Summary

The Compounded Sterile Preparation/Quality Program Manager is a licensed pharmacist assigned to Pharmacy Administration and serves as the primary support for pharmacy's quality management and regulatory compliance. The incumbent has programmatic oversight of multiple sterile compounding sites across VA Northern Indiana HCS's territory and will intermittently provide on-site support to those locations - e.g. Marion - IN and Mishawaka - IN.

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: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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
• (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)
• Preferred Experience: Experience managing anticoagulation therapy - including warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) - with demonstrated knowledge of pharmacokinetics - monitoring parameters - and dose adjustments
• Experience with tracking clinical outcomes - adverse events - and compliance metrics
• ability to use data for performance improvement
• Ability to mentor staff - provide education on anticoagulation best practices - and lead process improvement projects
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• GS-13 Preferred Experience: At least three years of experience in compounding sterile preparations
• authoring formal policy
• assessing regulatory compliance and completing associated action plans
• (a) Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (b) 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
• 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 6 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
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• b
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• c
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• d
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• e
• Advanced 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 may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate lifting - walking - bending - stooping - standing - pushing - and pulling
• Ability to lift/push/pull light loads - carts weighing 40 pounds or more
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination
• Normal range for hearing and vision.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The duties and responsibilities of the Facility Program Manager - Compounded Sterile Preparation/Quality include but are not limited to the following: a) Provides oversight of the sterile compounding program ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory bodies
• b) Provides supervision over all sterile compounding - ensuring the coordination and provision of safe - effective - and timely delivery of sterile compounds for administration to the patient
• c) Ensures sterile compounded preparations are prepared efficiently with proper utilization of personnel - equipment - and space in sterile compounding areas
• d) Directs the training - orientation - and ongoing competency of pharmacists - technicians - and students for the sterile compounding program
• e) Develops - monitors - and reports sterile compounding quality assurance measures
• f) Ensures strict adherence to the application and monitoring of appropriate aseptic technique for staff involved in the preparation of intravenous admixtures - including specialized knowledge involving compatibilities and stabilities of parenteral drugs in various solutions
• g) Monitors proper cleaning and documentation required for sterile compounding areas and equipment
• h) Reviews and publishes updated sterile compounding policies and procedures as needed
• Communicates updates and provides training to staff
• i) Develops and provides annual training and assesses annual competencies for sterile compounding to ensure that all staff involved in the sterile compounding process have adequate training and competency documented
• SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The employee is administratively accountable to the Chief - Pharmacy Service - or designee - for professional licensure - competency - and continuing education
• The employee performs additional duties as assigned by pharmacy management
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93091-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required