drugs dispensed by specialty pharmacy. Administration/Supervision Serves as a member of the VA Puget Sound Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee. Provides committee administrative support by compiling the agenda, facilitating meetings, and documenting meeting minutes. Oversees proposals presented to the P&T committee and works with stakeholders to facilitate the application of approved proposals (e.g. works with Clinical Applications Committee to implement newly approved order sets/menus). Works with procurement to ensure cost-effective alternatives and conversion guidelines to address short and long term shortages. Serves as primary liaison with pharmacy procurement technicians to assure optimal substitution during shortage periods. Assist in quality improvement and system redesign activities for Pharmacy service and the Medical Center. Precepts formulary-related rotations and precepts/mentors (in collaboration with other pharmacists) medication use evaluations and projects for PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents. Compiles annual budget information for the Medical Center by reviewing and forecasting the utilization of new drugs and drug use patterns. Identifies opportunities to reduce costs, eliminate waste, and assure resources are used in the most cost-effective manner. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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 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.) 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. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-13 (a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) 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. Facility Program Manager. 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: Experience coordinating a Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee at a Medical Center, Health System, or a Pharmacy Benefit Management Program. PGY-2 Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship/or three years experience in a specialty practice area in Health Systems Pharmacy Administration, Medication Safety, Pharmacoeconomics, Formulary Management, or Drug Information. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Repeated bending ( 2 hours); Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Depth perception; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Standing 8 hours; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental/Emotional Stability; Environmental Factors: Constant noise; Dust; Extensive keyboard/mouse use; Working closely with others; Working alone;

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 VA Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Delilah Black
• Phone: 215-823-5800 X206491
• Email: [email protected]