Summary

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.

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: 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: Experience or Education One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11) level - or Completion an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program 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 Preferred Experience: VA experience preferred
• Controlled Substance pharmacy experience preferred DEA and Federal regulations with controlled substance medications
• Reference: Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard in VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix II-G15
• 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
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor
• The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings
• Use of fingers may be required to operate computers
• There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another - equipment and room set-up - and ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities.

Duties

• This position is assigned at Hampton VA Medical Center - Western Branch Community Based Outpatient Clinic (WB CBOC)
• The Controlled Substances Clinical Pharmacist handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - and national policies and regulations
• Duties include but are not limited to: Prepares all Omnicell in clinic and outpatient order requests for controlled substances and maintains necessary records of activity
• Receives new stock - enters inventoried amounts into the controlled substance package - and appropriately maintains invoices
• Returns stock into inventory by ensuring the accuracy of controlled drug records
• Maintains a perpetual inventory of all vault controlled substances and interacts with controlled substance inspection officials
• Participates in narcotic inspections of the vault
• Reports unresolved discrepancies immediately to Controlled Substance Program Manager
• Monitors and analyzes orders and distribution patterns to identify questionable circumstances or unusual trends and communicates potential problems to Controlled Substance Program Manager
• Provides controlled substances training for technicians - pharmacist - inspectors - students - etc
• Removes expired/outdated control medications and processes the medications for destruction
• Oversees mailing of controlled medications per procedures for using the current mailing systems
• Resolves/reconciles discrepancies per appropriate methods
• Reviews the Omnicell computer for controlled medication activity/transactions
• May be assigned to assist with duties or other work areas in pharmacy service to help fulfill our mission and abide by our organization's values
• Screens - profiles - enters - and verifies physician orders
• Orders should be screened for accuracy and appropriateness of drug - dose - form - route - and interval
• This includes drug-drug and drug-food interactions - allergies - incompatibilities - contraindications - and formulary availability
• Physicians or other appropriate healthcare professionals are contacted when necessary
• Problems are dealt with in an appropriate manner and if unresolved the appropriate pharmacist is contacted
• Supervises the technicians' preparation and the dispensing of all medications for patients
• Dispensing outpatient prescriptions or unit dose medications
• Provides quality control analysis for dispensing activities of automated dispensing equipment - i.e. - compounders - formulators - counting machines - etc
• Maintains adequate levels of medications - forms and supplies pertinent to this area
• Forwards problems concerning procurement to the appropriate supervisor
• Handles all routine professional - technical - and administrative problems associated with the provision of medications for the veteran patient
• Provides pertinent information concerning the proper use of medications
• Provides drug information to physicians - nurses - and other associated healthcare professionals
• (3) Acts as liaison between the wards or other patient care areas and the pharmacy distribution area - helping to solve problems - clarify orders - provide additional information needed - and to improve communications
• Maintains and obtaining clinical drug knowledge necessary to provide clinical pharmacy services
• Assists in the orientation and training of all new employees - students - technicians - and trainees - and assist in their evaluation by providing feedback as to their progress and performance
• Assumes the responsibility for the immediate supervision and operation of the area to which assigned
• including the supervision of technicians and students - organizing workflow - and handling all routine problems and responsibilities associated with that area
• Works generally with supervision by the Controlled Substance Program Manager
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Various 8 hours
• Tours may be adjusted to meet medical center and patient care needs
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized