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

The incumbent has full time responsibility for providing expert pharmacotherapy services to optimize patient response and resource utilization for professional staff. The incumbent carries out the following duties and responsibilities; Duties include but not limited to: Works independently under a scope of practice, after the establishment of a working diagnosis of respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension, among others and initial treatment plan by the patient's provider(s) and in accordance with accepted standards of practice or the pharmacologic management guidelines established by local, VISN-8 and National committees. Unique functions requiring the individual to maintain a scope of practice: Primary provider for extending medication therapy until next medical appointment, when patients are out of medications (limited to non-controlled substances). Primary provider to initiate, modify or discontinue patient's medication therapy (excluding controlled substances) as clinically indicated in the treatment of pulmonary conditions. Provides patient-specific drug therapy modifications to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and polypharmacy while providing cost-effective treatment. The assessments are based on clinical reviews and objectives measures. Clinical pharmacy practitioner will determine a referral to the physician Is necessary when disease progression occurs or adverse drug events require treatment interventions. Orders, performs. reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on laboratory or test results to discuss the plan of therapy (i.e. changes in medlcation therapy. monitoring and evaluation, additional testing requirements, referral to primary care or specialty care physician). Provides patient care that is appropriate to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the patient group served. Categories Served: Adult-ages 18 to 64 years old; Older Adult -ages 65 and older. Primary provider to consult to other VA providers in the patient care team, on the appropriate VA National Formulary medications to consider for patients that are choosing to transfer their care to VA. Core functions include face-to-face, VA Video Connect and telephone encounters with referred patients. Functions as part of the interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive medication management. Interviews the patient to obtain pertinent past medical history; chief complaint(s), history of present illness, and review of systems; medication use history (including prescribed and over-the-counter use); home blood pressure monitoring data and daily weights; allergies/adverse reactions; social history; dietary patterns to the extent that these relate to disease progression: assessment for medication adverse effects. Monitors therapy on an ongoing basis to assess therapeutic outcomes, adverse effects, and compliance. Is directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Reviews and evaluates request for Non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Serves as an authoritative information source on medications and their utilization in therapy, with special emphasis on medications used for mental health disorders and other chronic disease states use as diabetes, hypertension, anticoagulation etc. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, to compare and contract therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs, with a special emphasis in medications used in Pulmonary conditions and its related complications. Analyzes laboratory data to rule out drug interferences and to modify drug dosing, when necessary. Takes appropriate measures to ensure that therapy is continued for those patients who are followed at San Juan VACHS, its affiliated clinics and at other VA facilities. Medication processing, dispensing and distribution at San Juan VAMC, its affiliated clinics and other VA facilities. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. Required to work rotating shifts on weekends and Holidays. Required to be on-call. May rotate 2nd (3:00pm to 11:30pm and 3rd (11:00pm to 7:00am) shifts. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 62336F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Adam Blas-Rodriguez Email:[email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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-Submit Documentation: Candidates at the GS-13 grade level must hold a 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. NOTE: The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to work in the advertised location. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written Spanish to work in the advertised location. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. 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. Preferred Experience: Incumbents ideally have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree plus 1) or 2) below: Three (3) years of practice experience with a substantial component (>50%) of patient care activities in pharmacotherapy. Completion of a Pharmacy Practice or Specialty Residency with a substantial component (>50%) of patient care activities in pharmacotherapy. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Staffing, Appendix G-15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard, June 7, 20 I 2. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work includes: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; light lifting, under 15 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; pushing up to 4 hours; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required); walking, up to 4 hours; standing, 6 hours prolonged; kneeling; repeated bending; climbing, use of legs and arms; operation of vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20; specific visual requirement, ability to read fine print on labels; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); clear speech; and emotional stability.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 407-631-8496
• Email: [email protected]