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

Functions of Position: Serves as a therapeutic consultant to the Inpatient pharmacy, instructs medical and nursing staff on the chemical, biological pharmacological and therapeutic properties of the full range of drugs and medications. Closely monitored to prevent additional morbidity. This requires specific knowledge and application of biopharmaceutic and pharmacokinetic principles. Consultant to this house staff on medications the incumbent must be able to suggest rational alternatives when requests for non-formulary medications are made. Supply valid and useful drug information. Dispensing and Distribution: Inpatient The incumbent will coordinate with and support the unit dose drug distribution system and interact with Nursing Service Personnel and the Medical Staff in resolving all drug related problems. The incumbent must be proficient in screening physicians' orders over-dosage, incorrect strengths, drug incompatibilities, interactions, overlaps, and any other uncommon situations. The incumbent is to provide drug information education and training to pharmacy residents, interns students and in-service training for staff pharmacists and technicians. Intravenous Additive/Sterile Products & Bulk Compounding Have a thorough knowledge of drug stabilities and reconstitution requirements enabling the recognition of incompatibilities, overdoses, and contraindications in prescriptions and doctor's orders. Deviation from established guidelines and procedures may be required after consulting with the prescribing and/or attending physician. The legal responsibility for the clinical work performed and the decisions made, exclusive of direct supervision rests with the pharmacist involved. Responsible for special formulations, compounding procedures and extemporaneous compounding of routine and special medications, this is especially true when particular knowledge is required in a specific area where a precedent or official guideline is lacking. Serves as a reference source and guide to proper I. V. therapy and scientific compounding techniques for physicians, nurses and other members of the health care team. Versed in the latest IV. admixture techniques, IV. equipment and intravenous information references. Integral to this is the understanding of the critical nature of infection control procedures and the importance of maintaining a clean, aseptic medication preparation area. Education and Research: Responsible for actively participating in clinical research projects and coordinating with the Supervisory Pharmacists as these projects impact upon their various sections. As an educational laboratory for resident physicians, medical interns and resident pharmacists provide training, information and technical assistance in the safe and proper use of drugs. Customer Service Must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions; consistently communicate and treat customers {Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information per established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 9:30 am - 6:00 pm; with Rotating weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 688-24058-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [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. 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. 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-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) (a) 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. (b) 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. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 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. 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 will be selected for this vacancy is GS 12. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the position require regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing up to 40 pounds, pushing and pulling of large carts. The job may include significant time at a computer terminal.

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 Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Carla Joyner
• Phone: 1-832-316-9423
• Email: [email protected]