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Summary This position is located within the Pharmacy Service, Phoenix VA Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. This position provides support to operational pharmacy services by serving as the primary point of contact for the entirety of the adjudication process for Prior Authorization Drug Reviews (PADRs). Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn\_ickNBEws The Formulary Clinical Pharmacist is a licensed pharmacist, preferably with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. This Clinical Pharmacist will adjudicate PADRs through the performance of patient medication therapy assessments (clinical and economic), application of formulary principles and guidance, criteria for use documentation, published literature, and other medical evidence. The Pharmacist will be responsible for effective and efficient completion of all PADRs within the medical facility and the Community Care Network (CCN) . The Pharmacist will work collaboratively with medical providers, clinical pharmacists, residents, and other health care professionals as appropriate to complete facility PADR consults. The Formulary Clinical Pharmacist will work together with other clinical pharmacists and the Pharmacoeconomic/ Pharmacy Formulary Program Managers to serve as the primary point of contact for all questions or coordination related to PADR consults. The incumbent will also work on other pharmacoeconomic initiatives such as drug conversions and support pharmacy operations as needed. A. Prior Authorization Drug Reviews (75%): 1. Critically reviews all PADRs, facility wide (internal and CCN), for appropriateness. a. Implements and applies the VA formulary, guidelines, and restrictions to all PADRs being adjudicated. b. Understands, reviews, and applies criteria for use for each requested drug or supply as appropriate. c. Reviews, analyzes, and applies the available published medical literature as it pertains to PADRs and their adjudication. 2. Collaborates with procurement technicians to ensure optimal use of resources and communication with staff regarding changes to drug availability. 3. Seeks to provide patients with the best drug therapy possible while balancing drug or supply availability and cost. 4. Documents PADR adjudication and/or formulary initiative activities in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. 5. Interfaces and communicates with providers, pharmacists, and other staff, as needed, providing input and feedback before, during, and after the adjudication process for requested drugs or pharmacy supplies. 6. Coordinates with appropriate stakeholder(s) when reviewing, commenting on, and adjudicating CCN PADRs as applicable. 7. Serves as a reference for clinical pharmacists and providers in answering questions about the formulary status and requirements for obtaining non-formulary or restricted drugs. 8. Promotes compliance with the hospital formulary and VHA drug utilization guidelines throughout the Medical Center. B. Operations (25%): 1. Supports other pharmacoeconomic activities as assigned, including but not limited to medication conversions, cost-savings initiatives, and medication use evaluations (MUEs). 2. Actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives for current treatment plans as needed. 3. Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values and physical assessment information in the evaluation of pharmaceutical care. Recognizes significant deviations from normal parameters and can identify and solve medication-related problems based on objective findings. 4. Serves as an authority on medication utilization, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, appropriate medication dosages, and compliance strategies. Educates medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy technicians, residents and students on medication management. Uses appropriate references to research drug information. 5. Assures safe and effective medication utilization by identifying and resolving medication-related concerns. 6. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers (e.g., Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff). Provides therapeutic alternatives when appropriate. 7. Monitors, reports, and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient adherence issues. Promotes and monitors for compliance with established drug therapy policies. 8. Appropriately documents findings in the medical record according to PVAHCS procedures. 9. Works with providers to ensure compliance with National, VISN, and local initiatives. Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as required. Work Schedule: Full-Time, TBD Compressed/Flexible: Compressed Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. 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. 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 Determinations: 12 Preferred Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program AND Applicant 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 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a 12. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), Light carrying (under 15 pounds),Straight pulling (8 hours), Pulling hand over hand (8 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers with both hands, Far vision correctable in one eye 20/20and to 20/40 in the other, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Mental and Emotional Stability required. 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.