Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - (Pain Management)

Summary
The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. The CPS provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome; and advises prescribers as appropriate.
This job is open to

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

Clarification from the agency
1st Area of Consideration - Current permanent Veterans Health Care Systems of the Ozarks employee (includes CBOCs)
2nd Area of Consideration - Current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees
3rd Area of Consideration - Current permanent VA Nationwide employees
4th Area of Consideration - Current permanent Federal employees of other Agencies
This job is also open in another announcement to:

• The public

This job is also open in another announcement to:

• The public

Videos
Duties
If you ARE NOT a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply using announcement: CBST-12195483-24-AC
VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws
Functions include but not limited to:
Clinical

• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing. Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in:
  
  • Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen
  • Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen
  • Appropriateness of the route and method of administration
  • Degree of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen
  • Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug disease interactions
  • Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicity, or adverse effects
  • Physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy

Dispensing

• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing.
• Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record.
• Fills all orders in a timely fashion; review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance should be performed and dealt with appropriately.

Education

• Assumes an active role in pharmacy training programs consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members. Conducts on-the-job training and provides guidance through designated programs.
• Collaborates with Clinical Pharmacists on pharmacy training and development, to promote the learning experience and improve the performance of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns, pharmacy residents and students.
• Provides education to health care providers regarding medication use.

Administrative/Supervisory

• Participation in documentation of interventions, medication error and adverse drug event reporting.
• Works with other health care providers to develop programs for improvement of drug use.
• Develops and conducts drug usage evaluation in areas of need from a cost and patient outcome perspective

Research

• Works closely with investigators conducting clinical studies and/or medication use evaluations in a variety of areas, depending on the needs of the primary investigator.
• Aids in the development and initiation of new protocols and procedures with the institution, designed to optimize medical care at the state of art level and strive toward cost effective therapy.

Program Management

• Responsible for developing and managing Clinical Pharmacy activities and functions with an emphasis on improving quality of medical care for patients; reduce the cost of treatment and hospitalization; and assure safe and rational use of medications.
• Responsible for pharmacy staff development programs.
• Responsible for active participation in ASHP Residency training programs and university affiliated internships

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 564-00265-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station: 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
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. 7403(f).
• 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.
  • 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).
Grade Determinations:
Grade Requirements: GS-13 Requirements
Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of 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..

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in a Pain Management Clinic setting.
• Completion of PGY2 training in Pain Management or equivalent experience as a Pharmacist Provider in Pain Management.

References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13.
Physical Requirements:

• The Pharmacy can be an exceptionally stressful work environment. Good mental and emotional health is required in order to function at an optimum level. Work areas can be high stress environments, due to volume of workload, which must be accomplished. Patients may sometimes be difficult. The position requires a high level of conduct, appearance, and general courteous manner which facilitates dealing with patients, physicians, and nurses in an effective way.
• Work is performed in patient care, office, and storage areas of the facility. Work areas are adequately heated and lighted. Potential exists for: exposure to infectious patients or materials; exposure to hazardous and toxic substances including but not limited to cytotoxic chemotherapy, solvents, grease, oils, and cleaning solutions; sticks or cuts from hypodermic needles, lancets, or other sharp items; musculoskeletal injuries if proper lifting and carrying techniques are not used; unusual musculoskeletal fatigue due to prolonged standing, electronic data processing, etc.; eye strain.

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
  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.
  Review our benefits
  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.

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 throug...