Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

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The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. The CPS will directly care for patients served in internal medicine wards or other areas as assigned. A CPS functions as a member of their assigned team(s) and serves as a clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) to initiate, modify, or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for comprehensive medication therapy management services. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to :

• Provide comprehensive medication management in practice areas identified in their individual scope of practice, daily team rounds, pharmacokinetic monitoring, renal dose adjustments, anticoagulant therapy management, and antimicrobial stewardship.
• Design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas.
• Order, review, and analyze appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy.
• Provide follow-up with patients and / or pharmacy care team on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e., changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements.
• Identify patients who may benefit from medication management through population management reports and during team rounds.
• Review patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicate findings with the patient care team and provide appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Document findings per facility procedures.
• Apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care, recognize significant abnormalities, and make dose adjustment recommendations.
• Participate in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other staff on assigned teams.
• Serve as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established policies as opportunity allows.
• Assist in new employee training, competency assessments, and mentoring as required.
• Serve as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance, to the patient care team. Use appropriate references to research drug information.
• Maintain a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management and a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic.
• Serve on medical center and / or VISN committees as requested.
• Adhere to all medical center and department policies and regulations.
• Other pharmacy related duties as needed to help fulfill our mission and abide by our organization's values.

Work Schedule : Must be available for variable tours : days, afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays as needed. Subject to change based on the needs of the service.

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 000000

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized???????

EDRP Authorized : Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact monique.head@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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 :

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.

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).

Grade Determinations : GS-13

Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.

Preferred Experience : Candidates for the Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) should possess the skills outlined above with specific experience in internal medicine disease management. Preferred candidates will have an advanced pharmacy degree (Pharm.D), board certification (BPS), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, or equivalent experience or mentorship.

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

Physical Requirements : The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. Use of fingers may be required to operate computers. There may be occasional light lifting / carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities.

Education

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : http : / / ope.ed.gov / accreditation / . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit : https : / / sites.ed.gov / international / recognition-of-foreign-qualifications / .

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.