Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

<p>The Primary Care Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist will provide consultative/referral services for intensive medication therapy management and disease state management. The incumbent will be an integral member of the Primary Care team and will direct patient mental health and substance use treatment medication therapy by initiating, modifying, and discontinuing medication therapy, and by assisting other team members in the management of high-risk patients in the ambulatory setting.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Mental Health Program Services: The Primary Care Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will provide clinical pharmacy services, support pharmacoeconomic activities, and is directly responsible for assessing, monitoring, managing, and documenting intensive medication therapy for assigned patients. Activities include: Responsible for Mental Health pharmacy activities involving highly innovative methods of health care delivery including inpatient, clinic, group, telephone, or telehealth modalities. Participates in a patient-focused, team based multidisciplinary model of patient centered care to promote positive patient outcomes through direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers. Serves as a mid-level provider by directing therapy, ordering lab tests, performing physical assessments; and initiating, modifying, and discontinuing medications as defined with the Clinical Pharmacy Specialists scope of practice. Performs comprehensive medication management for Mental Health and non-Mental Health conditions to include, but not limited to: identifying target symptoms and treatment response of MH disorders; utilize quantitative MH instruments for psychotic, mood, cognitive, and other MH disorders to monitor medication effectiveness; perform targeted lab monitoring (e.g., clozapine, lithium, metabolic abnormalities, urine drug screens); assist with neuropsychiatric referral issues to programs such as Substance Abuse programs, PTSD, Neurology, Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM), and Residential Rehabilitation Treatment programs; provide medication management for medications such as clozapine, buprenorphine, and long-acting injectable antipsychotics. Conducts intensive medication therapy management for mental health patients to include, but not limited to metabolic monitoring, renal and hepatic dosing, pharmacokinetics, pain management, smoking cessation, and substance abuse. Provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and develops appropriate treatment plans regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and Pharmacoeconomics. Evaluates appropriateness of pharmacologic therapy weighing the risk/benefit ratio of various therapeutic alternatives and utilizing pharmacokinetic principles to develop individualized dosing regimens that result in the most efficacious, least toxic, and most economical treatment. Develops appropriate therapeutic monitoring plans and documents the activities in the medical record. Provides medication reconciliation and patient medication counseling, verifying and documenting patient understanding of the medication, proper medication use, and expected outcomes. Obtains medication histories from patients when appropriate, assessing history for potential drug interactions, therapeutic duplications, efficacy of current medication regimens, compliance patterns and/or drug reactions. Reports actual and/or potential medication errors or adverse events and participates in quality improvement initiatives that promote patient safety. Actively participates in the VA Adverse Drug Reaction (VA ADR) reporting program. Plays a role in budget execution by working with and educating providers to ensure adherence to the formulary process so that patients receive the most cost-effective drug therapy. Adjudicates non-formulary/restricted/prior authorization drug requests utilizing national, VISN and Local criteria for use and documenting reasons for approval or denial. Ambulatory Care and Inpatient Pharmacy Program Services: The Mental Health CPS will work in conjunction with Clinical Pharmacists, other CPS's, and other health care professionals to form an organized team approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical care. Activities include: Maintains workflow patterns that ensure timely delivery of ambulatory care and inpatient pharmacy services, ensures accurate dispensing and record keeping documentation, and oversees technical and nonprofessional staff in the outpatient pharmacy setting. Effectively organizes workload, solves problems, and achieves established goals. Participates in quality improvement activities, pharmacoeconomic initiatives (e.g. drug conversions), committees, and workgroups in support of the pharmacy service strategic plan. Provides patient care using an in-depth knowledge of mental health specialized areas of pharmacy practice. Assists in ensuring that the Mental Health Pharmacy Program is compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. 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>IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application. 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/.