Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient)

Summary The Clinical Pharmacist works independently under the direction of a supervisory pharmacist. The Clinical Pharmacist's primary responsibility is the utilization of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct interactions with patients and providers as well as the safe provision of pharmaceuticals and medication information in a timely manner. This pharmacist promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge and established policies. 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 PolicyEducation 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.) degreeVerification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education - 20 North Clark Street - Suite 2500 - Chicago - Illinois 60602-5109phone: (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 programToday 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)LicensureFull - current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State - Territory - Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - or the District of ColumbiaThe pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full - current - and unrestricted licensureA 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 16May 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-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or EducationIn addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - or Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. programPharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate - in their resume - the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practiceAbility to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staffKnowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy securitySkill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parametersReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentaryIt typically requires sitting with sustained periods of concentrationThere will be some walking - standing - bending - and carrying of relatively light objectsThe position may also require stooping - reaching - lifting - pulling - and other moderate exertion or strainIncumbent may occasionally have to walk some distance to a meeting. Duties VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Duties of the Clinical Pharmacist: Clinical Provides timely responses to drug information requestsEvaluates provider's orders for appropriateness of therapy - incompatibilities - side effects and interactions of drugs/drug productsUtilizes patient care information systems to obtain critical patient data elements and to document pertinent patient care issuesCounsels patients on drug-drug interactions - adverse effects - food-drug interactions - product availability - and PNT Committee and pharmacy policiesManages recalls and medication shortage situationsEnters supply orders for patient care per facility policyManages actions for medication orders to include flagging prescriptions - managing view alerts - using the \"hold\" function - and generating unsigned discontinued ordersExtends refills until next scheduled appointmentResponds to Code Blue emergencies in the inpatient settingInvolved in the design - implementation - and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes by direct interactions with patients and providersObtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findingsPerforms medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate - active list of VA and non-VA medicationsInvolved in reviewing patient medication regimens for cost effective drug selection - dosing - contraindications - side effects - therapeutic duplication - appropriate route and method of administration - potential drug interactions - and therapeutic outcomesCommunicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plansMonitors for/reports drug errors - adverse drug reactions - allergies - and patient compliance issuesDocuments findingsApplies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant anomaliesHas expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics - makes dose adjustment recommendations based on laboratory findingsReviews/evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and complianceDocuments clinical interventions in EHMR in a timely and professional mannerMaintains professional competency - licensure - and continuing education requirements - keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature - new drugs and therapies - and applies knowledge in daily dutiesDispensing Verifies and evaluates licensed independent practitioners' medication orders/prescriptions and inputs written ordersSelects - compounds - dispenses - and fills a range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations - special formulations - ophthalmic narcotics - investigational drugs - oncolytic agents - etcin inpatient and/or outpatient areas and follows appropriate quality assurance proceduresChecks prescription orders for safety - accuracy - and appropriateness prior to dispensingVerifies and fills all orders in a timely fashionInputs medication allergy data and non-VA medication data when information provided by patient/care giver/providerEnsures that drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulationsEducation and Training Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists - pharmacy technician - pharmacy residents - pharmacy students - and other medical center personnelInstructs patients and family members in the use of medications/medical devicesSkilled at using written and verbal communication techniques in teaching othersMay serve as a preceptor for pharmacy students and/or pharmacy residentsHas a good working knowledge of information resources such as Micromedex - Clinical Pharmacology - AHFS Drug Information - Facts & Comparisons - or other relevant pharmaceutical referencesMaintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease managementProvides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiriesAdministration Ensures that work of the team is carried out on tours when no supervisory pharmacist is presentPoint-of-contact with Patient Care Services for resolution of time-sensitive nursing/pharmacy issuesContacts additional staff - pharmacists or technicians - to report for duty in the event of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) activation - and emergenciesSupervises the activities of support personnel and communicates with supervisory staff during the time when no supervisory pharmacist is on siteParticipates in the medical center and pharmacy service quality improvement programsWork Schedule: Full-time - multiple shifts available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 91627-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized