Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager) - Medication Safety, Quality and Research

Summary

The Pharmacy Medication Safety, Quality and Research Program Manager must be a licensed pharmacist, preferably with a Pharm.D. or equivalent experience. The incumbent will function at the highest level of clinical practice working independently based on their scope of practice, if applicable. The incumbent will develop, organize, coordinate and manage the Medication Safety, Quality and Research programs at all points of care within the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System (SFVA HCS).

Duties

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NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

The position requires extensive knowledge and skill in utilizing Medication Safety databases and informatics tools for patient safety/informatics analysis. The incumbent will provide a consistent point of contact for multidisciplinary and interdepartmental process improvement efforts in the areas of medication safety and quality, and will serve as a facility champion. This role will directly contribute to the health care system's commitment as a high reliability organization. The pharmacist may also function in the pharmacy to meet patient care needs.

Functions of Position:

A. Program Management - Medication Safety

1. Manages data collection, analysis, and review of medication safety events and practices including reporting of adverse events in JPSR, VA ADERS, and VistA ADR tracking system.
2. Reviews and assesses compliance with VHA Directives/Handbooks, USP, FDA, DEA, AWE, OIG and Joint Commission standards. Assists with the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation medication safety standards.
3. Utilizes resources published by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS), Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM), the Center for Medication Safety (VA MedSAFE), the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), and the FDA, disseminates information on medication related patient safety issues to appropriate clinical staff and committees and collects and analyzes SFVA HCS data as necessary.

B. Program Management - Quality Management

1. Maintaining a system of internal reviews that ensure that service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and compliance with VHA Directive/Handbooks, regulatory bodies, and accreditation organizations.
2. Collaboration with pharmacy management and clinical ICCs to coordinate pharmacy service continuous readiness for all regulatory bodies including The Joint Commission, LTCI, CARF, AWE, OIG, VACO, and VISN 23.
3. Ensures that all pharmacy programs (to include Compounded Sterile Preparations, Anticoagulation, Pharmacoeconomics, Drugs Supply Chain, Controlled Substance, Clinical Pharmacy Programs) are in full compliance and readiness in regard to all applicable VHA regulations, policies, directives, and handbooks.

C. Administrative Program Services

1. Assists with the management of the Medication Recall and Drug Safety Alert System.
2. Develops and updates policies and procedures defining operational requirements of Medication Safety and Quality Program.
3. Assists with developing and updating all policies and procedures within the pharmacy enterprise.

D. Pharmacist Duties

1. Provide routine patient care in clinical settings as directed.
2. Participates in staff pharmacy duties, including order verification, medication preparation, dispensing in inpatient and outpatient settings.
3. Interacts with treatment team members to optimize drug treatment; develops and assesses target outcomes. Communicates effectively in meetings, in personal conversations, and in written progress notes or consultations.

E. Pharmacy Investigational Drug Service

1. Serves as an authoritative information source on investigational drugs and their utilization in therapy. This includes the interpretation and dissemination of information about investigational drugs to pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff via bulletins, newsletters, and policy memos as necessary or required.
2. Serves as a consultant on regulatory matters to all investigators. Ensures compliance with appropriate regulatory bodies (i.e. Institutional Review Board, Research and Development, AAHRPP, VHA Directives and Handbooks).
3. Coordinates patient care and addresses procedural concerns when patients are admitted to the Medical Center and are currently enrolled, or previously have been previously enrolled in investigational studies.

F. Education:

1. Collaborates with Pharmacy Management and Patient Safety on pharmacy-related training and development, to promote the learning experience and improve the performance of providers, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, medical residents and students.
2. Develops and implements of formal and informal drug education/clinical consultation to medical, surgical, nursing, and pharmacy staff in the form of in-services and continuing education programs.
3. Interfaces with health-care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy policies and procedures.

G. Research

May be involved in designing and conducting research studies or assist in the same. Proposals for research must be submitted to the IRB and Research and Development Committee.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm

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

Qualifications

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. 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. Exception: Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. a7 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
• Foreign Education: 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).
• English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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 Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager)

Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

AND

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:

a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.

b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.

c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.

d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.

e. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

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.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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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.

Benefits

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