Clinical Pharmacist - Inpatient

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines, IA seeks an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist to provide expert medication management in the inpatient setting. The role focuses on safe, effective pharmacotherapy, monitoring, and collaboration with the healthcare team.

The position emphasizes therapeutic drug monitoring, patient counseling, and participation in rounds and stability of medication therapy. Eligibility requires active licensure and U.S. citizenship; federal employment policies apply.

Qualifications

• Pharmacists must hold an ACPE-acceptable degree (PharmD preferred).
• Strong communication skills for collaboration with health care staff.
• Experience with inpatient hospital pharmacy operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe and appropriate medication use for inpatients.
• Provide patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicate findings.
• Monitor drug therapy outcomes and collaborate with prescribers.
• Counsel patients and provide medication education at discharge or pick-up windows.
• Participate in medication reconciliation and EHR reviews.
• Engage in antimicrobial stewardship and formulary reviews.

Skills

Pharmacy practice

Oral/written communication

Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics

Inpatient experience

Education

PharmD degree

Job description

Summary

Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist The incumbent functions as a Clinical Inpatient Pharmacist primarily in the Inpatient Section of the Pharmacy Service at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VHACIHS). The position reports to the Inpatient Pharmacy Supervisor - Pharmacy Service.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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
• NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program
• Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: 1
• 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - or 2
• Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program
• AND Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): 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: 1 year or more inpatient clinical pharmacist experience in a hospital setting with focus on medication distribution - pharmacy automation operation - non-sterile and sterile compounding (under USP 795 - 797 - 800) - clinical scope of practice - and protocol driven conversions/interventions
• 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
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties include - but are not limited to: Clinical: The primary function of a clinical pharmacist is to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications and be an advocate of rational drug therapy through the following list of examples and activities: 1
• Provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics monitoring for efficacy - side effects and clinical outcome - and advises prescribers as appropriate
• 2
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and in writing
• Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in: a Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen b Therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen c Appropriateness of the route and method of administration d Degree of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen e Drug-drug - drug-nutrient - drug-laboratory - or drug-disease interactions f Allergies g Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects - toxicity - or adverse effects h Physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy 3
• Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy - safety - and efficacy
• 4
• Provides medication counseling to patients Medication counseling may include - depending on tour: a Bedside discharge counseling b Follow-up phone call discharge counseling c Counseling patients at the Pharmacy pick-up window 5
• Conducts comprehensive assessments of patient's health status by completing medication histories - including patient interviews
• 6
• Serves as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers - other health care professionals - patients and caregivers
• 7
• Participates in patient care rounds and reviews patient electronic health records
• 8
• Participates in the medication reconciliation process - in accordance with facility processes: a Pharmacists under a scope of practice (CPP): when acting as a provider - the CPP will complete a medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate - active list of VA and non-VA medications This may include adding non-VA medications or discontinuing duplicate medications or those the patient is not taking
• b
• Pharmacists not under a scope of practice: when NOT acting as a provider - pharmacists will participate in the medication reconciliation process This may include a medication history - identifying discrepancies - coordinating with the care team to review discrepancies - processing medication orders - and providing patient medication education
• 9
• Reports adverse drug events (ADE) - near misses - and medication errors Documents findings according to service/facility policies and procedures
• 10
• Participates in the medical center medication utilization evaluation (MUE) program
• 11
• Completes non-formulary and medication approval consults in the acute care setting Recommends formulary alternatives when appropriate Reviews orders for compliance with VA Criteria for Use and non-formulary drug restrictions
• 12
• Implements VA medical facility policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions (e.g. - Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee activities)
• 13
• Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by recommending alternative dosage strengths and instructions to provide appropriate substitutions for the patient
• 14
• Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care per facility policy
• 15
• Manages various actions - as appropriate - for medication orders to include: flagging prescriptions - managing view alerts - using the \"hold medication\" function - and generating unsigned discontinued orders using Service Reject
• 16
• Extends refills until next scheduled appointment under the provider's name per facility policy
• 17
• Completes patient electronic health record documentation with encounter information for inclusion in Pharmacy Service workload credit for all clinical assessments - interventions - recommendations and monitoring
• 18
• Participates in facility and service line emergency preparedness activities
• 19
• Participates in antimicrobial stewardship activities outlined in guidance or medical center policy as appropriate (e.g. - IV to PO conversion - aminoglycoside monitoring) and providing appropriate action (e.g. - recommendations to providers - therapeutic substitution)
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• 1130-2200 - compressed tour - with rotating weekends and holidays Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized