Summary The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist works independently under the Associate Chief for Clinical Pharmacy Services and Chief of Pharmacy, or designee. The primary responsibility of the Clinical Specialist is the provision of evidence based pharmaceutical care services through direct interaction with patients and providers. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Responsibilities Clinical a. Designs, implements, and monitors therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes by direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. b. Prescribes medications as per the pharmacist's approved scope of practice. c. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate. d. Reviews patient medication regimens for cost effective drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. e. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility and VA policy. f. Applies a knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. g. The pharmacist has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. h. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drug consults for appropriateness in compliance with established criteria where applicable and provides therapeutic alternatives as necessary. i. Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. j. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. k. Responds to Code Blue emergencies and offers assistance to Code Team as appropriate. l. Fulfills the role of a GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist when requested, as workload dictates. Education and Training a. Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, pharmacy students, and other medical center personnel as required. b. Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. c. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. d. Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and/or pharmacy residents. e. Has a good working knowledge of information resources such as Micromedex, Clinical Pharmacology, AHFS Drug Information, Facts & Comparisons, or other relevant pharmaceutical references, both written and electronic. f. Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. g. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. Administration a. Acts as point-of-contact with Patient Care Services for resolution of timesensitive nursing/pharmacy issues. b. Participates in the medical center and pharmacy service quality improvement programs, including the ongoing professional practice evaluations. c. Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. d. Participates in the drug use evaluation process as needed. Research a. Participation in research activities must be in accordance with FDA guidelines and regulations and VHA policy. b. Coordinates the receipt and distribution of all drugs in an investigational and/or clinical evaluation status and maintains appropriate records regarding their use as applicable. c. Serves as primary investigator for pharmacy resident and/or student research projects as necessary. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Tour Information: M-F 7:30a-4:00p Telework: AD-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92719-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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. Experience/Education: 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 1 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: The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Experience: must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS12-Full Performance Level). GS-13 Requirements: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate, in their resume, 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: Completion of an ASHP Accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency & PGY2 Residency in applicable field. Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 13. Physical Requirements: The work in this position is administrative and technical in nature; primarily sedentary. Work is performed in an office setting and requires the use of numerous communication modalities. Some travel and tour of duty changes are required to meet the demands of the position. Occasional light physical effort may be required. 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.
