"Alerted.org

Summary The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Pain Management) will be involved in the independent professional and clinical practice of pharmacy in accordance with the guidance set forth in the Pharmacy Service Policies and Procedures, VA Regulations and State and Federal Laws governing the practice of pharmacy. The incumbent will be under the administrative supervision of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Supervisor, Associate Chief of Pharmacy Service, and the Chief of Pharmacy Service. Responsibilities Principal duties of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Pain management) include providing innovative and progressive clinical pharmacy services and aiding in the development of clinical pharmacy programs. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist duties are performed in the primary assignment area(s) as well as other areas of the Health Care System as necessity requires and time permits. The incumbent will provide Veteran-centric clinical pharmacy care by meeting Veterans needs through various modalities of care, including, face to face, telehealth, and shared medical appointments. The incumbent is expected to achieve positive veteran-centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, nursing, interdisciplinary and front-line staff based on the needs of the veteran, the service, and the assigned clinical area. The incumbent is responsible for developing and implementing cost-containment strategies pertaining to the safe and effective use of medications. The incumbent is expected to serve as a resource to the pharmacy service and will plan, coordinate, and conduct education and training programs. Educational programs will also be coordinated for trainees, patients, and medical and nursing staff. The incumbent will serve as a liaison between the pharmacy service and clinical services. Duties include, but not limited to: Initiates and provides pharmacotherapy services to their primary assignment area(s) and other clinical areas as time permits and as designated by the Chief of Pharmacy Service, Associate Chief of Pharmacy Service, or Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Supervisor. Assures the safe, appropriate, cost-effective use of drugs through the application of specialized knowledge and interpretation of data specific to each patient and utilizes tactful interactions with other professionals. Shares responsibility for coordinating and directing drug information and practice activities and participating in pharmacy residency programs. Develops therapeutic drug policy through medical literature evaluation and the application of pharmacoeconomic principles and methods. Shares responsibility for Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting and collaborates with the P&T Committee as appropriate. Actively participates in the education of Health Care System staff, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, medical interns, and medical residents. Works diligently to build relationships with patients as well as pharmacy, nursing, and medical staff. Shares responsibility for cost containment by recommending and prescribing the most cost-effective therapy. Prepares reports documenting cost containment activities. Actively participates in National, VISN and/or Durham Health Care System Committees as appropriate. Consistently documents interventions and/or recommendations in accordance with Health Care System policy and local pharmacy practice. Contributes to quality improvement/performance improvement strategies employed by the Health Care System. Maintains knowledge of current therapies and practices evidence-based medicine. Develops and implements therapeutic plans for the management of patients and participates in the collaborative treatment of disease states. Anticipates and recognizes patient problems that are a result of or will influence drug therapy and facilitates solutions when problems occur. Communicates any problems to the medical staff and/or nursing staff and offers alternatives or solutions to the problems. Evaluates the need for and provides education to the patient and/or their family concerning the patient's drugs and diseases. Interacts well with patients and colleagues. Is familiar with and utilizes the VA/PBM Criteria for Use and Clinical Practice Guidelines. Maintains education and skills in such a manner as to be knowledgeable and functional in all aspects of the delivery of care provided by Pharmacy Service. Performs population health management activities. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure: Not Required. 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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 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: 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. 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 Determination: GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - (a) Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignment. 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: At least 3+ years of Clinical Pharmacy Specialist experience Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency or equivalent experience Completion of a PGY-2 Pain Management and Palliative Care Pharmacy Residency, Ambulatory Care, Psychiatric Pharmacy or equivalent experience Board Certification in Pain Management, or Pharmacotherapy, Psychiatry or Ambulatory Care Eligible to obtain DEA registration for controlled substance prescribing 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Physical requirements for this position are as follows: Light lifting, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting; Light carrying, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying; Straight pulling (up to 2 hours); Pushing (up to 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Repeated bending; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Ability to wear Personal Protective equipment (PPE) as needed. 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.