This position is located in the Pharmacy Service at the Bangor ME location of the VA. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Language: 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.(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). License: Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or District of Columbia. Exception: Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements candidate must also meet the following criteria: GS-12 Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Pharmacists assigned to this position 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. GS 13 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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 knowledge, skills and abilities (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. References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II, Appendix G15. Physical Requirements: Work requires moderate lifting, walking, bending, stooping, standing, pushing, and pulling. ["Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs duties of a clinical and teaching nature, including direct patient care, routinely functioning with minimal supervision as an independent practitioner operating under a scope of practice. Must be capable of using professional judgment and clinical expertise to solve complex problems and to provide clinical information to VA Maine Healthcare providers and Veterans. Serves as an authority on pharmaceutical care in specialized and routine areas of clinical pharmacy practice for medical staff, nursing staff, and pharmacy staff. Responsible for the evaluation, monitoring and medication management of Veterans. Initiation and prescribing of appropriate pharmacotherapy and laboratory monitoring related to national guideline-based treatment of chronic disease states. Responsible for the evaluation, monitoring and management of Veterans referred by consult to VA Maine Healthcare Anticoagulation Clinic (ACC). Reviews electronically submitted non-formulary drug requests (NDR). Participates and/or supports Pharmacy Service research efforts. Participates and/or initiates quality management efforts within Pharmacy Service, including analysis and management of a clinical practice within an area of expertise or as otherwise assigned. Assists in conducting and reporting internal audits as required. Completes all encounters, charting and documentation including scheduling, reviewing consults and finishing encounters, to meet timeliness standards. Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program including pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, professional and non-professional staff members. Attends and actively participates in clinical pharmacy activities, i.e., staff development, clinical pharmacy meetings. Provides in-service educational programs (written or verbal) to selected Pharmacy Service and medical center staff and providers at the direction of the Associate Chief of Pharmacy and/or Chief of Pharmacy. Responsible for keeping abreast of changes in the Pharmacy Service (i.e. Formulary additions and deletions, interdepartmental memoranda, relevant station memoranda, and policies and procedures). Recommends alternative drug therapies designed to reduce cost of medications while continuing to ensure optimal therapeutic response. Serves as drug information resource for Ambulatory Care/PACT providers answering inquiries regarding therapeutics, drug interactions, dosing, side effects, formulary options, etc. Work Schedule: FT Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm, 8am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F2446 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notification: -This position is in the Excepted Service. -This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. -This position is covered by a special rate. - Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. -Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. - No award SF50's will be accepted, where they don't provide the sufficient information. -The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses/CBOC's and patient's homes."]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
