Clinical Pharmacist (Outpatient)

Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

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Duties

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The Outpatient Clinical Pharmacist functions as an independent professional responsible for supporting assigned clinical and operational pharmacy activities in the outpatient pharmacy setting at the Clement J. Zablocki VAMC in Milwaukee, WI.

Major Duties of the Outpatient Clinical Pharmacist Include:

Clinical

• Uses the electronic health record (EHR) to review patient medication regimens to ascertain clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, cost effective and therapeutic outcomes as required. Recommends change in therapy to prescribing provider when appropriate.
• Counsels patients on drug use, interactions, adverse effects, availability, and pharmacy procedure.
• Provides drug information, using reference materials, to providers, nurses, other health care professionals, and patients.
• Contacts providers and other health care providers as necessary to resolve problems related to outpatient prescriptions.
• Provides authoritative, professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult, complex, and unusual nature.

Provides the following clinical functions/activities:

• Completing VA ADERS as assigned
• Documenting clinical interventions
• Performs Community Living Center chart reviews
• Performs anticoagulation services as appropriate
• Completes non-formulary and restricted medications consults
• Performs renal function assessments

Administrative

• Manipulates, views and verifies EHR and ScriptPro data as required ensuring the accuracy of the prescription and supplemental information for proper patient use.
• Completes electronic and written records accurately for all prescriptions including controlled substances and investigational agents.
• Provides counseling to patients regarding appropriate medication use after reviewing electronic of electronic record and order Clarification with provider when required.
• Non-VA provider prescriptions - contacts providers and patients as needed to ensure formulary agents are used whenever possible, and documents decision in CPRS utilizing Non-VA Care note templates.

Solves problems related to medication dispensing including but not limited to:

• Medication procurement
• Retrieval of pertinent records
• Assessment of need for patient medication monitoring or follow-up
• Tracking of mailed medications through Vista, ScriptPro and CMOP data
• Coordinate/expedite medication dispensing or delivery
• Follows all legal and clinical guidelines related to proper and safe dispensing of medications.
• Provides medication to traveling veterans as outlined in local and national policy.
• Updates electronic patient record as required.

Dispensing Functions

• Operates specialized equipment used in drug preparation and dispensing.
• Receives, reviews, and interprets prescriptions and medication orders for appropriateness, correct dosage, completeness, drug interactions, drug availability and patient eligibility. Applies working knowledge of correct dosing, toxicity, therapeutic action, contraindications, and adverse reactions
• Compounds and dispenses medications, weighing, measuring, or mixing ingredients as required, using appropriate techniques.
• Professionally responsible for the work of technical
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Controlled Substance Functions:

• Dispenses medication for patients, monitoring these patients for signs of substance abuse.
• Accurately completes, maintains and reviews necessary records and databases (e.g. Wisconsin Drug Monitoring Program database) to ensure controlled substance orders are dispensed according to VHA and DEA regulations.
• Education
• Assist in the training of new pharmacists, technicians, students, and pharmacy residents when necessary.
• Registers as a preceptor with affiliated Schools of Pharmacy.
• Reviews and co-signs trainee notes in EHR as appropriate.

VA Careers - Pharmacy :

Work Schedule : The tour of duty will be (8) hours. Range from 0730-0000 with rotating weekends and holidays. Training will take place on 1st shift and last approx. 4-6 months.

Telework : Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # :10065F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.

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).

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.

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: View phone number on click.appcast.io, or through their Web site at: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.)

-OR-

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).

In addition to the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements:

1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 11) VA or Non VA Experience,

-OR

- Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.

AND

In addition 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy in Milwaukee, WI, where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of interview.

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

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.