Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist)

Summary

The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS), VISN 21, is recruiting for a Mental Health / Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) who will function at the highest level of clinical practice. The CPS serves as an advanced practice provider delivering comprehensive medication management (CMM) for inpatient mental health and acute care patient populations. The incumbent practices under a Scope of Practice granting prescriptive authority and provides direct and indirect patient care.

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Duties

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Clinical - Direct Patient Care

- Serves as an advanced practice provider delivering CMM in accordance with national guidelines, VA/VISN policy, and scope of practice.

- Prescribes, monitors, and adjusts medications for mental health conditions (e.g., depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, insomnia, SUD).

- Obtains and interprets medical and medication histories; orders and evaluates toxicology screens and other labs.

- Identifies drug-related problems including side effects, toxicities, interactions, and adherence concerns.

- Performs mental health screenings and assessments (e.g., suicide risk, alcohol use, PTSD).

- Provides overdose education and prescribes naloxone as appropriate.

- Screens for and intervenes on substance use disorder behaviors; performs brief interventions when indicated.

- Conducts medication reconciliation at admission, transfer, and discharge.

- Participates in daily team rounds and provides comprehensive pharmacotherapy recommendations.

- Manages inpatient clinical activities including:- Pain management- Pharmacokinetic/renal dosing- Antimicrobial stewardship (in collaboration with ID)- Anticoagulation management- TPN, fluids/electrolytes- DKA, COPD, CHF, hypertension, diabetes, and other acute/chronic disease states

- Coordinates transitions of care between inpatient and outpatient settings.- Performs focused physical assessments as appropriate.

Clinical - Indirect Patient Care

- Reviews medication regimens for appropriateness, safety, efficacy, interactions, and contraindications.

- Documents interventions, adverse drug events, and medication histories.

- Provides expert consultative services and drug information to providers.

- Reviews Pyxis overrides and performs IV-to-PO conversions.

- Reviews high-risk medication use (e.g., lithium, valproate, DOACs, heparin, vancomycin, insulin).

- Participates in quality assurance, RCA/HFMEA, system redesign, protocol/order set development, and policy updates.

- Maintains BLS and ACLS certification and competency in thrombolytic support for ischemic stroke.

Education

- Provides formal and informal education to pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and other staff.

- Educates patients and caregivers regarding medication therapy and self-management.

- Precepts PGY1 and PGY2 residents and pharmacy students; participates in residency and staff development activities.

- Participates in staff development, conferences, rounds, and training activities.

Drug Information

- Serves as a subject matter expert on medication use, safety, interactions, and therapeutic management.

- Provides timely drug information and literature evaluations to clinical staff.

Program Management & Administration

- Participates in drug use evaluations, quality assurance, and safety initiatives

- Serves as subject matter expert on committees and supports formulary and policy compliance.

- Supports accreditation (TJC, OIG) and regulatory compliance.

- Assists in development and review of policies, procedures, and protocols.

- Participates in P&T Committee activities (e.g., ADR monitoring, MUEs).

Performance Measures

- Maintains and applies knowledge of VISN 21 PBM, national, and local performance measures.

- Uses dashboards to ensure quality metrics, population management, and cost-effective prescribing.

Work Schedule : Monday through Friday varies may include some weekends and holidays

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 40705-A

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).

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

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 5005/55, 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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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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