Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens.

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Major job duties include providing high quality and progressive clinical pharmacy services and developing and directing clinical pharmacy programs within the Hematology/Oncology Service. Clinical duties are also performed within other medical sub-specialties, as needed.

Clinical Duties:

• Provides high quality and progressive clinical pharmacy services within the Hematology/Oncology Service, as well as within other medical sub-specialties.
• Provides patient-specific pharmaceutical services to focus on therapeutic drug monitoring. Analyzes medication regimens to ensure the most-effective, least-toxic, and most-economical treatment plan.
• Reviews medication orders for all patients receiving care in the Continuous Infusion Clinic, including but not limited to cytotoxic chemotherapy and other infusions, for real or potential drug-related problems including appropriateness of drug, dosage, potential interactions, and route of administration, as well as drug stability, therapeutic duplication, and adverse drug reactions. Implements corrective action as needed.
• Prepares intravenous, oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravesicular medications, including hazardous medications, according to appropriate policy and procedures, in both the inpatient and outpatient areas
• Interviews patients to ascertain significant past medical history and medication history. Designs, recommends, and implements therapeutic regimens for oncology patients, including corresponding monitoring plans, for oncolytic therapy and supportive care under approved scope of practice. Evaluates medication regimens for appropriateness, drug interactions, therapeutic duplications, non-compliance, and adverse drug events. Provides medication counseling and education to assigned patients, for all new medications and on an as-needed basis. Evaluates pertinent laboratory data, as well as performs triage level physical assessment including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight, and/or other requested assessments as needed. Assesses drug safety and efficacy.
• Serves as a drug information resource to the Hematology/Oncology staff, by providing up-to-date information to prescribers, other health care professionals, patients and caregivers.
• Documents all clinical activities. Updates problem lists, medication lists (VA and non-VA), and allergy information in the medical record.
• Advocates for rational and evidence-based drug therapy, based on available literature, guidelines, and patient-specific factors. Reviews assigned NF drug consults utilizing up-to-date primary literature, pertinent guidelines, as well as patient-specific information.
• Orders appropriate laboratory tests, ECGs, and other applicable tests as needed.
• Implements P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education.

• Responsible for developing and managing all pharmacy educational programs pertaining to the advancement of appropriate pharmacological oncology therapy which includes but is not limited to medical and pharmacy residency training programs, fellowships, clerkships, internships, management training programs, staff development programs, university affiliated programs, and interdisciplinary training programs.
• Provide formal and informal education and in-services to pharmacy, medical, nursing, and other staff as requested.
• Supervise and provide training for pharmacy residents, pharmacy students, medical residents, medical students, and other allied health care professionals participating in the treatment patients within the Hematology/Oncology service.
• Attends and participates in Pharmacy Journal Club, as well as other pharmacy-level groups as appropriate.
• Train staff pharmacists to function in areas of direct patient care and clinical services.

• Evaluates prescriber's medication orders for appropriateness, renal/hepatic dosing, drug interactions, possible allergies/adverse reactions, duplications in therapy, and verifies/finishes pending inpatient orders.
• Maintains adequate drug stock, inspects drug storage areas, supervises prepacking and the operation of automated dispensing equipment.
• Utilizes VISTA and CPRS packages to maintain complete patient medication records.
• Enters or finishes outpatient prescriptions for dispensing.
• Assists the patient care team with expedited medication delivery as needed.
• Adheres to dispensing guidelines for hazardous medications and disposal guidelines for all medications.

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 trial period.
• 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).

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.) School transcripts must be submitted with your application. OR,
  • 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). A copy of the FPGEC certificate must be submitted.
• 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.

• Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). The GS-12 requirements include: (1) 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) or (2) Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. AND the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  • Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
  • Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
  • Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • 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.

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.