Clinical Pharmacist Specialist (Inpatient Behavioral Health)

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

• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
1st Area of Consideration - current permanent Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System employee, including CBOCs;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees;
3rd Area of Consideration- current permanent Federal employees of other agencies;
4th Area of Consideration- current/upcoming/previous VHA Health Professional Trainees;
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Duties
Duties may include but not limited to:
Clinical: The IP/BH CPS will provide clinical pharmacy services, support pharmacoeconomic activities, and is directly responsible for assessing, monitoring, managing, and documenting intense medication therapy for assigned patents.
Activities include:

• In collaboration with other IP/BH team members, assist in the development of individualized treatment plans which are intended to achieve definite drug-therapy outcomes that improve the patient's quality of life. Participates in a patient-focused, team-based multi-disciplinary model of patient centered care to promote positive patient outcomes through direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers.
• The incumbent will be evaluated through Clinical Pertinence Review for Scope of Practice (SOP). After SOP is authorized, the incumbent will enter orders for medications, laboratory tests, devices and consults granted under SOP. Orders and consults will be accurate and appropriately documented. Physicians or appropriate health care professional are contacted when necessary. Patient care will be appropriately and accurately documented.
• Responsible for assessing, planning and evaluating assigned areas to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of Pharmacy services and the overall delivery of healthcare. Provides case management for selected patients.

Program Management: The IP/BH CPS will be involved in the independent professional practice of pharmacy in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the pharmacy service policies and procedures, VA Regulation, and state and federal laws governing the practice of pharmacy. The IP/BH CPS will work in conjunction with Clinical Pharmacist, other Clinical Pharmacy Specialists and other health care professionals to form and organized ream approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical care.
Distributive:

• Serves as trainer to pharmacy and other healthcare staff on automation and information systems related to CPRS. BCMA, Pharmacy Drug File, etc.
• Review pharmacy orders to include patient information, dose, and route, frequency of administration, patient allergies, drug interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority. Resolves prescribing and dispensing issues, including pharmacotherapeutic and formulary issues. Documents interventions as appropriate.

Dispensing:

• Evaluates physician's orders as to appropriateness based on patient medication profiles, inputs information into computer system if assigned, dispenses medication in accordance with dosage form requirements.
• Provides quality control analysis for dispensing activities of automated dispensing equipment of Pharmacy technicians .
• Follows all aseptic techniques when admixing sterile solutions and chemotherapy.

Education and Development:

• Assists in the training of pharmacy employees, pharmacy residents and Pharm.D. students as assigned to IP/BH CPS in coordination with the Clinical Program Manager. The incumbent develops appropriate rotations and learning opportunities for pharmacists, pharmacy residents and/or pharmacy students. Precepts trainees in advanced clinical pharmacy practice areas. These learning experience will be documented and evaluated appropriately and timely.
• Collaborates with the Associate Chief for Clinical Pharmacy Services on pharmacy training and development, to promote the learning experience and improve performance of pharmacists, pharmacy, residents and students.
• Participates in the clinical pertinence review and ongoing professional practice evaluation (OPPE) process to confirm the quality care delivered to veterans, ensure patient safety, and identify areas for additional education and/or process improvement.

Project Management:

• Participates in the development and implementation of GCVHCS Health Care Services.
• Participates in the evaluation plan of VISN 16 Quarterly Status Report Feedback and other VA or Pharmacy Service reports, programs and committees as requested by the Clinical Program Manager. This will include evaluation of both process and outcome measures. Additionally, patient satisfaction and Veterans experience will be assessed using approved measures.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 am- 4:30 pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Driver's License: Required
Functional Statement #: 520-00363-F
EDRP Authorized: Authorized Contact POC Brandilyn Wasson; brandilyn.wasson@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
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 probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
Minimum 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 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.

• 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).
  GS-13 Grade Determinations:
• Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. 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 by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) 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. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  • a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
  • b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
  • c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
  • d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
  • e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 LICENSED PHARMACIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-660
The full performance level of this vacancy is 13.
Physical Requirements: Standing (4 hours), walking (4 hours), repeated bending (4 hours), twisting and carrying/lifting moderately heavy items (15-44 lbs).
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
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.
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.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
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