This position as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist maintains full in-depth pharmacy services with regard to disease state management, drug information, and pharmaceutical education to patients and health care staff. This position is located in the Anticoagulation Clinic in the Primary Care Line Service at the Chillicothe OH VAMC. 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. Grandfathering provision: 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). Physical Requirements: Outlined and below. 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: To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, you must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Examples of experience include reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling 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. Pharmacists assigned to this position 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: Anticoagulation management experience Pharmacy Board Certification PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Training References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS13 to GS13. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 45 lbs., and bending and stooping. ["VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Reviews medication use and history and recommends therapy changes. Efforts include assessing compliance, checking for drug interactions and verification of therapy appropriateness. Conducts thorough patient interviews, collects patient specific information to detect and resolve drug related problems and make therapy recommendations. Under the remote supervision of a responsible physician, develops pharmacotherapy goals, designs treatment regimens and monitoring plans, monitors therapy outcomes and appropriately modifies pharmacotherapy plans as related to anticoagulation therapy. Documents all pharmaceutical care activities. Provides accurate and comprehensive information about drugs and drug use to other health care providers. Provides teaching/precepting to pharmacy residents and students. Participates in treatment teams, committees, and other groups needing input regarding the use of anticoagulation therapy or drug policy development. Participates in research projects as assigned by supervisor. Provides teaching/precepting to pharmacy residents and students. Helps ensure continuity of care for patients, who are currently on Anticoagulation Therapy and discharged from the hospital. Provides patient/caregiver education to ensure a thorough understanding of the safe and appropriate use of anticoagulation therapy. Orders laboratory test as indicated for monitoring of anticoagulation (PT/INR/CBC). Screens and assesses for drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease state interactions as well as adverse effects and patient compliance at each visit. Initiates and adjusts anticoagulation dosages when indicated to maintain the patient at a safe and effective level of anticoagulation, in accordance with approved dosing protocol and CHEST guidelines. Any deviations from such are appropriately documented and justified. Supervises and precepts pharmacy residents and students as assigned. Interacts with students, house staff, and attending from various clinical services. Presents lectures and conferences to medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff and students. Educates staff and trainees. Handles outpatient anticoagulation needs for patients, including but not limited to, warfarin management, direct oral anticoagulant management, enoxaparin bridging, etc. Uses CoaguCheck XS Plus System, will monitor patients AT/INR assigned to that area. S/he will also assist with monitoring patient's INR at the Community Based Outreach Clinics and elsewhere as needed. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:919280 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
