Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist)

Summary

This position serves as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in the area of Anticoagulation within the Pharmacy Service at the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21). The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works under an approved scope of practice to provide comprehensive medication management, evidence-based anticoagulation therapy oversight, and advanced clinical decision support.

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Duties

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Duties / Responsibilities

- Provides direct patient care and medication management for patients requiring anticoagulation therapy (e.g., warfarin, DOACs, heparin bridging).

- Independently manages patients under an approved scope of practice, including ordering labs, adjusting medications, and documenting clinical decisions.

- Evaluates drug therapy for appropriateness, effectiveness, safety, and adherence.

- Provides patient and caregiver education regarding anticoagulation management.

- Collaborates with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams to optimize care.

- Participates in quality improvement projects, medication use evaluations, and performance metric monitoring related to anticoagulation therapy.

- Serves as a drug information resource on anticoagulation and related therapeutic areas.

- Precepts pharmacy residents or students, as applicable.

- Documents all patient interactions in CPRS according to VHA standards.

- Participates in formulary management, protocol development, and policy updates.

Work Schedule : 0800-1630, may vary depended on staffing needs

Telework : Eligible / Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 08388-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Fi nancial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 :

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (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 a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)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: View phone number on click.appcast.io, or through their web site at: (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 Policy.
• Physical Requirements. Must successfully complete all Pre-Placement Physical requirements in accordance with VA regulations and policy.
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38USC 7402(d) and 38 USC 7407(d).

Preferred Experience: - Completion of a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency and 2+ years clinical experience- Completion of a PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency- OR equivalent clinical experience

NOTE: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on June 7, 2012 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure /certification/ registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to their position at the time they were appointed to it, they may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level (GS-12), or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level (GS-12) or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist.

Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

Preferred experience:

Successful completion of a PGY1 pharmacy residency, or completion of both PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residencies. Prior clinical experience managing patients on warfarin, DOACs, and parenteral anticoagulants.

Assignment. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. ACPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs in their application documents (Best practice is to document KSAs in Question and Answer format on separate sheet of paper):

1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions .
2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
5. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: The work requires standing, light carrying and lifting (under 15 pounds); walking, bending, reaching above the shoulder, and ability to distinguish basic colors. The work also involves working around machinery with moving parts and working closely with others. A physical examination prior to placement is required.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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