Clinical Pharmacist – Inpatient Pharmacy

Veterans Health Administration (DOVA); Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 146,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System in Cleveland, OH is recruiting for an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist. The role focuses on interpreting orders, reviewing medication profiles, consulting with prescribers, dispensing medications, and guiding staff and patients on pharmacotherapy.

Responsibilities include rounds participation, drug information provision, supervising technicians, and ensuring compliance with federal laws and VA guidelines.

Qualifications

• Graduate of ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with Pharm.D. or BS Pharmacy.
• Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state.
• Proficiency in English and ability to work in a federal healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Screens patient profiles for appropriateness and potential drug interactions; recommends changes to prescribers.
• Furnishes drug information to clinicians, patients, and staff with age-appropriate considerations.
• Participates in clinical rounds and formulary management; provides drug information and education.
• Prepares and dispenses medications for inpatients and outpatients; supervises technicians and interns.
• Oversees dispensing activities and ensures compliance with laws and facility policies.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Drug interactions

Patient counseling

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Precepting trainees

Education

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

ACPE accreditation awareness

Tools

Pharmacy info systems

Job description

Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist. The primary functions will be interpretation of doctor’s orders, reviewing the computerized medication profiles, communicating with prescribers to resolve problems, dispensing appropriate medications, and providing a variety of pharmaceutical information and guidance to patients and medical center staff.

Overview

Location: Cleveland, OH

Telework eligible: No

Remote job: No

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Salary: $145,700 – $189,414 per year

Pay scale & grade: GS 12

Work schedule: Full-time

Travel Required: Not required

Appointment type: Permanent

Supervisory status: No

Federal service type: Excepted Service

Represented by a union: No

Drug test: Yes

Security clearance: Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk.

Background check: Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure required: No

Announcement number: CBSR-13104871-27-CL

Control number: 891248600

Eligibility

The public: U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency: NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

Duties

VA Careers – Pharmacy https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Specific functions of the Clinical Pharmacist include but are not limited to:

• Screens patient profile for appropriateness, duplication, drug/drug and drug/food interactions, incompatibilities or other drug related problems, and making recommendations for change to the prescriber when necessary.
• Furnishes drug information to physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, patients, and others. Information should be age and physical status appropriate.
• Participates in clinical rotation with the medicine service as needed. Attends daily rounds, recommends therapeutic and formulary alternatives, performs and
• Evaluates physician orders for appropriateness based upon patient medication profiles, medical history, age and physical status. This includes screening orders for dosage errors, interactions, allergies, contraindications, formulary availability and stop dates. Consults with prescriber, or another provider, when appropriate.
• Prepares, dispenses compounds, and appropriately labels a variety of pharmaceuticals to outpatients and inpatients. This includes parenteral, oral solids and liquids, topical, sterile intravenous products, and diagnostic agents.
• Acts as preceptor or trainer for pharmacy interns, pharmacy students and technician students.
• Assists in the supervision of work activities of technicians, interns, students, and volunteers. Checks and evaluates dispensing activities.
• Work is assigned in general terms by the pharmacy supervisor. Functions are performed according to Medical Center and Pharmacy Service guidelines, policies, and agreements to ensure that pharmacy service meets applicable federal laws and regulations. Incumbent keeps pharmacy management informed of all issues and concerns.

Work Schedule : 07:00/08:00-15:30/16:30, rotating weekends and holidays.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized.

Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

Parental Leave : After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy : After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.

Insurance : Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).

Telework : Not Authorized.

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 95268-0

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
• 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.

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).

Grandfathering Provision

All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations : GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level)

(a) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:

1. 1.1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.

(b) 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):

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: 3 years or more inpatient pharmacy experience and/or PGY1 pharmacy residency completion is preferred

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: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 lbs., and bending/stooping.

Education

• (1) 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/.
• (2) Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the 2 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 InternetBased Test (TOEFL iBT).

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Professional License
• Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Professional License
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Agency contact information

Chelsey Legg

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Address: VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106, US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Fair and transparent: The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request