Licensed Pharmacist(CPS) - Primary Care

Pharmacy Clinical Specialist

The CPS provider manages medication therapy by initiating, modifying and discontinuing medication both independently and in collaboration with other practitioners when needed. The CPS provider interfaces with providers, including physicians, PAs, ARNPs in the design of the veterans' treatment regimen to achieve optimization of rational and cost-effective drug therapy. The CPS will directly assist clinicians in rational drug selection by providing written and/or verbal consultation. From a verbal or written patient presentation of signs, symptoms, laboratory tests and diagnoses, recognizes and lists important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values that may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen or which may be induced by drug therapy. The CPS provider refers to the appropriate level of care for patients when needed and is responsible for providing and documenting care of assigned patients. The CPS provider has knowledge of VA/DOD clinical practice guidelines, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense Health Agency (DHA) performance measures, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) and DHA initiatives and will integrate these standards into practice. Indirect patient care activities include teaching/mentoring trainees, participating in quality assurance and improvement projects, supporting research, staff education and consultation.

A. Clinical - Direct Patient Care

• Core functions include face-to-face, video, and telephone encounters with referred patients, for comprehensive medication management in practice areas identified in their individual scope of practice.
• Functions as a mid-level provider to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas.
• Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.
• Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e. changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements.
• Clinical pharmacy specialists will determine if a referral to the physician is necessary when disease progression occurs or adverse drug events require treatment interventions outside of the CPS scope of practice.

B. Clinical - Indirect Patient Care

• Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management through population management reports and during team huddles.
• Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate recommendations for alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Monitors and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility procedures and in accordance with the VA ADERS Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting program.
• Applies knowledge to interpret laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care, recognizes significant abnormalities and makes dose adjustments or recommendations based on objective laboratory findings.
• Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies

C. Educational

• Provides formal and informal education and in-services to pharmacy, medical, nursing and other staff as requested.
• Provides education to patients, their families and caregivers about medications, patient responsibilities, and information on health promotion.
• Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents
• The incumbent is responsible for maintaining his/her professional competency by keeping up with information on new drugs, new drug therapies, innovations in pharmacy practice, and integrating this information in his/her daily practice.

Work Schedule: 0800-1630

Telework: AD-HOC

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 08905F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized