Summary

The North Florida South Georgia VA Healthcare System's Pharmacy Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Clinical Pharmacy Specialist-Critical Care/Emergency Dept. Our ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.

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
• 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 2 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
• Physical Requirements: Must Pass a Physical
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: 1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration - that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: GS-13 (a) Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (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
• 1
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The Full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health
• This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. - carrying objects up to 15 lbs. - frequent reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - hands and legs - use of cranes and motor vehicles - walking & standing up to 8 hours - bending and climbing and able to hear whisper
• The incumbent must be physically - emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Duties

• The Critical Care/Emergency Department Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is a licensed professional with advanced knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics
• The incumbent functions at an advanced level of clinical practice as a mid-level provider in the Critical Care and/or Emergency Department setting and is responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy outcomes
• Duties include but are not limited to: Works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual Medical Center to directly care for patients
• Applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs
• Performs higher level duties consisting of significant scope - complexity and range of variety at least 25% of the time
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the duties of the position - including the necessary skills to provide care appropriate to patients in the Critical Care and/or Emergency Department setting
• Such knowledge and skills include: 1
• Communication and interpersonal relations - including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers as well as the ability to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• 2.Maintenance of confidentiality of patient/employee information - electronic and print
• 3
• The medical center performance improvement program
• 4
• How to work and function in the medical center in a safe manner - including infection control and the correct operation of equipment
• 5
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the program area
• 6
• Expert knowledge of the specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice
• The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate - modify or discontinue medication therapy and serves as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services
• Designs - implements - assesses - monitors and documents therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic and most economical medication treatments
• Provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• monitoring for efficacy - side effects and clinical outcome
• and advises other health care providers as appropriate
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing
• Work Schedule: 8-hour tour Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:30am and 6:00pm
• (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:50732F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized