Clinical Pharmacist Specialist -Cardiology

Summary The Cardiology Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their scope of practice (SOP) to directly care for patients. As a health care team member, the Cardiology CPP performs comprehensive medication management (CMM) – including the initiation, modification, and discontinuation of medication therapy – through interaction with both patients and fellow health care team members. 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. Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed. Education: Candidates must be a 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 website at (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree programs. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate can provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification – which includes passing the FPGEE and the 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 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‑13 Experience. In addition to the GS‑12 requirements, the applicant must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: 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. A CPS 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. Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities: Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems – coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies – including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Highly desirable candidates will have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management under a scope of practice; advanced pharmacy degree (PharmD); PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency; PGY2 specialty residency or equivalent experience in the specialty applicable to this position. 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‑13. Physical Requirements: The work involves long periods of sitting, standing, and walking. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting. The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations – demonstrating a positive attitude, compassion, courtesy and concern for staff and patients. Must possess math skills in order to convert medications to the correct dosing. The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves lifting 25 pounds or less – able to visually confirm drug order correctness – and able to stand for periods of 30 minutes or greater. Duties Major Duties Include – but are not limited to: Executing therapeutic plans utilizing the safest and most cost‑effective medication treatments; performing the physical measurements and objective assessments necessary to ensure the patient's appropriate clinical responses to therapy; ordering, reviewing, and acting on appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor, support, and modify the patient's drug therapy; ordering and prescribing medications, vaccines, devices, and supplies to include initiation, continuation, discontinuation, monitoring, and altering therapy. Prescribing, administering, or dispensing controlled substances may be included in the scope of practice only if the clinical pharmacist is authorized by their state license to do so and complies with the limitations and restrictions on that authority. Ordering consults and referrals – as appropriate – to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes. Examples include – but are not limited to – referrals for routine care or assessment to clinical nutrition professionals, prosthetics, social workers, integrated mental health professionals – or other specialty areas. Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatments and procedures that require consent for which the clinical pharmacist is responsible – including those where the clinical pharmacist is the prescriber of a treatment that requires consent or when they are providing medication management services on behalf of the original prescriber. NOTE: The clinical pharmacist must have sufficient knowledge and training in the treatment or procedure – its indications – risk and benefits – complications – and alternative treatments – to effectively counsel the patient. Conducts virtual and in‑person (when appropriate) encounters with patients for CMM in the Cardiology practice area; follows‑up with patients in a timely manner and monitors for drug therapy response – potential adverse drug reactions – allergies – compliance – laboratory results – and other monitoring measures as appropriate. Treatment plan adjustments are made accordingly based on assessed measures. Clinical – Indirect Patient Care Activities: Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness – drug selection – dosing – contraindications – side effects – potential drug interactions – pharmacokinetic in Cardiology – and therapeutic outcomes as required. Information is communicated with team members and appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans are provided. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. Coordinates with and refers to appropriate diagnosing providers when disease progression or events occur that are outside the Cardiology CPS SOP. Identifies patients who may benefit from CMM through population management – team meetings – and/or inpatient cardiology team rounds. Documents appropriate subjective and objective information – as well as clinical interventions in the electronic medical record and in a timely – professional manner. Program Management/Administrative: Participates in the appropriate – effective – and safe use of pharmaceuticals by contributing to criteria development – data collection – quality assurance and drug use evaluation and other quality improvement activities for core practice area(s) and cardiology. Serves as the pharmacist subject matter expert on assigned cardiology related committees and subcommittees. Supports and promotes compliance with established drug therapy policies – formulary management and criteria or prior authorization requirements that have been approved by national, VISN, or local pharmacy benefits management (PBM) and focuses on quality patient care in a cost‑effective manner. Participates and facilitates departmental and organizational compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) – Office of General Counsel (OIG) – and other applicable regulatory and accreditation regulations and guidelines regarding patient safety and care. Supports efforts to improve fiscal and quality outcomes specific to cardiology management. Education And Research: Provides formal and informal education and in‑services to pharmacy, medical, nursing and other staff as requested. Serves as a subject matter expert for cardiology on assigned committees – workgroups or interdisciplinary teams. Provides education to patients – their families and caregivers about medications – patient responsibilities – and information on health promotion. Participates in self‑development activities to maintain and strengthen professional competence in cardiology. Willing to serve as a clinical instructor or preceptor for pharmacy students and/or residents. Assists in new employee orientation education sessions as needed. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday – 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Telework: Ad‑hoc Virtual – This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-60784-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs