Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of the Black Hills VA Health Care System.

Videos

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

1) The HBPC CPS will provide clinical pharmacy services, support pharmacoeconomic activities, and is directly responsible for assessing, monitoring, managing, and documenting medication therapy for assigned patients.
2) Demonstrates recognized expertise in the area of HBPC Pharmacy programs. The HBPC CPS interacts with providers and other health care professionals as demonstrated by attendance at HBPC multidisciplinary team meetings as needed, medication review rounds, and other meetings for the purpose of providing consultation in pharmacy-related matters.
3) Serves as an advanced practice provider by directing therapy; ordering lab tests; performing physical assessments; and initiating, modifying and discontinuing medications as defined within the CPS's scope of practice (SOP). The incumbent will be evaluated through Professional Peer Evaluation program for SOP. Orders and consults will be accurate and appropriately documented. Physicians or other appropriate health care professionals are contacted when necessary. Patient care will be appropriately and accurately documented.
4) Evaluates pharmacologic therapy through a patient centric approach to achieve optimal safety, efficacy and cost effective use of medicines. Develops appropriate therapeutic monitoring plans, and documents the activities in the medical record via
electronic progress note. Specific amount and timeliness of documentation for patient care and consult response, as determined by TJC, HBPC, and /or other regulatory requirements, will be met.
5) Performs required initial and periodic assessment of patients' medication therapy to meet patient care needs and TJC, OIG, HBPC, and /or other regulatory requirements.
6) Provides comprehensive medication reviews with medication reconciliation and patient medication counseling. Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or caregivers on request and appropriate discharge counseling when necessary. Assess age and learning readiness, modifies communication accordingly, assesses and documents patient understanding.
7) Assists the HBPC section to meet all of the TJC, OIG, ASHP (and other accrediting agencies) medication management standards.
8) Participates in a patient-focused, team-based multi-disciplinary model of patient centered care to promote positive patient outcomes through direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers through highly innovative methods of health care delivery in clinic, home visits and through telehealth.
9) Conducts MTM clinics, supports specialty and primary care pharmacotherapy services, and group forums such as group education, shared medical appointments for disease states including but not limited to diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking cessation and pain when appropriate.
10) Reports actual and/or potential medication errors or adverse events and participate in quality improvement initiatives to promote patient safety. Actively participates in the VA Adverse Drug Reaction reporting program.
11) The incumbent participates in the development of guidelines, audit systems, and data gathering efforts of the Pharmacoeconomic and Clinical Pharmacy Section in support of quality assurance monitoring and plays a role in budget execution by working with and educating providers and other health care team members to ensure adherence to the formulary process so that patients receive the most cost-effective drug therapy.

Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday
Telework: Available; This is not a remote position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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

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. 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.
• 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:

GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, which include:
1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
AND
Must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12.
AND
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Pharmacists assigned to this position MUST demonstrate the following KSAs:
a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: HBPC experience, prescribing experience with Scope of Practice, Customer Service, Clinical Guidelines

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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 the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
(1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
(3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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.