Pharmacist-Clinical Specialist PACT (Intermittent)

Allied Health Professional

Clinical - Direct Patient Care (Independent Practice Under SOP)

• Conducts face-to-face, telephone, & telehealth/VVC encounters with patients referred or empaneled for CMM.
• Functions as a mid-level provider & independently initiates, titrates, adjusts, & discontinues medication therapy for chronic disease states to achieve definite outcomes through direct patient care & collaboration with providers in assigned areas.
• Independently orders, performs, reviews, & interprets laboratory tests & diagnostic studies necessary to monitor & support drug therapy, adjusting treatment plans based on results
• Performs & documents relevant physical assessments to inform drug therapy decisions within the bounds of the SOP & clinical privileges.
• Follows up directly with patients on lab/test results to communicate & adjust the therapeutic plan, including changes in medication, monitoring frequency, & additional testing.
• Exercises independent clinical judgment to determine when referral to a physician or specialist is warranted due to disease progression, diagnostic uncertainty, or adverse drug events outside the CPP's scope.
• Manages transitions of care, including post-discharge medication reconciliation, identification & resolution of poly-pharmacy discrepancies, & coordination with non-VA & specialty care, as needed.

Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities

• Independently reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, appropriateness of drug selection, dosing, contraindications, adverse effect potential, & drug interactions; communicates findings & implements alternative treatment plans as clinically indicated.
• Obtains & documents comprehensive medication histories, summarizing significant findings in the electronic health record & to the responsible provider as appropriate.
• Monitors, documents, & reports medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, & patient adherence concerns in accordance with facility procedures.
• Applies clinical knowledge of laboratory reference ranges to identify significant abnormalities & independently makes dose-adjustment decisions based on objective findings.
• Reviews & adjudicates requests for non-formulary & restricted medications against established clinical criteria, where applicable.
• Collaborates with providers & pharmacy leadership to ensure compliance with national, VISN, & local clinical initiatives.
• Reviews & verifies medication orders for appropriateness & safety, intervening to reduce risk of adverse drug events.
• Supports the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee with medication use evaluations, drug utilization reviews, & formulary safety initiatives.

Drug Information & Patient Education

• Serves as a clinical authority on medication usage, drug interactions, overdose management, & adherence for medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, & trainees, using evidence-based references.
• Maintains current, working knowledge of pharmacotherapy literature & clinical decision-support resources.
• Provides timely, accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customer groups.
• Independently educates patients & caregivers on appropriate medication & device use, adapting communication to age, health literacy, & developmental considerations; assesses & documents patient comprehension; refers to facility-based multidisciplinary education programs as indicated.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Intermittent (no holidays)

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Telework: Available (Ad-hoc based on service needs)

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 55073A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

US Department of Veterans Affairs