Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Oncology)

Summary
The VA St. Louis Healthcare System is looking for an Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. As a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner the position provides comprehensive medication management for hematology/oncology patients, including both inpatient and outpatient specialty clinic settings. This position provides support to oncology pharmacy services, direct patient care and management, development, implementation, and maintenance of order sets and clinical algorithms.
This job is open to

• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.
• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice

• Serves as an advanced practice provider within individual scope of practice. The CPS provider may review, initiate, modify, and monitor pharmaceutical care plans within scope of practice and clinical care agreement with Oncology Service Line.
• In collaboration with oncology service providers, assesses the appropriateness and effectiveness of patient's medication regimen by reviewing medical records, other interdisciplinary communications and interviewing/examining the patients as appropriate.
• Designs and/or adjusts therapeutic regimen based on patient-specific information, which includes determining a therapeutic endpoint, selecting an appropriate medication, dose and related therapy, and establishing a monitoring plan.
• Appropriately documents in the patient's medical record, including medication history, medical history, physical examination and ongoing patient specific monitoring of therapy, assessments and plans.
• Monitors and assesses therapeutic and adverse effects of drug therapy (including drug interactions) through selection and evaluation of physical and laboratory parameters and makes referrals as acute management problems arise.
• Development and maintenance of antineoplastic order entry, review, and processing processes that facilitate accurate, efficient, safe, evidence-based, patient individualized, and cost-effective processes and care.
• Assists with formulary development and management. Supports formulary and promotes rational medication use within evidence-based practices

Educational and Research

• Provides formal and informal education, training, and drug information. Conducts in-service education programs for physicians, nursing, pharmacy staff, trainees, and others as assigned. Assists with orientation/education/training of staff new to facility.
• Educates and trains other health care disciplines (e.g., housestaff, nurses, dietetics) on the safe, rational, and cost-effective use of medications.
• Participates in the training of pharmacy residents and students.
• Maintaining and improving professional competency by keeping up with information on new drugs, disease state management, and innovations in pharmacy practice and must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate for the area of practice specialty.
• Participate in professional practice review as required to maintain scope of practice

Administrative and Organizational Support

• Assist Pharmacy and Medicine Services in accomplishing the mission and goals as related to the provision of pharmaceutical care.
• Contribute to medical center committees as assigned to provide thoroughly investigated, unbiased, well-documented medication-related information.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Pharmacy or medical center policies, protocols, or programs to improve medication usage and patient outcomes. Contribute to medical center committees when assigned to provide thoroughly investigated, unbiased, well-documented medication-related information.
• Participate in scholarly and QM activities to improve safe and effective medication use and Clinical Pharmacy functions.
• Intervention reporting: Documents workload, interventions, adverse reactions, safety events, and outcomes using appropriate methods as needed and on a periodic basis as required.
• Consistently demonstrates a good awareness of safety procedures and regulations by quickly reporting or taking appropriate action to correct safety hazards anywhere in the Medical Center without regard to whether he/she has direct responsibility for the situation. Maintains a safe and orderly work area.
• Responsible for the operational status of the various aspects of pharmacy programs. CPS will be required to make administrative decisions in instances where immediate decisions are required. Pharmacy Policy and Procedures, VA Regulations, and State and Federal pharmacy laws will serve as operational guidance.

Customer Service

• Interacts with the internal/external customers in a manner that proactively enhances customer service and satisfaction. Advocates and reinforces the importance and value of customer service.
• Demonstrate the ability to adjust to change or work pressure in a pleasant manner, handle differences of opinion in a businesslike fashion, follow instructions conscientiously, be receptive to constructive feedback, and to function as a member helping the group effort when possible
• Uses discretion in appropriately safeguarding confidential information.
• Completes all assigned tasks in a timely manner

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday
Position Title/Functional Statement #:Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Oncology)/PD000000
Telework: May be authorized at supervisory discretion.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: An incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates in accordance with agency policy.
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.
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.
• 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/.
• 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.

• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

Grade Determinations: To be considered at the GS-13 grade you must meet the basic requirements and the requirements listed below:
Experience: You must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-12.
You must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities, (KSAs):

1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
6. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
7. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in the program area.
8. Expert knowledge of specialized program area.
9. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: Successful completion of PGY-1 pharmacy residency training, successful completion of PGY-2 pharmacy residency training in Oncology, Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) designation, and/or at least one year of direct patient care experience in Oncology.
References: VA Handbook 5005/55The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting (15-44 lbs); Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (8 hours); Standing (8 hours); Kneeling (1 hours); Repeated bending (4 hours); Both legs required; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Specific visual requirement: DVA correctable to 20/40; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted).
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.
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.

• Benefits
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