Clinical Pharmacist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Walla Walla (WA); Remote; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Pharmacist (GS-11/12) to provide pharmaceutical care, optimize therapy, and support clinical teams. The role includes interpreting orders, performing drug utilization reviews, and ensuring safe patient outcomes.

Duties cover medication reviews, counseling, and collaboration with prescribers. Telework is available ad-hoc; schedule is Monday–Friday 8:00am–4:30pm. EDRP eligibility is noted; contact [e-mail] for questions.

Qualifications

• Graduate of ACPE-accredited College/School of Pharmacy with Pharm.D. or BS Pharmacy.
• Licensure as a pharmacist in a U.S. state/territory/DC; maintain registration as required.

Responsibilities

• Optimize medication therapy and collaborate with prescribers.
• Review medication orders for safety and efficacy; perform drug monitoring.
• Provide patient counseling and education; conduct medication histories and reconciliation.
• Supervise pharmacy technicians; participate in quality assurance and safety initiatives.

Skills

Professional pharmacy practice

Oral and written communication

Patient counseling

Education

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

BS Pharmacy

Job description

Summary

MAY be eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants selected for an EDRP-eligible position will be notified in their conditional job offer. Must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within 4 months of appointment. Program approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) - and eligibility period (1 to 5 years) determined by the VHA ELRS program office after review of the application. Former participants are ineligible to apply.

Summary

MAY be eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants selected for an EDRP-eligible position will be notified in their conditional job offer. Must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within 4 months of appointment. Program approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) - and eligibility period (1 to 5 years) determined by the VHA ELRS program office after review of the application. Former participants are ineligible to apply.

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
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• 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-11 Pharmacist Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 2c(1) above
• Assignment: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity
• GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) 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
• Assignment
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands - walking - standing - repeated bending - and hearing (aid may be permitted).

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Optimizes medication therapy using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic principles and collaborates with prescribers on therapeutic decisions Performs patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring
• communicates recommendations to providers verbally and in writing
• Reviews medication regimens for appropriateness - duplications - interactions - contraindications - and clinical effectiveness
• Conducts comprehensive medication counseling and educates patients on proper medication use
• Completes medication histories and medication reconciliation across transitions of care
• Provides evidence-based drug information to prescribers - interdisciplinary staff - patients - and caregivers
• Reviews charts - laboratory data - and clinical indicators to monitor drug efficacy - safety - and adherence
• Dispenses medications accurately - verifying orders for correct drug selection - dose - route - and documentation
• Resolves medication-related problems by communicating with providers and recommending alternative therapies when appropriate
• Supports outpatient prescription processing - unit-dose activities - and complex therapies in coordination with care teams
• Completes Prior Authorization Drug Requests (PADRs) and recommends formulary alternatives when needed
• Participates in quality assurance - MUE programs - adverse drug event reporting - and medication safety initiatives
• Manages recalls - drug shortages - and therapeutic interchange processes in accordance with policy
• Provides oversight and guidance to pharmacy technicians
• precepts pharmacy trainees and contributes to staff development
• Maintains professional competency through continuing education - literature review - and adherence to pharmacy best practices
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
• Telework: Available (Ad-hoc only) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.