Pharmacist (Clinical Pharmacy Specialist)

Summary

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

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/30/2024 to 05/15/2024

• Salary

$123,928 - $161,111 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Bedford, MA 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0660 Pharmacist

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTD-12396256-24-MV

• Control number

789068000

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Open to Current permanent employees of the Bedford VA Healthcare System including Past/Current/Upcoming Graduates of VHA Health Trainee Programs (HPT) are eligible to apply (must send proof such as an SF-50 with application).

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Duties

The clinical pharmacy practitioner (CPP) for Mental Health functions at the highest, advanced level of clinical practice, works independently under his/her scope of practice as defined by the VA Bedford Healthcare System to directly care for patients in the Mental Health Service. The CPP serves as a mid-level provider with prescriptive authority who functions to initiate, renew, modify, or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. The clinical pharmacy practitioner (CPP) helps achieve positive patient centered outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in the Mental Health Service. This position is a full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties for this position may include, but not limited to:

• Serves as an authority on pharmaceutical care in specialized and routine areas of clinical pharmacy for mental health/psychiatry, medical, nursing and, pharmacy staff.

• Participates in Mental Health Service interdisciplinary team meetings and provides information related to drug selection, drug interactions, dosing, side effects, formulary options and observations on patient response to therapy.

• Recommends appropriate treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes.

• Evaluates efficacy/side effects of drug therapy through direct patient care involvement via clinical assessment and objective findings relating to patient's response to drug therapy.

• Assumes limited authority to direct drug therapy and order, perform, review and/or analyze laboratory tests necessary to monitor and support the Veteran's drug therapy as a member of the mental health service treatment team.

• Recommends alternative drug therapies designed to reduce cost of medications while continuing to ensure optimal therapeutic response.

• Authorizes to initiate, renew, or discontinue medications and supplies applicable to psychiatric care of the patient as granted by scope of practice.

• Manages various actions, as appropriate, for medication orders to include flagging prescriptions with appropriate VA provider follow-up, managing view alerts and assigning electronic medical record surrogates during times of absence from the medical center.

• Works with the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) Providers and Outpatient Pharmacy in managing PASS Medications and other special requests.

• Reviews admission medications against the automated dispensing cabinet medication list to ensure restocking of the cabinet with current prescribed medications.

• Responsible for keeping abreast of changes in the Pharmacy Service (I.e. Formulary additions and deletions, interdepartmental memoranda, relevant station memoranda, and policies and procedures) and to maintain a general knowledge of VA, DEA and JCAHO regulations.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Mission And Vision | VA Bedford Health Care | Veterans Affairs

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Mon-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

Compressed/Flexible:Not Available.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Karen Chapman J., Karen.Chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Telework: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: F06862.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Notifications:

• This position is in the Excepted Service.

• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

• Current or formal Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.

• This position is not a bargaining unit position.

• This position is covered by a special rate.

• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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Requirements

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.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• 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).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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 Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

• 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 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, 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.) OR (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.

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 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, candidates must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must also demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

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

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

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

5.Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:

• PGY1 or PGY2 Residency in Mental Health, Internal Medicine or Pharmacotherapy.

• Board Certification in Mental Health and/or Pharmacotherapy thru the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties.

• Clinical pharmacy direct patient care experience overseeing Mental Health Programs.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard) dated June 7, 2012.

Physical Requirements: Please see VA Directive and handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 or 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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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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• 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 window

Learn 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.