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 under approved Scope of Practice. The incumbent carries out the following duties and responsibilities: Duties include but not limited to: Monitors therapy on an ongoing basis to assess therapeutic outcomes, adverse effects and compliance. 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 including changes in medication therapy, referral to primary care or specialty provider. Analyzes laboratory data to rule out drug interferences and to modify drug dosing, when necessary. Initiates, adjusts and renews medications as approved in the individual Scope of Practice, except for controlled substances and chemotherapeutic agents. Takes appropriate measures to ensure that therapy is continued for those patients who are followed at San Juan VAMC, its affiliated clinics and at other VA facilities. Adjusts medication regimens based upon pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data. Interviews and/or evaluates patients upon admission and daily during hospital stay for appropriateness of pharmacological therapy and makes a pharmaceutical care plan will be-documented in the pharmacy initial assessment or progress note. Interviews patients to determine medication history for potential drug interactions, therapeutic duplications, efficacy of current medication regimens, compliance patterns and/or drug reactions and acts to resolve identified problems. Participates in rounds with their assigned medical team and provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and formulary issues. Exercises Antibiotic Stewardship Program initiatives. Assesses need for prophylactic therapies including DVT and Gl prophylaxis and immunizations. Reviews available medication profiles for appropriateness, contraindications to drug use, side effects, relevant laboratory data, evidence of drug use/misuse/abuse, compliance, patient education needs, therapeutic duplication, poly-pharmacy, allergies, adverse drug reactions, drug-drug-interactions, drug-food interactions, and cost-minimization. Identifies drug induced problems that may be affecting the patient and communicates these findings to the patient's provider. Recommends therapeutic alternatives based upon the patient care assessment and desired outcome, drug safety, efficacy, and cost to optimize drug product selection. Reviews age/gender specific monitoring of therapy, reviews for poly-pharmacy, dose adjustments, and appropriateness of therapy. Complies with appropriate credentialing process to maintain Scope of Practice. Medication processing and dispensing at San Juan VAMC (Outpatient and Inpatient Pharmacy), Its affiliated and at other VA Clinic. Work Schedule: Overnight Shift - 7 Days On / 7 Days Off. Required to Work Weekends, Holidays and On-Call. May be required to work first and second shift.: Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 61830F 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. 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]