Summary The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) provides pharmaceutical care to Veterans as a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner with the highest level of clinical pharmacist privileges and minimal supervision. The CPP will be a member of the centralized anticoagulation service for the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System (VA SLC HCS), participating not only in direct patient care activities alongside other service members but also taking on quality improvement roles and responsibilities. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Works in full collaboration with the Anticoagulation Service Program Manager (ASPM), who oversees day-to-day clinic workload allocation and represents the anticoagulation and thrombosis service both facility-wide and internal and external stakeholders Participates in anticoagulation data collection when possible and engage in quality assurance activities as required to ensure the appropriate and safe use of antithrombotic medications Assists providers with evidence-based medication selection by offering written and/or verbal consultations, ensuring that all prescriptions and actions meet proper eligibility criteria and comply with National Formulary and Non-Formulary procedures Practices as a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) to independently manage patient's pharmacotherapies as it pertains to anticoagulation program and supervises technical support personnel. CPP holds approved clinical privileges and has the authority to direct therapy and order laboratory tests as needed for appropriate patient monitoring. Orders lab tests as indicated for appropriate patient monitoring. Interfaces with colleagues, providers and patients for designing and in an advisory capacity for managing veteran's treatment regimen to achieve optimization of cost effective drug therapy Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy, with special emphasis on specialized medications used in treatment of new or established patients Manages assigned patients and designs a therapeutic regimen or plan based on patient-specific information including establishing a therapeutic endpoint, electing 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 Modifies therapeutic regimen as needed following patient specific presentations of signs and symptoms, laboratory values and diagnoses Documents accurately workload encounter data prior to signing patient care notes Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the broad area of anticoagulation and thrombosis stewardship Interviews patients (including transition of care and/or traveling veteran) when necessary for taking medication history and for formulating a pharmaceutical care plan based on disease and discharge summaries Identifies all drug-related problems that may be affecting the patient or contributing to a need for hospitalization or referral to the emergency department. This would include drug side effects, allergic reactions, toxicities, improper dosage regimens, and non-compliance Evaluates the risk-benefit ratio of various therapeutic options, develops a therapeutic plan utilizing the most efficacious, least toxic and economical pharmacological treatment modalities, and communicates these plans to the patients' providers Evaluates the impact of the age of the patient as it relates to ability to understand directions, provide objective self-assessment or any other medical milieu appropriate to the overall treatment plan. Educates patients about their diagnoses and the proper use and care of their antithrombotic medications, instruments, or technologies through daily personal interactions. Provides formal education and training programs in thrombosis, anticoagulation, and related subjects to pharmacists, physicians, nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals, as appropriate, at the local, VISN, or national level Presents research findings and operational data at facility or VISN P&T Committee meetings and assignments as required by the ASPM or the Associate Chief of Pharmacy. Attends and actively participates in educational activities such as staff development sessions, residency conferences, and journal club Provides and shares drug information and literature evaluations as requested by professional staff members. Prepares and delivers educational lectures to various disciplines upon request by the ASPM or the Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy Provides formal academic and clinical education in the area of expertise to pharmacists and physicians in training Serves as a pharmacotherapy mentor and preceptor to medical and pharmacy students, residents, and physician extenders Plans and coordinates formal and informal instruction and orientation for all staff within the area of assignment designated by ASPM Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54168 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 Applicants 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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) 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/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy. 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-13 Pharmacist Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Assignments. 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 at least 25% of the time. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. 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. GS-13 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: Experience in anticoagulation management or therapy within an anticoagulation clinic or primary care setting. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring and assessing the outcomes of anticoagulant treatments, interpreting laboratory results, and adjusting dosages according to established protocols. Possesses comprehensive knowledge of anticoagulation pharmacology, medication interactions, and potential complications. Proficient in patient education, including effectively counseling individuals on medication adherence, dietary restrictions, and managing side effects associated with anticoagulant therapy. Experienced in using the Veterans Health Administration's electronic health record system to document patient care. Capable of precepting trainees, working collaboratively in a team environment, leading quality improvement projects, providing in-service training to peers and providers, and participating in scholarly activities. Board certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work involves long periods of moving about the work unit. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting and repositioning and transferring patients. Incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative, secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders and patients who require restraints. The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, demonstrating cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy and concern. Must be quick and dependable in taking emergency action in using initiative to prevent accidents 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 During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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. Trial Periods: The first year of continuous service in the same or similar position of a preference eligible in the excepted service is a trial period. The first 2 years of continuous service in the same or similar position of an individual in the excepted service (other than a preference eligible), is a trial period. At least 60 days prior to the end of each employee's initial probationary or trial period, management officials shall, to the extent practicable, meet to discuss the employee's performance and conduct (based in part on the input from the employee's supervisor), the needs to the agency, and whether their continued employment would advance the public interest, the organizational goals of the agency, and the efficiency of the service. Within 30 days prior to the end of each employee's probationary or trial period, management officials shall determine whether to finalize the employee's appointment to the Federal service, or whether to terminate their service. Before the employee is terminated, they shall be notified in writing of the effective date of the action.
