Clinical Pharmacist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a licensed pharmacist to support medication orders, verification, and dispensing in accordance with VISN and national policies. The role emphasizes collaboration with clinical staff to ensure safe and effective pharmacotherapy for VA patients.

Responsibilities include interpreting orders, processing fills, and communicating recommendations to care teams, while adhering to regulatory requirements and VA standards. Eligibility per VA guidelines applies.

Qualifications

• ACPE-accredited degree (Pharm.D. or BS Pharmacy) required.
• Current license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state/territory/DC.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and healthcare staff.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards for drug distribution and security.

Responsibilities

• Review, interpret, and verify medication orders for appropriateness.
• Process and fill medication orders accurately.
• Collaborate with clinical staff to optimize medication therapy for safety and efficacy.

Skills

Professional pharmacy practice

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Pharmacotherapy monitoring

Education

ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. or BS Pharmacy

Tools

Omnicell

ScriptPro

Automated dispensing cabinets

Job description

A pharmacist in this assignment 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.

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.
• 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: [phone], 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).
• 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

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-12: Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, 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

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

References

VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 12.

Preferred Experience

Omnicell, ScriptPro, sterile compounding, and Automated dispensing cabinets.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.