Pharmacist

Serves as a provider with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's practice area-based scope of practice for the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in Spinal Cord Injury service care line (SCIC) to provide comprehensive pharmacological services including but not limited to medication therapy management (MTM). The primary responsibility of the CPS is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct care with patients and consultation with other providers.

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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, Illinois 60602-5109; 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.) 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. 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

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-13 (a) Experience:

In addition to the GS-12 requirements which are:, 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, OR
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. 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.
AND
Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:
1. Education/Training: Satisfactory completion of PGY 1 Pharmacy Residency
2. Education/Training: Satisfactory completion of PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Geriatrics or Internal Medicine
3. Board Certification: BCPS (Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist), BCGP (Board Certified Geriatrics Pharmacist), or BCIDP (Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist)
4. Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist providing direct patient care under a scope of practice, or provision of direct patient care under preceptor's Scope of Practice for residency, within the past 2 years (in Spinal Cord Injury, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, or Infectious Diseases practice settings)

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 LICENSED PHARMACIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-660

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking ( 8 hours); Standing ( 8 hours); Kneeling ( 1 hours): Repeated bending 4 hours; Both legs required: Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4: Specific visual requirement (specify) - DVA Correctable to 20/40; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors: Hearing (aid may be permitted)