Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration: Facility employees Second area of consideration: VA employees

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Duties of the Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist) include, but are not limited to:

• respectfully interacting with patient, team members, other facility employees and visitors
• responding to the needs of the service in a courteous and timely manner
• acting as a team member and supports group's efforts at all times
• able to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality
• designs, implements and monitors therapeutic drug outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned area
• obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate
• reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as require
• communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed
• monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues
• documents findings per facility procedures
• applies a knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities
• experienced in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations
• reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance
• documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate
• promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies
• works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives
• participates in the drug use evaluation process as needed
• serves on Medical Center and/or VISN committees as requested reviews and verifies medication orders in assigned areas as appropriate, prior to administration, for accuracy and to reduce potential risk of adverse drug events
• primary provider for extending medication therapy until next medical appointment
• provides patient-specific drug therapy modifications to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and polypharmacy while providing cost-effective treatment
• orders, performs, reviews and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy
• follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy
• participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other medical center personnel as required
• instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices
• adjusts communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations
• assesses and documents patient comprehension and refers patients to educational programs
• skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others.
• may serve as preceptor in accordance with established protocols; serves as a positive role model in this capacity
• assists in new employee orientation sessions as scheduled and in the development of proposals for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services
• assumes responsibility for self-development in learning about new medications and current changes
• maintains current competencies, continuing education requirements, license requirements
• serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians and students

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:
a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.)
b. Education
(1) 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.
c. 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.
(1) Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed.
(2) Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment.
d. 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.
(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.

Grade Determinations:
a. Creditable Experience
(1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice.
(2) Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis- (program must be accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)).
(3) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and passed the appropriate licensure examination.
(4) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek.
b. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
(3) GS-13
(a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to next lower grade level, and fulfill the KSAs needed:
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.
Facility Program Manager:
Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs. Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities. The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc.; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmaco-economist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Completion of PGY1 and/or Board Certification, and Ambulatory Care Experience

References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Some work involves extended periods of time standing, sitting or doing computer work; requires average agility and dexterity. Professional appearances per pharmacy dress code, attitude and demeanor are required.

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.