Clinical Pharmacist

This position is for a day shift clinical pharmacist working in both inpatient and outpatient areas. The Clinical Pharmacist's primary responsibility is the utilization of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct interactions with patients and providers as well as the safe provision of pharmaceuticals and medication information in a timely manner. This pharmacist promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge and established policies. 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. 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. (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. 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:GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist: Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm D. program In addition, Pharmacists assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally an 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/.Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling. Ability to lift/push/pull light loads, carts weighing 40 pounds or more. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination. Normal range for hearing and vision. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The duties and responsibilities of the Clinical Pharmacist, include but are not limited to the following: Clinical: Provides timely responses to drug information requests from patient care providers and nurses. Evaluates provider's orders for appropriateness of therapy, incompatibilities, side effects and interactions of drugs and drug products. Appropriately interacts with the ordering provider or attending as needed. Utilizes patient care information systems, such as the electronic health record (EHR), to obtain critical patient data elements and to document pertinent patient care issues. Provides medication use counseling at time of patient encounter. Counsel patients on drug-drug interactions, adverse effects, food-drug interactions, product availability, appropriate use of, and Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and pharmacy policies, as appropriate. Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths or products per facility policy. Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care per facility policy. Manages various actions, as appropriate, for medication orders to include flagging prescriptions, managing view alerts, and using procedures to prevent unintentional dispensing (i.e. hold and park). Extends refills until next scheduled appointment under the provider's name per facility policy. Dispensing: Responsible for verification and evaluation of licensed independent practitioners' medication orders/prescriptions and input of written orders, when applicable. Selects, compounds, dispenses, and fills a range of drugs, including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmics, controlled substances, oncolytic agents, etc in inpatient and/or outpatient areas and follows appropriate quality assurance procedures as applicable. Checks prescription orders for safety, accuracy, and appropriateness prior to dispensing. Verifies and fills all orders in a timely fashion. Oversees activities of support staff, including Pharmacy Technicians, and verifies accuracy of prescriptions as final check before dispensing to the patient. Education and Training: Participate in the training and in-servicing of patients, nurses, providers, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, and other medical center personnel, as required. Completes mandatory training, including electronic training via Talent Management System (TMS). Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Is skilled at using both written, verbal, and electronic communication techniques in teaching others. May serve as a preceptor for pharmacy student Administrative: Ensure that work of the team is carried out on tours when no supervisory pharmacist is present. Acts as point-of-contact for resolution of time-sensitive pharmacy issues. Contacts additional staff to report for duty in the event of an emergency situation, including activation of all hazards emergency cache. Supervises the activities of support personnel and communicates with supervisory staff regarding issues that arise during the time period when no supervisory pharmacist is on site. Participates in medical center and pharmacy service quality improvement programs. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS. The employee is administratively accountable to a designated pharmacy supervisor as well as the Chief, Pharmacy Service, or designee, for professional licensure, competency, and continuing education. The employee performs additional duties as assigned by pharmacy management. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:92661-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. 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/.