Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Pain Management

Job description

Summary

The ambulatory care clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) plans - implements - and operates the clinical pharmacy programs assigned to them within the pain management interdisciplinary team. The CPS is the medication expert in these assigned areas and functions as a consultant to other health care professionals.

Summary

The ambulatory care clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) plans - implements - and operates the clinical pharmacy programs assigned to them within the pain management interdisciplinary team. The CPS is the medication expert in these assigned areas and functions as a consultant to other health care professionals.

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: Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (B.S

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

phone: - or through their Web site at:

(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 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)

All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard (6/7/2012) 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

and (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 one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12)

Experience includes - 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 at the GS-13 level must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): 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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12

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

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

Major duties include - but are not limited to: Program Management Accepts a shared responsibility for the overall management of the clinic - including but not limited to developing & maintaining clinic grids - sustaining clinic utilization - managing missed opportunities - coordinating clinic cancellations - and restructuring as necessary to maintain patient care in response to staffing needs effectively

Accepts a shared responsibility in the development and ongoing review of all policies and operating procedures specific to clinical practice area

Responsible for the appropriate - effective - and safe use of pharmaceuticals within practice area

Initiates quality assurance and improvement activities - including but not limited to medication use evaluations - medication management - monitoring and safety - criteria development - and policy creation and/or revision - that demonstrate improved patient care outcomes

Responsible for identifying - measuring - and reporting relevant outcomes as related to specific clinical pharmacy practice

Contributes to budgetary stewardship by incorporating cost savings initiatives into clinical practice and identifying potential cost reduction opportunities to improve overall healthcare services

Independently resolves provider and patient care issues - concerns - and questions as related to clinical practice

Clinical Functions Provides clinical coverage in pharmacist-run pain management clinics

Operates independently under a defined scope of practice to initiate - change - and discontinue prescription and OTC medications - devices - and supplies in an outpatient clinical pharmacy practice setting

In collaboration with the appropriate provider - provides additional advanced medication services outside of defined clinical scope without need for provider co-signature and excluding controlled substances

Incorporates pharmacoeconomic considerations into clinical practice to promote cost-effective and evidence-based drug therapy - including but not limited to drug selection - dosage form - administration frequency - duration of therapy - monitoring - and efficacy

Actively participates in the process of medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate - active list of VA and non-VA medications - and discontinuing duplicate medications or medications that the patient is not taking

Manages out-of-stock situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths

Ensures adherence to the VA formulary and P&T Committee drug therapy & policy recommendations

Distributive Functions Verifies computer prescriptions (with provider order entry) for patients in their assigned clinic area or other areas as assigned

Coordinates medication orders with central pharmacy or CMOP when necessary

Participates with pharmacy management in formulating and implementing policies and procedures to ensure accurate preparation - compounding - and dispensing of all therapeutic and diagnostic agents and other supplies furnished by Pharmacy Service to beneficiaries through the various inpatient and outpatient functional areas

Educational Functions Precepts pharmacy students - PGY-1 and PGY-2 pharmacy residents - including providing constructive feedback regarding quality of educational experience and preceptor interaction/involvement

Participates in the education and training of new employees or employees introduced to selected practice areas

Administrative Functions Assumes an ownership role for administrative activities related to the advanced practice setting - including reviewing consults promptly - accurately completing and closing encounters - independently resolving provider and patient care issues - and assuring appropriate coverage for clinical services

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00AM to 4:30PM

Work schedule is subject to change based on agency needs

Telework: Ad-hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 62093F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Worksite address

charleston, SC, 29408, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.