Summary The primary responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers. The CPS functions with Primary Care, Inpatient and Infectious Disease teams, also plans, implements, operates the antibiotic monitoring and utilization programs. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Responsibilities Duties include but not limited to the following: A. Pharmaceutical Care Activities: 1. Functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under the Infectious Disease global scope of practice. 2. Provides clinical pharmacy services to Infections Disease patients and other medical center patients by on-site consultations and direct patient management. 3. Responsible for consulting on the most complex infectious disease states taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, effectiveness, pharmacoeconomic, resistance and administration. 4. Evaluates a wide variety of patients and makes appropriate recommendations on antibiotic drug therapy. 5. Counsel and educate patients regarding their medication regimens. Discuss adherence and perform adherence assessment, side effect management and proper medication administration. Refill and renew medication as appropriate. 6. Provides disease state management for patients undergoing hepatitis treatment in the Special ID setting (including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking cessation, and diabetes). B. Education/Training: 1. Provides information and educational programs using a variety of verbal and written communication techniques (e.g., in-services, newsletters, one-on-one encounters) directed to the development of the pharmacy staff (including students and residents), other healthcare disciplines, and patients that are requested or would be beneficial to patient care. 2. Refers patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams if applicable. 3. Acts as a source of drug information for health professionals through direct response to specific inquiries concerning medications and therapy. 4. Creates an environment to stimulate, encourage, and support the participation of pharmacy personnel in providing drug information to the medical center staff and other facilities as deemed appropriate. 5. Educates patients, family members, or caregivers on the proper use and storage of medications through daily interactions and documents these interactions in the medical record. Printed educational material is provided to the patient, family member, or caregiver as appropriate. 6. Maintains his/her professional competency by keeping current with information on new drugs, new drug therapies, innovations in pharmacy practice, and integrating this information into his/her daily practice. C. Administrative: 1. Acts as a liaison between the Primary Care, Inpatient, and Infectious Disease providers and the Inpatient and Outpatient pharmacies. 2. Effectively communicates all appropriate information and significant events through proper channels and to the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Specialties when appropriate. 3. Receives consults for ID CPS clinics and with ancillary support, initial visits and appropriate follow up clinic appointments are scheduled. 4. Accurately completes all assignments in a timely manner as defined by Associate Chief, Pharmacy Specialties. 5. Participates in the e development and enforcement of written Pharmacy and Health System Policies and Procedures. Work Schedule: Mon - Friday 0730 - 1700 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. 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 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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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 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.) 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 (Clinical Pharmacy Specialist) Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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/Qualifications: Pharm. D. degree and completion of an accredited Post Graduated year 1 (PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency and PGY-2 residency in an equivalent experience demonstrating competency). Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS) References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15- Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard. QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-660 Veterans Health Administration. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking distances within the medical center, lifting/ carrying (up to 40 pounds) of pharmaceutical supplies, and bending/stooping/stretching. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 for 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.
