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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Clinical Pharmacist (Open Continuous) Near Memphis, TN

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.

Creditable Experience:
(1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board.
(2) Residency and Fellowship Training. Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination).
(3) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination.

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
• 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. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois60602-5109; 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.
  • NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.
  • 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 listed above, the below qualification requirements must be met at grade(s) you are applying for.

GS-11 Pharmacists: Pharmacists at this grade level, serves in a developmental capacity. There are no educational and licensure requirements beyond the basic requirements listed above.

Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who meet the requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the GS-11 as a Graduate Pharmacist under 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.

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacists: Pharmacists at this grade level, handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.

Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:

1. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.

And Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):

• (1.) Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• (2.) Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
• (3.) Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• (4.) Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters

Preferred experience: ASHP accredited PGY-1 Residency completion or equivalent, Board Certified.

References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15. Dated June 7, 2012.

The full performance level of this vacancy is the GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of the GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The requirements vary by section. Physical Demands: The work involves considerable walking, bending, standing and stooping. Packages lifted occasionally weigh up to 40 pounds. Dexterity is required for the operation of Pharmacy equipment.

Responsibilities:

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS OCA HAS BEEN UPDATED TO 09/30/2024. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION, THAT YOU APPLY AND SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THIS ANNOUNCMENT.

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches the end of the open period stated in the announcement.

This job opportunity announcement (JOA) will be used to fill two (2) full-time and permanent Clinical Pharmacists (1-Inpatient 1-Outpatient), GS-0660-11 target 12, vacancies at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, TN with Pharmacy Service.

This position is located in Pharmacy Service, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN. This position provides support to Inpatient, Outpatient and Telephone Care Pharmacy.

The Clinical Pharmacist, as a representative of the Pharmacy Service, for critical and acute care sections of inpatient beds and for ambulatory care areas. This position covers direct and indirect patient care, appropriate, safe and economical medication use and provides pharmaceutical care services, including monitoring, quality assurance/ improvement, staff/patient education and consultation. The Clinical Staff Pharmacist serves a multi-functional role and is specially prepared by pharmacy education and experience to have an advanced knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics. This position functions primarily in the patient care areas of Pharmacy Service. Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Filling prescriptions by selecting the correct drug and dosage form, reducing the drug from bulk to the quantity prescribed, compounding when necessary, and packaging and labeling.
2. Dispensing of drugs, especially controlled substances, investigational and cytotoxic drugs, to assure that legal and agency regulations and instructions are followed, that proper and complete recordkeeping is maintained.
3. Reviews the patient medication profile prior to dispensing drugs and medications.
4. Facilitates special formulations, and extemporaneous compounding of routine and special parenteral medications requiring complex preparation and/or dosing.
5. Prevents and identifies drug-induced problems that may be affecting the patient, takes appropriate steps to manage these problems and/or communicates these findings to his/her primary provider.
6. Counsels patients and family members concerning medication directions for use, side effects, precautions, and the need to strictly follow the regimen.
7. Monitors patient medication profiles and ensures information is correct and up to date.
8. Provides consultation to physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on medication management issues.
9. Makes recommendations in the selection of formulary alternative and/or therapeutic interchange medications.
10. Conducts drug usage evaluations, and patient drug therapy monitoring in accordance with VAMC Memphis and Pharmacy Service policy and Joint Commission standards.
11. Applies pharmacokinetics, using rate order equations as appropriate to equilibrate serum levels.
12. Assists in the orientation and training of new pharmacy employees, students, residents and volunteers.
13. Functions as a consultant to the medical staff on pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology via effective written and oral communication.
14. Performs in service training to medical, nursing, and other disciplines as scheduled.
15. Checks, guides, and advises lower-grade co-workers.
16. Verifies and/or corrects medication orders entered in the computer system.
17. Coordinates and resolves problems associated with medication distribution.
18. Analyzes data and completes reports, including ward inspections and chart reviews, according to established policy.
19. On a rotating basis, is delegated authority to act as pharmacist team leader or pharmacist in charge of the assigned practice area and/or as a subspecialty Pharmacy Program(s) Coordinator which may include State Nursing Home, Fee Basis Pharmacy, Chemotherapy/IV Therapy, Patient Education, Staff Development, FIRM Pharmacy, Controlled Substances Systems, Satellite pharmacy areas (e.g. MICU, SICU) etc.
20. Participates in the DUE/MUE process by assisting in; determination of problem areas, criteria development, analysis and follow-up recommendations for improved drug therapy as deemed appropriate; e.g., education, review, software/programming enhancements, etc.
21. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Sunday - Saturday, 0000 - 1159, rotating weekends and holidays. Specific Tour of Duty is determined by the Service.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS-11: 50137-F; GS12: 50138-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary