Summary

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. The CPS - Cardiology practices primarily in the ambulatory care setting. Functions include designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting patient centric therapeutic plans; helping achieve positive outcomes; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy.

Qualifications

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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
• NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetence or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f))
• Effective November 30 - 1999 - this is a requirement for employment
• This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date - provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license - registration or certification
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Grade Determinations: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - GS-13 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Assignments: Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients
• A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate - modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services
• 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 through direct and indirect interactions with patients - providers - and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• performing physical assessments
• and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• 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: Recent direct patient care experience of three to five years as a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist with a scope of practice in Cardiology
• Completion of a PGY1 residency and PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency with Cardiology focus preferred
• 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-13
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over) - moderate lifting and carrying (15-44lbs) - light lifting (under 15lbs) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking - standing - repeated bending - 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 - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing (aid may be permitted) - and mental and emotional stability
• Environmental factors: constant noise - dust - unusual fatigue factors like extensive keyboard and mouse usage - working closely with others - working alone - and protracted or irregular hours of work.

Duties

• Functions Provides direct patient care in a cardiology setting - independently managing medication therapy and disease state outcomes in accordance with approved scope of practice
• Conducts comprehensive patient interviews - physical assessments - and thorough medication reconciliations to ensure safe and effective therapy
• Designs - implements - modifies - and documents individualized pharmaceutical care plans
• initiates - adjusts - or discontinues medication as clinically appropriate
• Orders and interprets laboratory testing - evaluates clinical and pharmacotherapeutic data - and provides advanced medication dosing recommendations including for special populations (e.g. - renal or hepatic impairment)
• Effectively communicates care plans and significant findings to Veterans - families/caregivers - and healthcare team members to ensure clarity and continuity of care
• Serves as a subject matter expert and liaison for Pharmacy Clinical Services - offering pharmacotherapeutic information and guidance to clinical staff
• Educates Veterans and caregivers on medication changes - expected outcomes - administration - storage - and refill/renewal processes
• Conducts comprehensive medication reviews - counseling - and assesses patient understanding using open-ended questions
• Provides drug information - formulary updates - drug safety alerts - and supports adherence initiatives for pharmacy staff and healthcare providers
• Participates in adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting - medication error tracking - and other safety/quality improvement activities - including formulary management
• Documents all clinical interventions and patient care encounters in the electronic medical record using established processes
• Acts as a preceptor and mentor for pharmacy residents - students - and clinical pharmacists
• participates in their education - coaching - and project guidance
• Maintains current clinical knowledge through ongoing education - literature review - and professional development
• promotes and contributes to pharmacy organizations
• Collaborates with pharmacy leadership and staff to optimize prescription processing - formulary management - and overall pharmacy practice efficiency
• Attends - participates in - and contributes to multidisciplinary meetings - committees - work groups - and continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives
• Supports and participates in pharmacy-based - Veteran-centric research projects - medication use evaluations - outcomes analyses - and related educational activities
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8am-4:30pm 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