Summary

The primary responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct care with patients and consultation with other providers on their team.

Duties

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Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Duties include but not limited to:

CLINICAL PRACTICE (PATIENT CARE)

• Directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas.
• Actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, medication reconciliation, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Able to apply knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities.
• Is an expert in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings.
• Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate.
• Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider as appropriate.
• Performs drug use evaluations on behalf of national, VISN and local medical center initiatives as needed.
• Reviews and verifies medication orders to be administered to patients in primary care, prior to administration, for appropriateness and to reduce potential risk of adverse drug event.
• Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable.
• Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues, documents findings per facility procedures.

EDUCATION AND DRUG INFORMATION

• Participates in the training and in-servicing of medical staff, nursing staff, residents, students, and other allied health professionals as required.
• Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices; adjusts communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations; accurately assesses and documents patient comprehension; and refers patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams.
• Utilizes both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others.
• May serve as preceptor for pharmacy residents and students. Assists in new pharmacy residents and employee orientation sessions as scheduled.
• Assists in the development of proposals for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services.
• Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information.
• Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic.
• Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.

RESEARCH

• Actively participates in research projects either as the Primary Investigator or co- investigator and conducts or participates in the design, Investigational Review Board submission and documentation.
• May serve as a primary research preceptor for pharmacy residents.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals independently or as a contributing member of the research team

ADMINISTRATION

• Knows and follows administrative requirements of the hospital and those specific to the Pharmacy Formulary, investigational drugs, and general distributive functions. (2)
• Provides collateral documentation for appropriate tasks as required by Pharmacy policy and procedure.
• Submits appropriate quality assurance and workload monitoring data accurately in the proper format and in a timely manner.

SUPERVISORY/DISTRIBUTIVE

• Verifies accuracy of transcription and/or transcribes information into computer system or medication administration record as appropriate.
• Supervises supportive technical staff, residents, and pharmacy students in performing, or performs, all activities involved in the procuring, preparing, and dispensing of medications and in providing information.
• Assures adherence to accepted policies and procedures in accordance with State and Federal laws in drug and supply compounding, packaging, labeling, distribution, and recordkeeping.
• Supervises and/or performs processing of controlled substances and pharmacy dispensing orders in accordance with VA policies and procedures

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m-4:00 p.m. or 8:00a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Subject to change based on the needs of the facility)

Telework: Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 00418F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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 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; and
• 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.
• English Language: 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.
  • 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.
  
  • 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. a7 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.

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).

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.

Grade Determinations: Clinical Pharmacy, GS-13

Preferred Experience: PGY1 Residency or PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency

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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Education

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution