Clinical Pharmacist: Expert Drug Therapy & Patient Care

Summary The clinical pharmacist handles routine medication‑related activities in accordance with local – Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) – and national policies and regulations. The primary role of the clinical pharmacist is to ensure safe and appropriate medication use by evaluating drug therapy based on patient‑specific factors – individualizing treatment – dispensing medications – and providing drug information. 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 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: (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program; Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.) 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 English Language Proficiency Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) – and 7407(d) 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 and Program GS‑12 Clinical Pharmacist Education and Experience: (a) 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS‑11) – or (b) completion of an ACPE‑accredited PharmD Demonstrated 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 Additional Information The full performance level of this vacancy is 12 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 12 Physical Requirements: Walk – sit – or stand for extended periods Lift – carry or move cartons of approximately 30 lbs Push or pull medication delivery carts of varying sizes Duties Clinical: Provides selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics Monitoring for efficacy, side effects, and clinical outcome; and advises prescribers as appropriate Provides patient‑specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other healthcare providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy Provides medication counseling to patients Completes medication histories including patient interviews Serves as a drug information resource by providing up‑to‑date drug information to prescribers, other health care professionals, patients and caregivers Evaluates pertinent laboratory data, drug‑drug and drug‑nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies Assesses drug safety and efficacy – including evaluation of physical symptoms Reports adverse drug events, near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA reporting program Participates in the medical center medication utilization evaluation program Recommends formulary alternatives and completes non‑formulary consults as assigned Provides routine pharmacokinetic consultation – including dosing vancomycin and anticoagulation monitoring Implements committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care Manages various actions – for medication orders to include: flagging prescriptions, managing view alerts, using the “hold medication” function, and generating unsigned discontinued orders Assumes an active role in staff development of peers and provides educational in‑services to nursing, medical staff or to other ancillary services Dispensing: Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness – drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount – prior to dispensing Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record Fills all orders in a timely fashion Review of the patient's allergy history – drug‑drug, drug‑nutrient, drug‑laboratory and drug‑disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance performed and dealt with appropriately Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse Problems encountered are resolved Selects, compounds, admixes, dispenses, and fills a range of drugs including IV admixtures, extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmic (subconjunctival and intravitreal injections), narcotics, investigational drugs, oncolytic agents – etc., in both outpatient and inpatient areas Maintains adequate drug stock – inspects drug storage areas – supervises pre‑packing and the operation of automated dispensing equipment Supervises the activities of support personnel Ensures drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with federal rules and regulations Provides education to health care providers regarding medication use Maintains basic knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics Assumes an active role in the pharmacy training program Maintains professional licensure and participates in continuing education programs Work Schedule: Rotating 8‑hour shifts between 7 am and 10 pm on weekdays; rotating weekends and holidays (hours vary) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr 340B Health