Clinical Pharmacist- Outpatient

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Clinical Pharmacist, GS-12, to manage medication therapy and ensure safe, effective care within VA policies.

The role requires ACPE-accredited education, licensure, and English proficiency, with EDRP eligibility considerations. Responsibilities include reviewing orders, dispensing medications, providing drug information, and collaborating with health-care teams to optimize therapy and safety for veterans.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to patients and health care staff.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to drug distribution and pharmacy security.
• Skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapies including lab parameters.

Responsibilities

• Review, interpret, and verify medication orders for appropriateness.
• Process and fill medication orders.
• Provide drug information and counsel to patients and clinicians.
• Assist in formulary management and medication safety.

Skills

Pharmacy practice

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Drug therapy monitoring

Education

Pharmacy degree (BS or PharmD)

Job description

Position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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

Citizenship

Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Regulations.

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 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)

(2) 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.

English Language Proficiency

Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations.

Grandfathering Provision

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 Requirements

Clinical Pharmacist, GS-12 (Full Performance Level)

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.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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.

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.

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

Reference

VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard, June 7, 2012. Available in the Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements

• Light lifting, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier lifting
• Light carrying, 15-25 pounds with occasional heavier carrying
• Straight pulling (up to 2 hours)
• Pushing (up to 2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Repeated bending
• Walking (up to 8 hours)
• Standing (up to 8 hours)
• Ability to wear Personal Protective equipment (PPE) as needed