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Summary This position is located at the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, and will involve coverage of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics associated with the facility and main campus as assigned. The Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is a licensed pharmacist. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn\_ickNBEws Major duties include: Functions independently under scope of practice as defined by the medical center for selected disease states to provide patients with pharmaceutical care related to mental health. Initiates, modifies, or discontinues medication therapy; ordering labs and other tests to help determine efficacy or toxicity of medications; designs, implements, assesses, monitors and documents therapeutic plans utilizing best evidence or published guidelines. Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, medication selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities. Applies knowledge and expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and make dose adjustments based on objective laboratory findings. Reviews and implements pharmacotherapy and treatment guidelines. Documents clinical interventions and therapeutic plans accurately in the Computerized Patient Records System (CPRS) in a timely manner. Works collaboratively with clinic providers to provide pharmaceutical care to selected patients Reviews and evaluates requests for prior authorization drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Serves as an authority on medication management, interactions, over-dosages, and adherence to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. Monitors and reports medication errors, adverse reactions, allergies, and patient adherence issues. Reviews literature routinely to provide an evaluation of efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness for routine patient care and projects as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 0800-1630 Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: N/A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): N/A 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. 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: 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Preferred Experience: An American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists accredited residency and specialized training or equivalent experience in mental health. GS-13 Grade Determinations: Experience. Must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). Specialized experience includes: functions independently under a scope of practice to provide patients with pharmaceutic care related to mental health as defined by the medical center; coordinates and organizes responsibilities to maximize outcomes in an ambulatory care clinic setting (e.g., mental health, primary care mental health integration [PC MHI]) as demonstrated by designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective and lease toxic medication treatments; demonstrates the ability to solve problems; achieves positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; assists with medication related side effects; orders laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy; applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognize abnormalities; formulates alternative treatment plans; documents clinical interventions and treatment plans accurately in the electronic medical record; actively reviews medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, medication selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential interactions and therapeutic outcomes; communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to treatment plans; serves as an authority on medication therapies, interactions, over-dosages, and adherence to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, residents, students, and patients; reviews and evaluates prior authorization medication requests for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Your CV must clearly document your activities and experiences that meet the specialized experience statement above; we cannot assume. Pharmacists 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. 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: This position may require lifting of 15-44 pounds, walking for 2 hours and standing of 4 hours, reaching above the shoulders, and use of fingers; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of color; Hearing aids permitted; must have emotional and mental stability. Must work closely with others and around machinery with moving parts. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 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.