Clinical Pharmacy Specialist-PACT Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner

Your tasks

The Patient Aligned Care Team Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (PACT CPP) functions at the highest level of clinical practice and top of licensure and serves as an advanced practice provider working independently with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's practice area-based scope of practice. The PACT CPP with a scope of practice is integral to manage patients who have not reached or are not maintaining the intended therapy goals and those with medical conditions which are costly and associated with the use of multiple medications (e.g., cardiovascular disease, COPD, heart failure, depression, and hypothyroidism) 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 (e.g., establishing and progressing towards individualized function-related goals, improving quality of life, minimizing theoretical risk of drug-related harm) through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas. Duties include but not limited to:

Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities: Functions independently at the highest level to design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Orders, subsequent review and action on appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor, support, and modify the patient's drug therapy must have sufficient knowledge and training in the treatment or procedure, its indications, risk and benefits, complications, and alternative treatments, to effectively counsel the patient.

Clinical - Indirect Patient Care Activities: Review patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, 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. Reviews relevant population management dashboards to identify patients who may benefit from engagement in care for optimization of medication regimens to achieve improved disease state management and/or reduce medication-related adverse effects.

Educational: Provides formal and informal education and in-services to pharmacy, medical, nursing and other staff on assigned teams as requested. Willing to serve as a clinical instructor or preceptor for pharmacy students and/or residents.

Program Management and Administration: Participates and facilitates departmental and organizational compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC), Office of General Counsel (OIG), and other applicable regulatory and accreditation regulations and guidelines regarding patient safety and care. Supports and promotes compliance with established drug therapy policies, formulary management and criteria or prior authorization requirements that have been approved by national, VISN, or local pharmacy benefits management (PBM) and focuses on quality patient care in a cost-effective manner.

Research: (when applicable) Directs and/or participates in the preparation of articles for publication. Participates in design and/or completion of research studies and/or quality improvement projects involving drug therapy, clinical pharmacy functions, or improvements in patient care.

Requirements

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. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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.) OR 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). Open to pharmacy residents who will be graduating by July 1, 2024.

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).

Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) to qualify for the GS-13 position. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to:

• reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness;
• processing and filing medication orders;
• interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care;
• reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems;
• contacting providers as appropriate;
• documenting recommendations and interventions;
• providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies;
• taking health and medication histories;
• performing medication reconciliation;
• providing drug information;
• assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations;
• documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs);
• assisting in medical emergencies;
• providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.

AND; Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. To be creditable, the experience must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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: 1 residency/ambulatory care experience preferred.

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/.

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.

What we offer

This position is eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Other

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00am - 4:30pm

Telework: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 63716F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Grade Determinations: Pharmacist - Clinical Specialist, GS-13 (Above Full Performance Level)

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019