Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current, permanent VISN 2, Health Service Area 2.1 (Legacy VISN 6) employees. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) serves as a consultant and midlevel provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy with an emphasis on the management of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, anticoagulation, smoking cessation, and naloxone administration. The CPS may also perform medication reconciliations and provide guidance regarding drug interactions and medication safety for patients or by consult. The CPS is expected to collaborate with and be in regular communication with interdisciplinary PACT team members to identify patients who may benefit from pharmacy services. Extensive documentation and clinical progress note writing are required of this position. The CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution within their scope as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner. They are expected to provide clinical care primarily by means of virtual modalities including telehealth.

Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coordinates clinical pharmacy services for an assigned practice area to support patient-centered outcomes through direct and indirect collaboration with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Designs, implements, evaluates, monitors, and documents individualized medication treatment plans that are effective, safe, and cost-conscious.
• Independently evaluates prescriptions for:
  • Accuracy and eligibility
  • Availability and cost-effectiveness
  • Therapeutic appropriateness
• Contacts physicians and makes authorized prescription or medication-order changes as needed.
• Performs daily clinical and administrative responsibilities independently, using professional judgment to resolve complex problems and communicate solutions or alternatives to healthcare staff.
• Demonstrates advanced expertise in chronic disease management
• Applies pharmacokinetic principles and VA National Clinical Practice Guidelines when appropriate.
• Provides mid-level patient care primarily through virtual modalities, including Clinical Video Telehealth and VA Video Connect, as well as telephone and in-person encounters.
• Monitors and assesses medication therapy outcomes, including:
  • Physical assessments
  • Laboratory and diagnostic results
  • Treatment efficacy
  • Adherence to treatment plans
  • Adverse drug reactions and interactions
• Applies advanced knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics, using current literature to guide patient-specific care.
• Documents all patient interactions, interventions, and recommendations in CPRS progress notes and consults.
• Provides patients and families with verbal and written education about medications and disease states.
• Advises the VISN 6 CRH Primary Care Hub Director on clinical practice, drug therapy, and medication selection.
• Supports compliance with The Joint Commission medication-management standards and related regulatory and quality requirements.
• May evaluate non-formulary and restricted medication requests from assigned providers.
• With Service Chief approval, may supervise pharmacy trainees and residents.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the standards related to ambulatory care drug use. This includes, but is not limited to, the standards established by DEA, FDA, VA, the state, and The Joint Commission.
• Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, aides, students, and pharmacists of lower grade.
• Gathers data for administrative reports when assigned. Upon request, independently prepares reports or participates in CRH Service projects. Assists in preparing for special accreditations and reviews (e.g. The Joint Commission, Inspector General, Telehealth Conditions of Participation Reviews, etc.) and meets with reviewing/inspecting officials and service level management.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the design, conduct, and interpretation of controlled clinical drug trials or other research related to his/her practice area as applicable.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am- 4:00pm
Remote: This position is on a mid-term exemption from return to office requirements. Exempted positions are reviewed annually and do not imply permanent remote work status.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 identification 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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

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. 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). TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION
  • 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). YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF FPGEE AND TOEFL WITH YOUR APPLICATION
• 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. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF CURRENT LICENSE WITH THE APPLICATION PACKAGE.

Grade Determinations GS:13: Must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12.

Examples of experience include: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; and documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs).

In addition, you must have experience which demonstrates the following knowledge, skills and abilities: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
• Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: 1) At least three years of experience in VHA as PACT CPP 2) Clinical experience in telemedicine

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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: This position involves typical office work. Physical demands are limited to those required to work at a computer workstation, including extended periods of sitting or standing, use of a keyboard and monitor(s), and other tasks common to a standard office environment.

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.