Clinical Pharmacist

Summary This position will serve as a Clinical Pharmacist with the VA Central California Health Care System in Fresno, CA. 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. The Pharmacist will, when assigned, rotate through inpatient and outpatient areas and all shifts as required by the Pharmacy Service. 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 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; (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) Grade Determinations: GS‑12 Clinical Pharmacist Grade Requirements: (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 In addition – 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: Inpatient pharmacy experience as well as VHA operational experience preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑12 Physical Requirements: Work is generally sedentary, typically the pharmacist sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, small pieces of equipment and supplies, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Duties Analyze real and potential drug‑related medical problems and implement corrective action to ensure patients receive optimal drug therapy; apply standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non‑scheduled drugs. Evaluate the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient‑specific factors. Individualize drug therapy. Evaluate, dispense, and provide medications and drug information. Provide patient‑specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicate relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health‑care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing. Serve as a drug information resource by providing up‑to‑date drug information to prescribers, other health‑care professionals, patients, and caregivers. Provide and document in the medical record medication counseling to patients. Complete medication history including patient interviews. Review all medication orders for appropriateness – drug selection, dosage, route of administration, and the amount – prior to dispensing; ensure all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record; fill all orders in a timely fashion. Review the patient’s allergy history – drug‑drug, drug‑nutrient, drug‑laboratory, and drug‑disease state interactions and assess for clinical relevance; perform and deal with appropriate actions. Coordinate telephone pharmacy technician workload and daily work assignments in collaboration with the designated pharmacy supervisor. Answer all direct patient phone calls for VACCHCS Pharmacy Service as well as patient phone calls forwarded or transferred from other health‑care providers; these calls will involve patient education, drug information, and/or any other pharmacy‑related issues. Provide education to health‑care providers regarding medication use. Assume an active role in the overall pharmacy‑training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, professional and non‑professional staff members. Conduct on‑the‑job training, in‑services and provide guidance through designated programs. Coordinate the receipt and distribution of all drugs in an investigational and/or clinical evaluation status and maintain appropriate records regarding their use as applicable. Maintain adequate drug inventory which includes monitoring of effective stock levels – expiration dates – proper storage conditions – and inventory control procedures. Work Schedule: Shifts – structure currently is from 1:30 pm to 10:00 pm with Fridays off and alternating weekends. Telework: Not Available; Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement ‑ 10779F; Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized; Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr