Summary

The VISN Pharmacy EHR Informatics/Solution Consultant - Inpatient/Clinic serves as the dedicated subject matter expert (SME) for inpatient pharmacy operations and ambulatory clinic-based pharmacy functionality within the Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR). The incumbent is trained in information technology, informatics, and data analysis in addition to pharmacotherapy and evidence-based practice.

Duties

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This position provides focused, domain-specific informatics leadership and issue resolution for inpatient dispensing, unit dose and IV workflows, clinic-based pharmacy encounters, medication ordering, clinical decision support, and inpatient/clinic medication automation systems across VISN facilities. The position will represent VISN Pharmacy on national Federal EHR optimization initiatives, special projects, and multiple national and VISN-level workstreams related to inpatient and clinic pharmacy functionality. They will work within the VISN Pharmacy EHR Team, under the supervision of the VISN Pharmacy EHR Program Manager, and collaborates with facility pharmacy leadership, facility informatics officers, the VISN Pharmacy Executive (VPE), the EHR Modernization Integration Office (EHRM-IO), and national program offices.

Duties:

• Provides subject matter expertise to assist with the integration of clinical and informatics processes necessary to achieve successful adoption of new technologies in the inpatient and clinic domains.
• Investigates and manages areas of pharmacy practice in compliance with VA, Joint Commission, FDA, and DEA regulations.
• Ensures dedicated, targeted representation for the inpatient and clinic domains at required VISN and national meetings, workgroups and voting bodies.
• Receives and triages reports of EHR issues related to inpatient pharmacy and clinic-based pharmacy operations, ensures issues are routed appropriately for resolution, provides troubleshooting and validation support, and communicates resolution outcomes.
• Responsible for providing on-going technical and clinical expertise to assure consistent delivery of high-quality information
  structures, information processes, and information technology within this scope.

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm

Telework: Ad-hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 10362F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Location is negotiable for selectee and will be discussed during the interview process.

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.
• 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 [redacted]; phone: [redacted], 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.

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: In addition to the GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated KSAs:

1. Skill in persuading others and gaining cooperation to accomplish goals.

2. Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing regarding complex clinical and technical issues.

3. Skill in utilizing regulatory and quality standards to develop and implement operational programs.

4. Skill in managing multiple people or programs.

5. Skill in utilizing available resources to support the mission and goals of the organization.

Preferred Experience:

The preferred candidate would have at least 2 years of VHA Pharmacy Informatics experience, and/or completed a PGY-2 residency in Pharmacy Informatics. . Specific skillsets needed include but are not limited to: Proficient use of the Federal EHR, computer programs (e.g., Microsoft Office, Pyramid, SQL) and knowledge of inpatient pharmacy dispensing systems, BCMA, and clinic-based medication ordering workflows. Demonstrated knowledge of inpatient pharmacy workflow, unit dose/IV processes, clinical decision support, and CPRS/EHR order set and template configuration. Ability to apply statistical analysis and health care outcome principles to program evaluation. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, including in national workgroup and committee settings. Demonstrates an understanding of quality assurance as it relates to inpatient and clinic pharmacy operations.

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-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. There may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items.

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.

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.

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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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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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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.