Clarification from the agency

**This position is ONLY open to Montana VA Health Care System Employees assigned to the Ft. Harrison, MT facility. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

1. Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities requiring a scope of practice (dependent upon the incumbent's training and experience)
   1. Completes face to face, telephone, and virtual patient visits for comprehensive medication management of complex patients with chronic disease states including, but not limited to, anticoagulation, diabetes, hepatitis C, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
   2. Functions as a mid-level provider to implement, adjust and monitor therapeutic drug plans through direct interactions with providers and patients.
   3. Clinical pharmacist practitioners will determine if a referral to the physician is necessary when disease progression occurs, or adverse drug events require treatment interventions outside of the CPP scope of practice.
   4. Orders and follows up on appropriate lab tests and diagnostic studies to monitor and support recommended drug therapy.
2. Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities
   1. Evaluates physician orders and patient treatment for appropriateness of therapy, patient's response to therapy, adverse drug effects, pertinent laboratory monitoring, polypharmacy, cost containment issues and prescribing compliance with established protocols. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
   2. Obtains medication histories from patients, assesses adverse drug reactions, allergies, patient compliance and drug errors, and documents all appropriately in the electronic health record in a timely and professional manner.
   3. Evaluates restricted and non-formulary requests and applies national and VISN guidelines to arrive at an informed decision to approve or offer alternatives.
   4. Performs and directs medication usage reviews and other safety initiatives in the outpatient area.
3. Drug Information
   1. Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, dosing and compliance to medical staff, nursing, technicians, and trainees. Has a good working knowledge of information resources and uses appropriate references to research drug information.
   2. Provides timely and accurate unbiased drug information to all customers and documents this provision.
   3. Provides patient education which focuses upon patients' disease states and their medications. Can accurately assess and document patient comprehension. Participates in multidisciplinary team educational programs as requested.
4. Education and Research
   1. Coordinates pharmacy student rotations through Primary Care. This includes an appointment as a Faculty Affiliate, clinical instructor and preceptor for the students (as applicable to location).
   2. Provides supervision, training, education, and overall coordination of clinical activities performed by pharmacy residents (where applicable) in Primary Care.
   3. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching students, residents and other staff.
   4. Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required.
5. Program Management
   1. Completes quality management data compilation for Primary Care Pharmacy items as needed.
   2. Serves as a consultant or as a member on various medical center and/or VISN committees as requested.
   3. Adheres to all medical center and pharmacy policies and procedures.
   4. Manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained, and that employee access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Telework: Available Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS-0660-13-436-53893A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Selectee will need to carry an unrestricted DEA license or be eligible for DEA licensure and become DEA licensed within 6 months of selection for the position.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• 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. 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.
• Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date 6/7/2012 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 Pharmacist Clinical Specialist

• Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Assignments. 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 at least 25% of the time.
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. 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.
• GS-13 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
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: Experience functioning as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner under an approved scope of practice. Previous experience in primary care or working within a Patient Aligned Care team (PACT).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include but are not limited to significant computer work/typing involving documenting patient encounters in the electronic health record (EHR), prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. The incumbent should be able to lift and carry up to 45 pounds without significant difficulty. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging.

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.