Summary 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. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) GS-0660-13 Clinical Practice Area: The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) will be assigned to Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT). Teams are located in the main campus and associated community based outlying clinics. The CPS will at times be required to travel to care for patients in their homes. General Description of Position: The HBPC PACT CPS functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. The incumbent enhances the delivery of clinical pharmacy services to the HBPC team. This may include participation on various committees pertaining to HBPC, reviewing charts and drug therapy for patients, performing clinical assessments and interpreting lab data, providing drug information services including those services requiring extensive interpretation, providing pharmacokinetic consults as clinically privileged, attending home visits to educate the patient and family on pharmaceutical care, and providing inservice educational presentations to medical center staff. Extensive documentation and clinical progress note writing are required of this position. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities to complete the duties of the position, including the necessary skills to provide care appropriate to the population of the patients served. 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. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F06001 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Hannah Neilson at Hannah.Neilson@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. 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). 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. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) GS-0660-13 Experience and Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet the following: 1 year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS12) and Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Functions include but are not limited to: A. Customer Service Treats patients, team members, other facility employees and visitors with respect. Responds to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner. Listens to customer/patient feedback whether positive or negative, acts to resolve complaints within their control, and reports feedback to management in a timely manner. Demonstrates appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service. Acts as a team member and is supportive of group efforts at all times. Demonstrates an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. B. Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities that require a scope of practice 1) Responsible for developing, organizing, coordinating and managing all aspects of clinical pharmacy functions for HBPC, attends and participates in HBPC multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings , conferences, and other meetings as required for the purpose of making recommendations and providing consultation in all Pharmacy-related matters. Responsible for all HBPC patients registered in the program. The incumbent must work independently and effectively to assure appropriate, accurate drug reviews are completed; interpret prescriptions and/or physician orders for accuracy, eligibility, availability, cost effectiveness and therapeutic appropriateness; reviews patient medication profiles, contacts physicians and makes authorized changes in orders or prescriptions as required. Provides direction to HBPC primary care providers and other providers on national formulary management issues including compliance with national pharmacy performance measures. Functions independently in day to day clinical and administrative duties associated with the position, consulting with higher level supervisors only when required. In general, uses a high degree of appropriate professional judgement to care for complex problems. Demonstrates recognized expertise in the area of geriatrics and the HBPC program. Performs and documents in CPRS initial and periodic assessment of patients' medication therapy, monitors as needed, and makes recommendations or changes within their scope of practice as necessary. Timeliness of reviews will be determined by JCAHO, HBPC, and/or other regulatory requirements. Functions under a scope of practice to implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers. Modalities of care encounters include in-home visits and telehealth video visits. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e. changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements. Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or families on request and appropriate discharge counseling when necessary. Clinical pharmacy specialists will determine if a referral to a higher level of care is necessary when treatment interventions fall outside of the CPS scope of practice. C. Education and Research Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other staff on assigned teams. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. Serves as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established policies. Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required. D. Drug Information Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance, to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information. Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. E. Program Management Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations. Preferred Experience: Candidates for the HBPC PACT CPS position should possess the skills outlined above with specific experience in the area of geriatrics and chronic disease management. Candidates should have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management responsibilities. Preferred candidates will have an advanced pharmacy degree (Pharm.D), board certification (BPS), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, or equivalent experience or mentorship. PGY1 Residency and/or PGY2 Residency in Geriatrics or previous experience in Geriatric care. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Please see VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.
