Chief Pharmacy Service

<p>The Chief, Pharmacy Service oversees a wide range of pharmacy responsibilities. The Chief, Pharmacy Service at VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System (CWM HCS) plans, directs and coordinates the comprehensive delivery of pharmacy services throughout the Healthcare System's catchment area. The Chief provides leadership needed to provide pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management to all patients served by CWM HCS.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Current VA Employees should apply to this vacancy using the internal vacancy announcement at the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/872931000 Chief Pharmacy Service, GS-15 Duties include but are not limited to the following description: The Chief, Pharmacy Service oversees a wide range of pharmacy responsibilities. The Chief, Pharmacy Service at VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System (CWM HCS) plans, directs and coordinates the comprehensive delivery of pharmacy services throughout the Healthcare System's catchment area. The Chief provides leadership needed to provide pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management to all patients served by CWM HCS. In this leadership role, the Chief exercises full authority and responsibility for the supervision of pharmacy staff comprised of associate service chiefs of pharmacy, supervisory pharmacists, informatics pharmacist, clinical pharmacists, clinical pharmacy specialists providing advanced clinical pharmacy services, pharmacy residents, pharmacy technicians, and administrative support staff. The Chief, Pharmacy Service works closely with the Pharmacy Leadership team to perform data analysis to measure performance with guideline adherence and timely and accurate delivery of quality pharmacy services. As such, the position requires computer expertise, particularly in the area of database/spreadsheet programs and data analysis. The Chief, Pharmacy Service fosters a patient centered culture to increase pharmacy patient satisfaction, achieve clinical excellence, enhance patient safety, and improve drug-related problems. The Chief, conceives and articulates the vision for Pharmacy Service, expresses the values that represent Pharmacy Service and carries them through times of conflict or change and unites employees in pursuit of patient focused pharmaceutical care objectives. The Chief, Pharmacy Service holds a position of high visibility. As such, the Chief, pharmacy Service must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The Chief, Pharmacy Service serves as a representative of the CWM HCS Pharmacy program through membership on various internal and external standing and ad hoc committees, including participation at the VISN and National levels. CWM Pharmacy practices in and supports a CLC, an acute inpatient psych ward, three RRTPs, and outpatient clinics. CWM Pharmacy has two CBOC pharmacies (Springfield and Worcester), three domiciliary RRTPs. CWM Pharmacy has 15 Clinical Pharmacy Specialists with scopes of practice in four locations (Leeds, Springfield, Worcester, & Fitchburg). The Clinical Pharmacy Specialists practice in several specialties (PACT, CLC, Mental Health, Pain, AntiCoag, Hepatitis C, Anemia, and Community Care). Pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management are missions of the pharmacy profession. They assure rational, helpful, and cost-effective drug therapy that improves a patient's quality of life. Pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management are patient-focused and encompass all aspects and processes involving medications. They integrate the knowledge and skills of pharmacists and technicians working in a system of drug use control and promote acceptance of individual responsibility for patient outcomes. With the primary site being located in Leeds, CWM HCS is a complex 130 bed medical center with a highly diverse patient population in outpatient, inpatient, and extended care settings. Pharmacy Services are provided on-site at Leeds and include outpatient pharmacies, clinical pharmacy specialists practicing in Primary Care, Specialty Clinics, Pain, and Anticoagulation Clinics, Home Based Primary Care. The specific functions of the CWM HCS Pharmacy Service include outpatient dispensing, non-VA (Community Care) medication dispensing, unit dose drug distribution, controlled substance and high-cost drug accountability, drug information, TPN monitoring, antimicrobial stewardship, pharmacokinetic monitoring, research drug control, emergency pharmacy service (drug cache), ambulatory specialty and primary care clinical pharmacy support, outpatient anticoagulation management, and patient education. The Pharmacy Service is developing a American Society of Health system Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited residency training programs which will train multiple PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents annually. The wide range of programs, number of sites involved, and highly specialized services require considerable coordination and leadership. Resource management at CWM HCS Pharmacy Service includes over 53 FTEE and a budget exceeding $18 million. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available on a regular or recurring basis, situational telework only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06518 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May Be Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.