Clinical Pharmacist

Summary

The GS 12 Clinical Pharmacist primary functions will be the interpretation of provider's orders - dispensing of appropriate medications in the inpatient and outpatient setting - and counseling patients on proper medication administration and storage. The incumbent serves as Pharmacy consultant to various personnel in all aspects of Pharmacy - in a highly complex and diversified hospital

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.) -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)
• 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements above - applicants must meet the following grade requirements
• 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 11) VA or Non VA Experience - -OR- Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• AND In addition must demonstrate the following 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 a GS 12
• Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy in Milwaukee - WI - where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases
• Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated - and safety precautions are required
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of interview.
  
  

Duties

• Major Duties and Functions of the Clinical Pharmacist: Dispensing Functions Performed in All Areas: Receives - reviews - and interprets prescriptions and medication orders for appropriateness - correct dosage - completeness - drug interactions - drug availability and patient eligibility
• Applies working knowledge of correct dosing - toxicity - therapeutic action - contraindications - and adverse effects
• Checks and/or prepares prepackaged medications - for accuracy of the product and the records kept
• Reviews and records pharmacy stock needs using knowledge of usage trends
• Operates specialized equipment used in drug preparation and dispensing
• Compounds and dispenses medications - weighing - measuring - or mixing ingredients as required - using appropriate techniques
• Provides medication to traveling veterans as outlined in local and national policy
• Provides authoritative - professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult - complex - and unusual nature
• Provides clinical feedback quarterly to fellow Pharmacists through the Clinical Pertinence Review process as assigned by the Clinical Pharmacy Manager or designee
• Provides the following clinical functions/activities: Completing Allergy/ Adverse Reaction Consults in CPRS and VADERS Checking chemotherapy orders and sterile preparations Documenting clinical interventions through the CPRS encounter package Completing complementary and herbal medication consults Performs monitoring services for heparin and other intravenous anticoagulants Performs Community Living Center chart reviews Performs inpatient dosing services for Warfarin and other oral anticoagulants (as appropriate) Completes non-formulary and restricted medications consults Performs renal function assessments Performs dosage adjustments and monitoring for chronic renal replacement therapy Provides pharmacokinetic dosing for all inpatients (as appropriate) Complete Therapeutic Libation Consults
• Clinical: Prepares in-depth presentations pertaining to drugs and drug therapy for Pharmacy staff - patients - providers - nurses - and other health care professionals
• Critically performs medication reconciliation to ascertain if current medications are necessary - cost effective - prescribed at the appropriate dose - and are having the desired effect
• Recommends change in therapy to prescribing provider when appropriate
• Counsels patients on drug use - interactions - adverse effects - availability - and pharmacy procedure
• Provides drug information - using reference materials - to providers - nurses - other health care professionals - and patients
• Contacts providers and other health care providers as necessary to resolve problems related to outpatient prescriptions and inpatient medication orders
• Provides authoritative - professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult - complex - and unusual nature
• Provides clinical feedback quarterly to fellow Pharmacists through the Clinical Pertinence Review process as assigned by the Clinical Pharmacy Manager or designee
• Performs other clinical Duties as assigned in all Pharmacy Areas VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Full Time Second Shift 3:30pm - 12:00am with rotating weekends and Holidays
• **Please note that Training for this Position will be first shift 7:30 am - 4:00 pm for approx
• 3 Months** Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized