Facility Program Manager - Controlled Substances

Veterans Health Administration; Saginaw (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a controlled substance program manager who is a licensed pharmacist to work independently within Pharmacy Operations. The role focuses on coordinating optimal pharmaceutical care in controlled substance programs and vault operations, including training staff and trainees in those areas.

The incumbent provides education, maintains regulatory compliance, and supports medication safety through reviews, collaboration with clinical staff, and overseeing

Qualifications

• Must hold a current pharmacist license in a U.S. state.
• ACPE-accredited education and licensure requirements met.
• Experience with controlled substances and vault operations preferable.

Responsibilities

• Provide and coordinate optimal pharmaceutical care in the controlled substance programs.
• Educate and train trainees and employees on controlled substance and vault operations.
• Review and verify medication orders for appropriateness and safety.
• Oversee technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution and vault management.
• Assist in formulary management and medication use evaluations; respond to ADEs and emergencies.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Regulatory compliance

Education and training

Clinical pharmacotherapy oversight

Education

Pharm.D.

ACPE-accredited College of Pharmacy

BS Pharmacy (historical)

Job description

The controlled substance program manager is a licensed pharmacist who works independently under the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Operations or designee, and is responsible for providing and coordinating optimal pharmaceutical care activities in the controlled substance programs. The incumbent provides education and training of all trainees and employees specific to controlled substance and vault operations.

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 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 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.

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
• Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program

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-13: Experience. In addition to the basic requirements and GS-12 requirements listed above, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. This may include, but is 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 KSAs identified: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced 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-13.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to distinguish basic colors with the ability to distinguish shades of color. This position may require heavy lifting and carrying, 45 pounds or more, routine standing, bending, stooping,