Summary
The Clinical Pharmacist is a licensed professional with expertise in pharmacy practice - including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics - and pharmacotherapeutics. Located at the Eugene VA Clinic - the pharmacist supports pharmacy operations across a variety of settings. Responsibilities may include patient care in outpatient and inpatient dispensing pharmacies - the pharmacy contact center - facility care areas - and other locations as assigned by the supervisor.
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: 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 2 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
NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetence or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C.
7402(f))
Effective November 30 - 1999 - this is a requirement for employment
This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date - provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license - registration or certification
Exception: Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C.
7405(c)(2)(B)
The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist
For grade levels above the GS-11 - the candidate must be licensed
Failure to Obtain License: In all cases - pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment
At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline
Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment
English Language Proficiency
Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
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-11 Pharmacist Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
(NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 2c(1) above.) Assignment: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity
GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
Assignment: A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - and national policies and regulations
These include - but are not limited to: 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
contacting providers as appropriate
documenting recommendations and interventions
providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies
taking health and medication histories
performing medication reconciliation
providing drug information
assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions - nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations
documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs)
assisting in medical emergencies
providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution
Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): 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
Preferred Experience: Experience in clinical setting and/or with the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system is desirable
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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
Physical Requirements: This work requires light lifting (under 15lbs) - light carrying - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking - standing - repeated bending - and hearing (aid may be permitted).
Duties
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn\_ickNBEws The incumbent is responsible for providing clinical and distributive pharmaceutical care
The individual functions under the general supervision of the Chief of Pharmacy - Pharmacy Supervisor - or designee
Functional Duties and Responsibilities: Responsible for computer processing of all medication orders in the assigned areas - which may include - but are not limited to Outpatient - Acute care - Long-term care - Specialty care - Facility patient care areas - Urgent care and other units as assigned
Reviews the order for appropriateness of the medication - dosage - schedule - duration - and instructions.The regimen will be reviewed for any potential drug-drug - drug-disease - drug-nutrient interactions - and therapeutic duplications
Responsible for resolving all patient medication problems and any pharmacy distribution problems in the assigned practice areas
Responsible for the final check of outpatient and/or inpatient medications (including intravenous medications) before final dispensing to the patient
The clinical pharmacist may need to actively fill the medications at times when pharmacy technicians are unable to perform filling duties
Complete medication histories - including patient interviews
Weigh the risk:benefit ratio of various therapeutic alternatives - develop a therapeutic plan utilizing the most efficacious - least toxic and most economical treatment modalities available
Develop rational alternative treatment plans in cases where the initially selected plan fails to achieve the desired therapeutic result or problems with drug toxicity or other complications occur
Educate patients on the purpose and proper use of medications as appropriate depending on the area to which the clinical pharmacist is assigned
Provide in-service programs for the nursing - pharmacy and medical staff when assigned
Be responsible for providing education and collaborating with physicians - dentists - nurses - nursing students - pharmacists - pharmacy residents and students - pharmacy technicians - and other health care professionals when appropriate
Develop/participate/monitor quality improvement programs related to the assigned pharmacy area
The incumbent will report QI/QA projects to the Chief of Pharmacy and facility committees as requested
Other duties as assigned
Work Schedule:Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.