Clinical Pharmacist

<p>This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Major duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Functions Promoting evidence-based cost-effective therapy including, but not limited to drug, dose and frequency of administration, duration of therapy, monitoring and costs associated with therapy. Recognizing, reporting, and managing medication-related complications adverse drug reactions and errors. Recommending appropriate drug therapy as indicated by P&T committee approved pharmaceutical care plans. Providing clinically appropriate drug information to patients, patient's family members, and medical center staff as appropriate. Demonstrating the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to adult and geriatric patients in his or her assigned unit, area or department. Communicates with physicians concerning appropriate medication therapy and solves technical problems independently. Recommending appropriate drug therapy as indicated by P&T committee approved pharmaceutical care plans. Enforces the VA formulary and provides physicians with alternate medications (including, but not limited to, prior authorization drug requests, prior authorization-facility level requests, restricted drug requests, etc). Implement P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education. Recognizing, reporting and managing medication-related complications adverse drug reactions and errors. Completing medication reconciliation for patients with medications filled in the VA, nonVA, remote VA facilities, specialty pharmacies, etc. Completion of medication use evaluation (MUE) as needed to assess appropriateness of medication therapy. Distributive Functions Computer verifying (with provider order entry) of all prescriptions for patients both for outpatients and clinic administration. Directing pharmacy technician support, where applicable. Coordinating medication orders with central pharmacy or CMOP when necessary. For non-emergent medications, prescriptions will be entered for mail-out from CMOP (90-day supplies will be encouraged for maintenance medications). Filling and dispensing medication to patients using the automated dispensing cabinet or Scriptpro system. Ensuring prescriptions are properly routed via window pick-up, mail, overnight carrier. Maintains adequate drug stock, inspects drug storage areas, supervises prepacking/loading and the operation of automated dispensing equipment. Ensures appropriate storage and stability for all medications stored in clinic; including, responding to temperature excursions during tour hours, communicating with team members in clinic as necessary for medication storage, as well as ensuring medication security if moved outside of tour hours. When necessary, counsel patients and/or relatives on prescription before they are dispensed when requested by the patient. Patient counseling will be provided to ensure that: Performs other clinical and staff pharmacist duties as required in periods of acute staffing needs. Educational Functions Acquisition and maintenance of the clinical knowledge necessary to provide clinical pharmacy services to the inpatient and ambulatory care areas. Responsibility for keeping abreast of changes in the Pharmacy Service (i.e. formulary additions and deletions, interdepartmental memoranda, relevant station memoranda, and policies and procedures. and to maintain a general knowledge of VA, DEA and Joint Commission regulations). Provision of orientation and training to all Doctor of Pharmacy students and residents assigned to their area. Participation in the education and training of new employees or employees introduced to selected practice areas. Interpersonal Relations Functions Contact with patients, relatives, staff members and other individuals dealing with the Medical Center demonstrates a concerned, compassionate and helpful attitude to enhance a positive image of the Medical Center and the VA system. Develops and promotes a "can do" resourcefulness helping patients, relatives, staff members and others within and between services by providing information in a professional, dependable, reliable, and timely manner to facilitate accomplishing deadlines. Interacts with coworkers in a way that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment. Provides timely verbal and/or written information that is thorough and correct, using clear and precise communication methods to ensure patients and other health care providers understand. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Available, Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 62561F, 60136F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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. 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>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). 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/.