Clarification from the agency

This position is open to Current, Permanent, Greater Los Angeles Department of Veterans' Affairs VHA employees only. This announcement will be filling positions in our LAACC, Sepulveda and Ventura locations.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides an extensive range of Clinical Pharmacy Specialist services in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Works as a member of an assigned HBPC team and monitors patients for a variety of disease states including diabetes, hypertension, etc. as designated under the individual's scope of practice. Designs, implements, assesses, monitors, and documents therapeutic plans using the most effective, least toxic, and most economical medications. Offers additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes, taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and cost.
• Works as an active member of the interprofessional team.
• Performs activities such as physical assessment, ordering appropriate tests/consults, making referrals, etc., in an effort to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues per facility procedures. Takes specific corrective action per protocol or as permitted by approved scope of practice.
• Documents and ensures timely completion of alerts, encounters, notes, clinical interventions, consults, etc. in patient record and/or other data collection tools per local policy.
• Identifies areas in which improvements in clinical services can be made and completes at least one project a year (e.g., quality/performance improvement, implementation of new service, enhancement of existing service, etc.).
• Monitors patients' anticoagulation therapy if necessary through telephone consultations or clinic visits at intervals determined by the pharmacist. At each follow-up encounter, reviews lab results and evaluates patients for any changes related to their anticoagulation therapy. As needed, makes dose changes or other changes to patients' anticoagulation therapy. Documents any medication changes and therapeutic plan in electronic medical records.
• Provides medication counseling/education to patients, caregivers, etc.
• Provides clinical pharmacy consultations and drug information to professional staff on the pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of pharmaceutical products.
• Designs, conducts, and participates in studies, audits, and evaluations under the auspices of committees responsible for formulation and review of drug use policies and quality assurance committees.
• Actively identifies and contributes to the development of a new ambulatory care pharmacy service or to the enhancement of an existing service.
• Establishes and maintains good work flow patterns to ensure efficient clinic management.
• Assists in the implementation of therapeutic recommendations for selected disease states that have VHA and/or GLA published clinical practice guidelines.
• Adhere to all VHA, medical center and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Responsible for establishing and reviewing pharmacy policies concerning ambulatory care and HBPC.
• Participates in various medical center councils, committees, performance improvement teams. Provides sound arguments that influence clinical and management decision. Attends and/or participates in Pharmacy Service and sections meetings.
• Responsible for complying with all applicable Federal, VHA, and local regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to controlled substance accountability and drug accountability for pharmacy.
• Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices and documents comprehension. Able to adjust communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations. Refers patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams as applicable.
• Trains pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other relevant staff. Participates in all aspects of training such as conducting on-the-job training and monitoring performance. Assists in new employee orientation and training, as assigned.
• Precepts and evaluates pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other relevant trainees, which may include projects, rotations, presentations, etc.
• Designs and completes research studies involving clinical pharmacist functions, quality assurance, drug use evaluations, pharmacotherapy, etc.
• The incumbent works under the supervision of the designated Pharmacy Program Manager. The supervisor sets the overall objectives of the work.
• The supervisor and employee, in consultation, develop the work to be accomplished and deadlines.
• The incumbent plans and carries out the work, resolves most conflicts that arise, and coordinates the work with others, both inside and outside of the pharmacy service.

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:

• 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: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (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).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.