Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

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 (Ambulatory Care Psychiatry Services) GS-13 Experience: 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) Functions of the position include but are not limited to: 1. CLINICAL PATIENT CARE SKILLS Utilizes the highest level of clinical privileges for Clinical Pharmacy Specialists (CPS) (as authorized by their scope of practice under the appropriate supervision of a physician) to design a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information, which includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, prescribing an appropriate drug therapy and ordering appropriate laboratory monitoring for effective disease state management. The CPS interfaces with providers (including physicians, PAs, APRNs), as well as other services (including Nursing, Social Work, Mental Health, etc.) in the design of a patient-centered treatment regimen to assure that medication therapy is both appropriate and cost-effective. The CPS will independently manage unstable pharmacotherapy patients in his/her pharmacotherapy clinics, improving system efficiency and quality. Counsels’ patients on proper self-management for their chronic disease states, including optimization of medication adherence, therapeutic lifestyle interventions, and self-monitoring as appropriate (e.g., home blood pressure, self-monitored blood glucose etc.) 2. MEDICATION DISPENSING AND DISTRIBUTION Performs all pharmacy distributive functions according to the VHA and local policies to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical services in a timely fashion to meet the needs of our patients and medical center staff. Exhibits a high degree of accuracy in receiving and processing of prescriptions (manual and electronic). Exhibits a high degree of accuracy in all areas of drug accountability (e.g., controlled substances, high risk/high alert drugs). Exhibits ability to be highly productive in a professional environment. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE & PROGRAM MANAGEMENT Participates in the development and enforcement of Pharmacy and Health System policies and procedures. Assists in the dissemination and enforcement of guidelines established by the Medication Management Committee (MMC) regarding the use of formulary, non-formulary and restricted drugs. Reviews electronically submitted non-formulary drug requests (NFDR) for patients assigned to the area which the specialist is practicing and/or covering. The pharmacist will take into account appropriateness of therapy, cost and adherence to National VA PBM Criteria for Use. Completes review and documents adjudication in CPRS in a timely manner as determined by VISN and National PBM leadership. Attends weekly and/or as needed Psychiatry Clinic meetings. 4. EDUCATION AND TRAINING Creates an environment to stimulate, encourage, and support the participation of pharmacy personnel in providing drug information to VACT staff and other facilities as deemed appropriate. Acts as a source of drug information for health professionals in the Psychiatry clinics through direct response to specific inquiries concerning medications and therapy. Performs in-service training to health care professionals as scheduled at the direction of the Associate Service Chief of Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Services and/or Chief of Pharmacy. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other health care professional services in the area of Psychiatry. 5. RESEARCH AND QUALITY Serves as a preceptor of residents’ research projects as assigned. Participates in the development of administrative and clinical pharmacy research protocols, activities, or projects which may ultimately serve to upgrade the quality of patient care by the VA Healthcare System. Participates in the preparation of articles for publication of results of such research activity. In cooperation with clinical section staff and other health professionals, collects and analyzes data related to ongoing clinical programs and presents it either at national meetings or publishes it in professionally representative publications. 6. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION In all contact with patients, relatives, staff members and other individuals dealing with the Medical Center, the pharmacist demonstrates a concerned, compassionate and helpful attitude to enhance a positive image of the Medical Center and the VA system. Develops and promotes a “can do” resourcefulness helping patients, relatives, staff members and others within and between services by providing information in a professional, dependable, reliable and timely manner to facilitate accomplishing deadlines. Preferred Experience: PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency PGY2 Pharmacy Practice Residency in Mental Health PharmD Degree Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour) reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13″ to 16″ to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted).
The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Ambulatory Care Psychiatry Services) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and performs duties of clinical and teaching nature, including direct patient care, routinely functioning with minimal supervision as an independent practitioner operating under a scope of practice. This position is Full Time and located at the West Haven VAMC.