Clarification from the agency

This position is ONLY open to VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Employees, current or former Health Professional Trainees (HPT) in a VA program, or all VA Employees Nationwide.

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The Cardiology CPP has full responsibility to develop cardiology clinical pharmacy services such as physician consultation, patient monitoring, patient counseling, and medication management clinics in the ambulatory and Inpatient settings.

Core activities outlined within the scope of practice include: Executing therapeutic plans utilizing the safest and most cost-effective medication treatments.
Performing the physical measurements and objective assessments necessary to ensure the patient's appropriate clinical responses to therapy Ordering, subsequent review, and action on appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor, support, and modify the patient's drug therapy.
Ordering and prescribing medications, vaccines, devices, and supplies to include initiation, continuation, discontinuation, monitoring, and altering therapy; prescribing, administering, or dispensing controlled substances may be included in the scope of practice only if the clinical pharmacist is authorized by their state license to do so and comply with the limitations and restrictions on that authority.
Ordering consults and referrals, as appropriate, to maximize positive drug therapy outcomes.
Obtaining and documenting informed consent for treatments and procedures that require consent for which the clinical pharmacist is responsible, including those where the clinical pharmacist is the prescriber of a treatment that requires consent or when they are providing medication management services on behalf of the original prescriber.

Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities:
Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, pharmacokinetic in Cardiology, and therapeutic outcomes as required; information is communicated with team members and appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans are provided.
Coordinates with and refers to appropriate diagnosing providers when disease progression or events occur that are outside the Cardiology CPS SOP. Identifies patients who may benefit from CMM through population management, team meetings, and/or inpatient cardiology team rounds.Reports and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions, and allergies according to policy.
Conducts drug utilization reviews, quality assurance activities, and utilization reviews as required.
Works with health care team members to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives
Maintains a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic, as well as therapeutics and disease management.
Instructs patients and family members effectively in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices, adjusts communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations, accurately assesses, and documents patient comprehension, and refers patients to available educational programs.
Serves as a liaison and subject matter expert to PACT Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners

Program Management/Administrative:
Participates in the appropriate, effective, and safe use of pharmaceuticals by contributing to criteria development, data collection, quality assurance and drug use evaluation and other quality improvement activities for core practice area(s) and cardiology.
Serves as the pharmacist subject matter expert on assigned cardiology related committees and subcommittees.
Supports and promotes compliance with established drug therapy policies, formulary management and criteria or prior authorization requirements that have been approved by national, VISN, or local pharmacy benefits management and focuses on quality patient care in a cost-effective manner. Participates and facilitates departmental and organizational compliance with The Joint Commission, Office of General Counsel, and other applicable regulatory and accreditation regulations and guidelines regarding patient safety and care.

Education And Research:
Provides formal and informal education and in-services to pharmacy, medical, nursing and other staff as requested.
Provides education to patients, their families and caregivers about medications, patient responsibilities, and information on health promotion. Participates in self-development activities to maintain and strengthen professional competence in cardiology.
Willing to serve as a clinical instructor or preceptor for pharmacy students and/or residents.
Assists in new employee orientation education sessions as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Situational (ad hoc) location may be discussed during the interview process to meet the Return to Office requirement.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Remote: Not Authorized
Functional Statement #: 60784-O
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).

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: (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, 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.(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.

English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English


Grade Determinations: GS-13Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.


Assignments: 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.1. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.


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: Highly desirable candidates will have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management under a scope of practice; advanced pharmacy degree (PharmD); PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency; PGY2 specialty residency or equivalent experience in the specialty applicable to this position.

References: Hybrid Title 38 Occupation official qualification standards of the position as stated in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15.

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

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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).

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.