Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other Federal agencies and current/past/upcoming VHA Health Professions Trainee (HPT) Graduate. If you are a U.S. Citizen, please apply to announcement number: CBTG-12109297-23-SE

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This position is aligned under the Pharmacy Service at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center. The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP), Mental Health (MH), uses training and expertise in treating psychiatric disorders and psychopharmacology to optimize patientcare. The CPP functions as an Advanced Practice Provider and member of their assigned team working at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice, autonomy, and independent decision-making under an individual scope of practice to care for patients directly. This position is primarily responsible for providing comprehensive medication management to general MH outpatients assigned to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP).

Major Duties:
Clinical- Direct Patient Care:

• Evaluates the clinical status of patients using appropriate psychiatric assessment tools, including suicide risk assessments, patient signs, and symptoms, review of systems, laboratory tests, and diagnoses.
• Performs comprehensive medication management, including initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy
• Designs, implements, assesses, monitors, and documents evidence-based, guideline directed therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic, and most economical medication treatments
• Conducts physical assessments as needed to monitor the efficacy and safety of drug Therapy.
• Alerts care team when disease progression or adverse drug events occur that require treatment interventions outside of their scope of practice
• Helps achieve positive patient-centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• Serves as an expert on psychotropic drug use in assigned medical and nursing staff Areas.

Clinical-Indirect Patient Care:

• Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings to prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Monitors, reports, and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues.
• Assists Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee with medication use evaluations and other safety initiatives
• Assists with transitions of care by evaluating the patient's medications and educating the patient and/or caregiver as needed
• Uses population management tools to identify patients that would benefit from targeted medication interventions.

Education and Research :

• Provides educational presentations to students, residents, and professional healthcare staff to enhance medication management skills and knowledge
• Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy residents (required) and pharmacy students (voluntary) and actively participates in student/resident presentations, journal clubs, and preceptor development activities.

Administrative:

• Documents clinical activities and workload in CPRS accurately, timely, and professionally, including completion of all consults and encounter forms.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Available-Reg telework 3+Days/Pay Period
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN9HREDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Student Loan Repayment/Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan reimbursement program. To participate in the program, you must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA Policy 1021 and submit your application within four months of appointment. The final award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office. EDRP approval is contingent on this occupation and specialty being deemed "hard-to-recruit-and-retain" at the duty location you are interested in.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• 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. (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.

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.

Grade Determinations GS-13: In addition to the to the basis requirements, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at
the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management
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.

Preferred Experience: PGY1 Residency, PGY2 Mental Health Residency, Board Certification in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP), DEA License

References: VHA Handbook 5005/55, Appendix G15. VA Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-0660. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13.

Physical Requirements: The work may require sitting for long periods of time (4-8 hours) with occasional stooping
or kneeling, walking, and standing for long periods of time. The principal duties require repetitive use of hands and fingers (i.e., typing, writing). The incumbent must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job (e.g., computer and telephone).

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, resume, 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.