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

Duties

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient/Outpatient Rotational) GS-0660-11/12 Duties include but are not limited to the following description: The Clinical Pharmacist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. 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. This is done through the evaluation of the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient specific factors; individualization of drug therapy; evaluation and dispensing of medications as well as provision of drug information and patient counseling. The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the duties of the position, including the necessary skills to provide care appropriate to the population of the patients served. Such knowledge and skills are identified in the Competency Assessment Checklist of the position and include knowledge and skills in: Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers. Maintenance of confidentiality of patient/employee information, electronic and print. Infection Control and Safety Performance Improvement Population Specific care, as identified in the Population-Specific Competencies, including effectively communicating with patients who are 66 years and older and/or who may be hearing, physically, or cognitively impaired. Functions include but are not limited to the following description: A. Clinical: Monitors drug therapy regimens for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, allergies, appropriateness of drug and dose, and therapeutic duplications. Detects and reports suspected Adverse Drug Events (ADE), near misses and medication incidents accurately and in a timely manner in alignment with VA ADERS reporting program. Sustains the formulary by utilizing therapeutic substitution protocols and promoting rational drug therapy selection. Reviews and completes non-formulary consults as assigned. Recommends appropriate and cost effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff as needed. Provides medication counseling to patients. B. Dispensing: Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and quantity ordered, prior to dispensing. Ensures all medication orders are entered into the patient electronic medical record. Processes, prepares and dispenses medication orders per provider request in a timely manner and according to established policies, procedures, and protocols. Reviews patients' allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions; and takes appropriate actions. Reviews medication profiles and monitors compliance or potential abuse. Maintains adequate supply/drug stock levels, inspects drug storage areas, to include pharmacy automation equipment. Supervises medication repackaging. C. Administrative: Maintains accurate accountability of all controlled substances. Assists in coordinating the work of the pharmacy technicians. Assists in the training of new employees and students. Works independently with minimal supervision. Organizes and prioritizes work assignments. Thoroughly completes medication error reporting forms. D. Education: Maintains basic knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the area of practice. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program. Conducts on-the-job training and provides guidance through designated programs. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F2465 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Hannan Neilson at [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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. 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- 11 Clinical Pharmacist: Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS- 12 Clinical Pharmacist: Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Assignment: A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. In addition to meeting the experience, selected applicant must meet the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice, Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff, Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security, Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Preferred candidates will have experience in both inpatient/hospital settings and outpatient/retail settings. Experience with pharmacy automation equipment including ScriptPro, Omnicell, and unit dose packaging is also a plus. Additionally, experience with control substances, vaccinations, and inventory management would be ideal. 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-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 places no special physical demand on the employee. The work includes walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items.

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 Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Heather Volpe
• Email: [email protected]