Summary

The clinical pharmacist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. The pharmacist is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy.

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 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 Determination: 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 may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Physical requirements for this position are as follows: Light lifting - 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting
• Light carrying - 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying
• Straight pulling (up to 2 hours)
• Pushing (up to 2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Repeated bending
• Walking (up to 8 hours)
• Standing (up to 8 hours)
• Ability to wear Personal Protective equipment (PPE) as needed.

Duties

• 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 through the following: evaluation of the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient specific factors
• individualization of drug therapy
• evaluation - dispensing and providing medications - and drug information
• Duties include - but not limited to: Reviews patients' medication profiles and medical records as necessary for appropriate drug selection - dosing - contraindications - side effects - potential drug interactions - and therapeutic outcomes as required
• Interpret routine laboratory values and apply that knowledge in the evaluation of drug therapy and patient care
• Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment regimens as needed before processing medication orders
• Provides medication counseling to patients as needed and documents appropriately
• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness - drug selection - dosage - and route of administration prior to dispensing
• Ensures that all orders are filled in a timely manner
• Completes all required training in a timely manner
• Responsible for maintaining his/her professional competency by keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature - new drugs and therapies - and applies this knowledge in his/her daily duties
• Manages various actions - as appropriate - for medication orders to include - but not limited to pending orders - alerts and consults
• Responsible for the preparation of compounded sterile products according to USP <797> and <800> standards and local policy and procedures
• Process and compound chemotherapy orders as required according to USP <800> and local policies and guideline when applicable
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Rotating Shifts 7am- 3:30pm - 8am-4:30pm - 10am-6:30pm
• (Rotating shifts and overlapping shift assignment - weekends and Federal Holidays are to be expected as needed to serve Urgent Care) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required