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Summary The primary responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) - Float is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct interaction with patients and providers. Thus, the CPS is responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining effective clinical pharmacy programs by recommending rational cost effective drug therapies that are consistent with policies established at the national level, VISN 8, and Bay Pines VA Healthcare System.. Responsibilities The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) - Float has full responsibility to develop necessary services such as physician consultation, patient monitoring (pharmacokinetic, etc), and patient education. The CPS shall serve as a provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's Scope of Practice (SOP) for disease states as deemed necessary and approved. The CPS is the expert in all areas related to drug therapy and functions as a consultant to other health care professionals. In this capacity, the CPS assists with clinical education activities of pharmacy students and residents, provides drug information, contributes to research activities and serves as a Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) Pharmacy Service representative. The CPS functions as part of the Pharmacy team to accomplish department missions and goals. Although clinical activities are the prime focus of the CPS position, order processing and non­ clinical activities may be incurred in this position when required. Duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Designs, implements, and monitors therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes by direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Provides proactive consultation to physicians, nurses and other health care providers on appropriate drug therapy, and rounding with the multidisciplinary team on the unit when appropriate. Prescribes medications as per the CPS's approved scope of practice. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate. Reviews patient medication regimens for cost effective 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. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility and VA policy. Applies a knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. Functions as an expert in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drug consults for appropriateness in compliance with established criteria where applicable and provides therapeutic alternatives as necessary. Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their utilization in therapy, with special emphasis on medications used for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, anticoagulation, and heart failure. Affords providers a focal resource for discussion of medical problems requiring pharmaceutical intervention. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the broad area of advanced pharmacotherapy and maintains the ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical outcomes. Education Educates patients on the purpose, proper use, and expected outcomes of prescribed medications. Designs, implements and supervises the clinical education and training program for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents during clinical pharmacy clerkships. Provides highly specialized education and training support to other professional services in the area of advanced pharmacotherapy. Collaborates with the other clinical specialists in the provision of specialized training programs and assists in the development of innovative training concepts aimed at improving the knowledge and quality of clinical service staff. Serves as a clinical supervisor/preceptor for pharmacy students and for pharmacy residents. Participates in the development and implementation of formal and informal drug education/clinical consultation to the Bay Pines VAHCS staff in the form of in­ services and continuing education programs. Distribution Responsible for the safe and appropriate distribution or dispensing of medications. Ensures that all Pharmacy Service and other regulatory policies are compliant with regards to medication labeling, inventory management, formulary management, PBM initiative, equipment maintenance and timeliness of service. Provides supervision of Pharmacy support staff in the conduct of distributive functions. Consults with patients and Bay Pines VAHCS staff whenever there is a question concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient and/or inpatient provider orders. Work Schedule: Will be required to work variable tours of duty including evenings, weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD20229F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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 dentification 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). 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: 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: (1) 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.) (2) 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-Documentation Supplied: 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. Licensed Pharmacists 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). Grandfathering Provision. All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations for Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - GS-0660-13 (Above full performance): Experience: In addition to the Basic Requirements, Pharmacists assigned to the GS-13 grade must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12): Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher the 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. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): Pharmacist assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. (b) Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. (c) Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. (d) Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. (e) Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Preferred Experience: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency completion and PGY2 Critical Care, Internal Medicine, and/or Infectious Disease, and current prescribing privileges in an Acute Care Setting, and Board Certification (BCPS, BCCCP, BCGP). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0660-LicensedPharmacist.pdf The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This is a bargaining unit position. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.