The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in Primary Care is assigned in the Primary Care functioning as a specialist in medication therapy management. The clinical pharmacy specialist functions at the highest level of clinical practice as a provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's scope of practice for Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS). VHA Health Profession Trainees (HPTs) 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: 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 website at: ACPE. (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) 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(/)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for Iicensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Note: VA Employees who have been continuously employed as Pharmacists within VA Since 6/7/2012, release of the current Pharmacist Qualification Standard may meet the Basic Requirements for this posting through the Grandfathering Provision. Grade Determination: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist GS-13 Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. *Experience must be gained while having a full, unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. State or Territory. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: PGY-2 Primary Care Residency in Ambulatory Care or Geriatrics (preferred) or PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency (minimum required) Comprehensive knowledge of specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy, such as quality assurance, utilization review, informatics systems, drug information, etcetera... This level of knowledge is usually characterized by at least one year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training/ certification comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, Pharmacoeconomics, and pharmacotherapeutics. This level of knowledge is characterized by at least one year of experience in a specialized clinical area or advanced training, certification. Extensive skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Ability to design specific treatment regimens based on specific disease states for mental health patients to establish appropriate therapeutic outcomes. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. References: Appendix G15 Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-660 Veterans Health Administration June 7, 2012. Physical Requirements: Pharmacists may dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to health practitioners and patients about proper usage of medications. Pharmacists advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications. Pharmacists monitor the health and progress of patients to ensure the safe and effective use of medication. Pharmacists may practice compounding. Pharmacists may prescribe and administer certain medications. Pharmacists may have prescriptive authority to either independently prescribe under their own authority or in collaboration with a primary care physician through an agreed upon protocol. Pharmacy work requires knowledge of the use, clinical effects, and composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties. Many pharmacists work in a in a hospital or clinic. Pharmacists in hospitals and clinics may perform duties such as, but not limited to: - dispense, prescribe and/or administer medications; - advise the medical staff on the selection and effects of drugs; - may make sterile solutions and buy medical supplies; - assess, plan, and monitor drug programs or regimens; - counsel patients on the use of drugs; and - evaluate drug use patterns and outcomes for patients in hospitals or managed care organizations. Applicants must be able to distinguish basic colors. ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (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. Concurrently reviews medication usage as part of the overall quality assurance program and specifically focuses on reducing the number of prescriptions per patient. Assists the Pharmacy Supervisors in the identification and development of new clinical responsibilities for Outpatient Clinical Pharmacists and in the planning to meet their staff development requirements. Performs other administrative duties as assigned by the Chief, and Associate Chief for Clinical Pharmacy Service and the Chief Medical Officer May be required to perform administrative duties required for performance measures or improvement activities, compliance with accrediting organizations, or other duties as assigned. May be required to participate in emergency preparedness activities as a result of national health disasters. Performs other duties as assigned by pharmacy administration to facilitate pharmacy operations/services. Interfaces with primary care physicians in the design of the veteran's treatment regimen. Independently works in the assigned clinic area as a mid-level provider designing medication therapy management (MTM) for patients Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs. Designs dosage regimens for current pharmacokinetics principles and specific patient parameters. From a verbal or written patient presentation of signs, symptoms, laboratory tests and diagnoses, recognize and list important medical problems, disease states, symptoms or abnormal laboratory values, which may necessitate altering the therapeutic regimen. Establish and expand the patient database through interpreting the drug history, medical history, physical examination and progress notes. Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information, that includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, selecting an appropriate drug and related therapy and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen. Monitors and assesses therapeutic and adverse effects of drug therapy (including drug interactions) through selection and evaluation of physical and laboratory parameters. Assumes prescribing functions under appropriate scope of practice and accepted clinical practice guidelines. Orders appropriate laboratory and other tests to effectively monitor patients' medication therapy. Provide consultation on selection of appropriate OTC medications as part of the total therapy. Provide consultation on selection of appropriate therapeutic regimens as a follow-up of non-therapeutic drug concentrations obtained from patients. Instruct patients on the proper use of their medications. Physically assesses patients to determine if current medication therapy is appropriate. (i.e.: takes blood pressure readings to determine if MTM therapy is appropriate) Provides the primary care providers a focal resource for discussion of anticoagulation and other therapeutic intervention. Evaluation of non-formulary consults in accordance with VA criteria for use of non-formulary medications. Monitors use of non-formulary medications and offers alternatives to medical staff. Processes pharmacy interventions regarding medication changes in therapy, drug- interactions, drug allergy processing, dosage errors, and other pharmacy interventions. Notifies providers of appropriate changes to medication orders and makes appropriate recommendations. Records pharmacy interventions in appropriate intervention software to track and trend interventions for quality assurance purposes. Incumbent performs other duties as assigned to facilitate patient care. Duties are continued in the Education section of this announcement. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Ad/Hoc Telework may be authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
