Facility Program Manager - Pharmacy Informatics

Summary
The Facility Program Manager for Pharmacy Informatics (automatic data processing applications coordinator (ADPAC)) is responsible for assessment, design, integration, modification, maintenance and analysis of data, data management services, networking and computerized medical record for Pharmacy Service to assist and support Pharmacy Service managerial decision making.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This job posting is open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Duties
Assigned Duties and Responsibilities include, but not limited to:
Administrative:

• Provides administrative, technical, analytical and automated data processing (ADP) support to Pharmacy Service. Participates in Pharmacy Service information management managerial decisions and policy design.
• Evaluates current information management procedures and practices to determine how effectively current goals are being met and how services could be improved through changes in automation. Analyzes Pharmacy Service hardware and software needs, streamlines procedures and processes through information management automation and new technology.
• Collaborates with Pharmacy Service Chief and IT personnel to identify computerization needs and is responsible for compiling and submitting annual IT requests. Works effectively with these individuals and services to develop new VISTA, LAN or PC programs or modify existing programs to meet Pharmacy Service needs. Provides detailed formats, documentation, flowcharts, diagrams and other information necessary to accomplish objectives.
• Serves as liaison between Pharmacy Service and ITOPS/Health Informatics. Identifies and translates Pharmacy Service needs/concerns/problems. Coordinates VISTA, LAN and PC hardware and software installations and upgrades.
• Serves as Pharmacy Service representative to the facility and represents Pharmacy Service interests and perspectives related to ADP issues. Serves on other committees as assigned by Chief, Pharmacy Service.

Program Management:

• Ensures systems are fully integrated, resources are utilized effectively and efficiently, and objectives are met. Makes configuration changes to hardware and software to meet evolving and complex computerized initiatives (CPRS, BCMA, Internet Refills, etc.) and Pharmacy Service needs.
• Creates computerized files, templates and databases to obtain automated clinical and administrative data used by the CMCVAMC Pharmacy Service Supervisory staff to produce managerial reports for local, VISN and VHA purposes.
• Gathers and interprets data about Pharmacy Service work processes and design management information systems to capture data about these processes. This involves assisting the Chief, Pharmacy Service with determining which processes to automate, with equipment to select and how to effectively use and network with existing equipment.
• Actively manages approved CPRS ordering menus/order sets to guide intuitive, safe, effective and cost-conscious ordering of pharmaceutical products consistent with the VHA National Formulary and national, VISN and local initiatives.
• Works with the automation pharmacy technicians to troubleshoot hardware problems encountered within the service.
• Coordinate local drug file entry/inactivation with Pharmacy Administration.
• Installs, troubleshoots, and maintains Drug Accountability software and the Controlled Substances Package.

Clinical:

• Provides consultation to physicians, nurses, and other health professionals concerning the usage, administration, contraindications, precautions, and interactions.
• Evaluates information provided to patients regarding the effects, usage, risks, precautions, and special instructions for drugs used in research studies.
• Considers the age specific requirements of adult and geriatric patients, including the need for dose adjustment, presence of comorbidities, ability to understand and retain instructions, hearing and visual impairments, and any other conditions relevant to the age of the patient when assessing and providing patient care.
• Provides drug information to physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health care providers.
• Calculates and dispense medication dosages and adjusts as necessary.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 3:30pm
Telework: Authorized, as determined by agency policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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.
• Education (1) 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.) (2) 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.
• English language proficiency in both written and spoken English.
• Physical requirement: pre-employment physical required.

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
(a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

• 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.

(b) 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:

• 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:

• None

References: VA Handbook 5005/55, part II, Appendix G15.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Pre-Employment physical is required, See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
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
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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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 through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriC...