Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Summary The Formulary Management Specialist at the Tomah VA Medical Center (VAMC) functions in the Operations section of the Pharmacy service line and will use their knowledge of current developments in field of pharmacy to develop, implement, and coordinate clinical pharmacy and medication safety initiatives to ensure safe appropriate medication use processes for patients while providing clinical, organizational, educational, and administrative services for the pharmacy department. Responsibilities Program Management: Solves problems, coordinates and organizes responsibilities to maximize outcomes in by formulary Management. Maintains expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Conducts prospective/retrospective drug use evaluations of high-use, high cost, or high-risk drugs. Prepares and reports data, makes recommendations for corrective action, and develops education programs/interventions that would alter suboptimal prescribing or work patterns per established processes. Develops professional relationships with non-pharmacy personnel and projects the highest level of pharmacy practice and competence. Clinical Practice: Maintains advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameter. Evaluates orders for appropriateness and drug interactions, allergies and adverse reactions, and duplicate therapy. Accountable for medication reconciliation according to facility policy. Order entry/review process: Verifies accuracy and appropriateness of medication orders and prescriptions during order finishing. Consults with medical center staff when there are questions concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient prescriptions. Provides drug information to physicians, nurses, and other associated health professionals. Provides oral and written drug information to outpatients, as appropriate. Conducts clinical screening procedures such as the calculation of creatinine clearances for "at risk" Veterans. The results are shared with the provider and suggestions made as to dosage adjustments or other appropriate change(s). Clinical Education and Scholarly Activities: Serves as a preceptor/trainer for visiting healthcare professionals or students who want to broaden their knowledge and skills and/or establish their own clinical practice in the designated practice area. Assumes an active role in staff development of peers and provides educational opportunities to nursing, medical staff and to other ancillary services. Customer Service and Teamwork: Demonstrates responsiveness to customer needs and is empathetic to their problems. Responds to request for assistance from patients, families, and staff in a friendly and cooperative manner. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 02154F 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 identification 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 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: 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Foreign Education: Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program if you are 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). (CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) 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. (LICENSE REQUIRED) 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). In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, the candidate must demonstrate the following below: GS-13 Grade Determinations: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Formulary Management Specialist) Specialized Experience: Do you possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) or equivalent, which is directly related to the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Formulary Management Specialist) position? Develops, upgrades and disseminates acceptable criteria for the use of nonformulary medications; Conducts prospective/retrospective drug use evaluations of high-use, high cost, or high-risk drugs; Assists with managing drug shortages, conversions, and recalls affecting inpatient, outpatient; Accountable for medication reconciliation; Assures the accuracy of drug dispensing of medications; Assists in training new employees; data entry into the computer, screening orders for drug-drug and drug-food interactions, dosing errors, allergies, incompatibilities, contraindications, and formulary availability; Discrepancies are reviewed with the provider and resolved. AND, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the specialized experience described above, you must be able to demonstrate all the following KSAs: 1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. 2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. 3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. 4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. 5. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) plays a defined role in budgetary execution and 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. Preferred Experience: 1. Experience with Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committees or similar bodies involved in formulary decisions. 2. Over 6 years of clinical pharmacy experience, particularly in a healthcare system or hospital setting. 3. Actively working in Pharmacy practice, formulary management, or Pharmacoeconomics in the last two years. 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: 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 Receiving Service Credit for 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.