[Hiring] Clinical Pharmacist @VISN 5 VA Capitol Health Care Network

Role Description

The incumbent serves as a Clinical Pharmacist (CP) in a VISN 5 VA Health Connect as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for providing optimal clinical and pharmaceutical care activities in the VISN VA Health Connect in accordance with the department's mission, vision, and goals. This is located in the VA Health Connect, Clinical Contact Center as part of HSA 1.3.

Duties

• Professionally receives and handles escalated telephone calls from and responds to veterans, their family members and/or legal representatives regarding a broad range of topics, including:
  • Appropriate use of medications and medical devices
  • Basic billing inquiries
  • Clinical questions
  • Medication refills/renewals
  • Drug-drug interactions
  • Adverse effects
  • Food-drug interactions
  • Product availability
  • Non-VA prescription processes and pharmacy policies
• Monitors provider's orders for appropriateness of therapy and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, incompatibilities, side effects and patient compliance issues.
• Actively reviews patient medication regimens for:
  • Cost effective drug selection
  • Dosing
  • Contraindications
  • Therapeutic duplication
  • Appropriate route and method of administration
  • Drug interactions
  • Therapeutic outcomes
• Utilizes patient care information systems such as VistA and CPRS to obtain critical patient data elements and to document clinical interventions and other pertinent patient care issues.
• Completes electronic prescription order requests using sound clinical knowledge and practices.
• Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths or products per facility/VISN approved protocol.
• Supports VISN Pharmacy initiatives by implementing approved protocols such as dose optimization, therapeutic interchange, tablet-splitting, etc.
• Assists in the resolution of AudioRenewal rejections.
• Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care per VISN VA Health Connect policy.
• Facilitates the provision of medications through non-VA sources, where appropriate (e.g., Meds by Mail, Care in the Community, etc.).
• Manages various actions for medication orders, including:
  • Flagging prescriptions
  • Managing view alerts
  • Using the "hold" function
  • Generating unsigned discontinued orders using the "service reject" function
• Reviews prescription renewal verification requests and takes appropriate action to extend refills until the next scheduled appointment.
• Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider.
• Performs medication reconciliation at all transitions of care, including updating the medication profile.
• Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities.
• Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria.
• Supports the goal of processing all medication requests in a timely manner by consistently meeting established VISN VA Health Connect standards.
• Processes secure messages appropriately and in a timely manner as assigned.
• Maintains professional competency, licensure, therapeutics and disease management, and continuing education requirements.
• Participates in continuous daily improvement and quality improvement initiatives.
• Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, pharmacy students, and other medical center personnel.
• Acts as a point-of-contact for outside services in assisting with patient care issues.

Work Schedule

• Rotating Shifts, Currently hours of operation are 7am to 7pm Mon - Saturday, subject to change.
• Rotating shifts currently are 7am-3:30pm, 8am-4:30pm, 9am-5:30pm and 10:30am-7pm EST.

Telework

Yes - as determined by the agency policy.

Virtual

This is a virtual position.

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.
• 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:
  • 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.
  • Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs must provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification.
• Licensure: Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Requirements

• Experience or Education for GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist:
  • 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, OR
  • Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• 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.

Preferred Experience

• VA outpatient pharmacy experience.
• Demonstrated experience in improving customer service/experience.
• Experience in call center and telephone contact resolution.

Grade Determinations

• GS-11 Pharmacist: Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level): 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.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.