Summary The Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) is responsible for oncology pharmacy care activities, including patients receiving chemotherapy and other oncological and hematological products. Privileges will be granted to practice as a provider under the supervision of the chiefs, Oncology Service, as directed by the chief, Pharmacy Service. The Oncology CPP will serve in many key roles in the care of oncology patients as a highly trained expert functioning with a scope of practice. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The primary role of the Oncology CPP is to serve as a core member of the oncology team, providing direct patient care serving their patients through the provision of oncology pharmacy services. Oncology CPP functions may include, but are not limited to: Antineoplastic therapy management, including PO and parenteral therapy, oncology supportivecare therapy management, patient care appointments, reviewing patient records and documentation of care provided, contacting patients and/or caregivers to discuss concerns/ needs and communicating and collaborating with other oncology providers as needed. The CPP is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining effective clinical pharmacy programs by implementing rational cost-effective drug therapy to improve patient outcomes in the outpatient and inpatient practice areas. Duties include but are not limited to: Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in the assigned areas (i.e. adult and geriatric populations). This entails a knowledge of human growth and development; ability to assess and interpret age specific data and provide age specific care; communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses to treatment; and ability to involve family/ significant others in decision making related to plan of care. The knowledge, abilities, and skills needed to provide such care will be refined through continuing education and training and experience. Oncology CPP will deliver care through a team or consult based approach. A team approach is designed to model an onsite clinical care team of oncologists, care coordinating RNs, advance practice providers and clinical pharmacists working in a virtual setting. The modalities of care delivery and patient encounters include: CVT, VVC, Telephone or E-Consult. The Oncology CPP provides expert guidance to the oncology team in regard to treatment selection, comprehensive treatment plan review, supportive care, and assistance with monitoring for safety and efficacy of the prescribed treatment. This may include toxicity checks, oral anticancer therapy management, medication reconciliation, management of benign hematology treatment, E-Consults, and enrollment and evaluation for REMS programs. The Oncology CPP collaborates closely with the spoke site pharmacy teams to ensure safe and timely delivery of anticancer therapy. The Oncology CPP can be consulted directly to manage oral anticancer therapies, anticancer therapy toxicity management, supportive care management, drug information/treatment plan review E-Consults, second opinions, etc. Using clinical screening tools to evaluate and assess patients (the most recent version of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE). Population management and high risk patient identification. Team huddles and meetings. Clinical leadership activities, including committee and workgroup involvement. Performs all pharmacy distributive functions according to the VHA and local policies to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical services in a timely fashion to meet the needs of our patients and medical center staff. Exhibits a high degree of accuracy in receiving and processing of inpatient medication orders and discharge prescriptions and in all areas of drug accountability. Ability to counsel patients and provide all required patient information regarding medication dispensed to the patient (e.g., PMI's, FDA MedGuides). Exhibits a high degree of accuracy in all areas of drug accountability (e.g., controlled substances, high risk/high alert drugs). Exhibits ability to be highly productive in a professional environment. Responsible for training clinical pharmacy practitioners and technicians joining the National TeleOncology Program in operations. Participates in the development of administrative and clinical pharmacy research protocols, activities, or projects which may ultimately serve to upgrade the quality of patient care by the VA Healthcare System. Serves as a preceptor of residents' research projects as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 trial period. 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 dentification 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). Qualifications 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/. (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. GS-13 Grade Determinations: (a) Experience. In addition to the GS-13 requirements, you must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). (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. 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: 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: Possess an advanced set of knowledge and skills in managing and educating VA patients receiving oncology and pain therapies. Completion of an oncology pharmacy practice residency or oncology board certification (BCOP) 3 years of VA oncology practice experience with a scope of practice Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook Directive 5019. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
