Summary

The scope of practice of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) covers direct and indirect patient care - drug therapy monitoring - quality assurance/improvement - staff/patient education and consultation. The scope of practice is regulated by individual clinical duties that are recommended by the collaborating physician to the Chief of Pharmacy and are approved by the Chief of Staff and the Medical Center Director.

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:

• a
• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) b
• 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.) (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)
• c
• 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
• 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. § 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
• e
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• f
• 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 (a) Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (b) Assignments
• Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• 1
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients
• A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate - modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services
• This includes - but is not limited to - the following: designing - implementing - assessing - monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic and most economical medication treatments
• helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients - providers - and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas
• performing physical assessments
• and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy
• 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 at the GS-13 level
• Preferred work experience: (2-3 years experience in hematology/oncology pharmacy - PGY2 residency in hematology/oncology - or Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP))
• Physical Requirements: Employees are expected to work 40 hours per week
• This includes nights - weekends and/or holidays as assigned
• Mandating to cover other shifts may occur resulting in exceeding a 40-hour week but compensated via overtime or compensatory time at the employee's discretion
• Work demands include standing - walking - stooping - kneeling - bending - twisting - repetitive use of hands and fingers - carrying light loads (up to 50 lbs.) and pushing/pulling large/heavy carts
• Normal ranges of hearing and vision are required to perform work and communicate effectively - must have the visual ability to distinguish between basic colors and shades of color as well as small font (tablet imprints - expiration dates - lot numbers etc.) Work demands the ability to perform tasks requiring rapid mental and muscular coordination functions simultaneously if necessary
• Must be physically capable of operating various types of equipment used for the job.

Duties

• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist provides clinical and distributive pharmacy service to ambulatory care - inpatient care - medicine - surgery and specialty services within the VAWNYHS - including but not limited to VAWNYHS Community Based Outpatient Clinics - VAWNYHS Residential Programs - and the Batavia site
• Functions at the highest level of clinical practice - work independently providing quality medication therapy management using a scope of practice in the assigned clinical area as defined by VAWNYHS to directly care for patients
• 2
• Develops individualized pharmacotherapy care plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic - and most economical medication treatments - recognizing the special drug considerations of the age - developmental and cultural needs as clinically indicated for the patient
• 3
• When placing orders - pharmacokinetic applies - using rate order equations as appropriate to equilibrate serum levels using volumes of distribution and/or renal and hepatic clearances when necessary
• Identifies drug-induced problems that may be affecting the patient - takes appropriate steps to manage these problems and/or communicates these findings to his/her primary provider (includes drug side effects - allergic reactions - toxicities - dosage regimens - and non-compliance concerns)
• 2
• Reviews and recommends therapeutic care plans utilizing the most effective - least toxic - and most economical medication treatments - recognizing the special drug considerations of the age and stage of life for the patient and communicating this plan to the patient's primary provider
• 3
• Counsels patients and family members concerning directions for use - side effects - precautions - and the need to strictly follow the regimen
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 4 pm with rotating tours
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 13418F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized