Clinical Pharmacist - Care in the Community
A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. The pharmacist will directly be managing and coordinating prescription related benefits associated with community care programs as well as assist in the development, review and enforcement of policies and procedures related to community care.
Major duties
Duties include but not limited to:
CLINICAL
Applies basic knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics to monitor and assess patient therapies. Completes medication reconciliation and assists the provider with medication management challenges (e.g. non-adherence, adverse drug event identification and reporting, chronic narcotic use, polypharmacy, drug/drug interactions, etc) as needed. Interview patients to ascertain significant past medical history and medication history. Identify patient-specific medication issues, including appropriateness, drug interactions, efficacy, therapeutic duplications, adverse drug events and compliance problems. Improves clinical care to veterans through interventions to reduce the frequency of drug related problems and adverse drug events. In collaboration with other staff, educate the veterans and caregivers regarding proper use of medications. Recommend medication education materials for patient use. Document all clinical activities, update problem lists, and update medication allergy information in the medical record in a timely manner. May refer to appropriate services as needed via consultations. Collaborate with providers in the community for patients' authorized care. Oversee Care in the Community Technicians to distribute proper workload and tasks for maximized outcomes and efficiency. Build strong partnership with Community Care Service to facilitate patients' authorization status. Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relations with others which reflect a cooperative attitude. Evaluate non-formulary medication requests from assigned providers or clinics. Triage incoming NF/PADR medications based on criticality and request for urgent information from community providers. Evaluate medication regimens for drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions and adverse drug reactions.
EDUCATION
Precepts and orients pharmacy students, residents, and other trainees as part of pharmacy educational programs. Provide written and verbal drug information to educate patients and health care professionals in both formal and informal sessions including in-services and discharge counseling. Participates in and attends staff development presentations for all Pharmacy Service personnel.
DISPENSING
Screens and evaluates prescriber's medication orders for appropriateness, dispensing outpatient medication, including controlled substances based on current pharmacy practice and standards. Utilizes VISTA and CPRS packages to maintain complete patient medication records. Utilizes a broad base of knowledge for finishing orders in VISTA, checking laboratory results and finding other patient related data in the medical center computer. Integrates this information into the prescription filling process. Ensures professional standards, regulations, laws and hospital guidelines are met when dispensing medications.
PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR THE CARE OF NEW MEXICO VA HCS VETERANS
The authority to alter medications without co-signature of a physician is limited to the following:
- Discontinue medications if the patient is no longer using, the medication is being replaced by another, there is no therapeutic benefit, or the patient is intolerant to the medication or having adverse side effects.
ADMINISTRATION
Reports directly to and requires minimal supervision by the Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor. Promotes cost effectiveness of the formulary. Participates as a Non-Formulary (NF) Consult reviewer for assigned area(s) and completes consults within established timeframe. Provides any reports, data collection, quality assurance information and medication use evaluation information as requested. Assures that all prescriptions and actions by providers meet proper eligibility criteria on a patient specific basis and that National Formulary and Non-Formulary procedures are followed. This includes adherence to all national, VISN and local criteria-for-use treatment algorithms. Documents clinical interventions in appropriate manner. Assist in the development, review, and enforcement of policies and SOPs. Manage time conservatively to reduce interruptions to the workflow and optimize results.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Interacts with patients, visitors, staff, volunteers and student/resident trainees in a courteous, helpful, cooperative and compassionate manner. Responds positively and in a timely manner to customer request for service or information. Meets schedules and commitments, adjusting to changing needs. Solicits and listens to patient/customer feedback, positive and negative. Seeks to continually improve customer/patient satisfaction with pharmacy services provided.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm 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
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.
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.
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).
Grade Determinations:
GS-11 Pharmacist - Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist Education and Experience. (a) 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11), or (b) completion of an ACPE-accredited PharmD. Program.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).
- Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
- Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
- 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.
Physical Requirements:
The required work places no special demands on the employee. The work includes some walking, standing, bending, and some moderate lifting up to 44 pounds. Most of the work is performed while seated.
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/.
Requirements
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 identification 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.