The Academic Detailer Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) at VA Salem VAMC functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works under a scope of practice as approved by the Medical Executive Committee. The CPS is a people centric, evidence-based and forward thinking leader who possess exceptional communication skills, and has the knowledge, skills, and abilities in advanced clinical pharmacy practice. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.) Education. 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 (PharmD) 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. ) 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 maybe appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Policy. Physical Requirements. Must successfully complete all Pre-Placement Physical requirements in accordance with VA regulations and policy. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 USC 7402(d) and 38 USC 7407(d). NOTE: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on June 7, 2012 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure and certification and 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 their position at the time they were appointed to it, they may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level (GS-12), or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level (GS-12) or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: 1. 1+ year(s) of Clinical Pharmacy Specialist experience 2. Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Appendix G15. Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard GS-660The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position; Use of fingers and both hands required; Walk (up to 1 hour); light carrying (up to 10 lbs.); Near vision correctable at 13' to 16'; hearing (aid permitted). ["Duties: Include but not limited to Practices as the CPS for the assigned area at the highest level of approved scope of practice. The CPS oversees pharmacotherapy to ensure that national treatment guidelines are being followed in addition to adherence to national formulary and local policies. Interfaces with providers, including physicians, PAs, ARNPs in the design and continued evaluation of the Veteran's treatment regimen to achieve optimization of rational and cost-effective drug therapy. Serves as an authoritative information source on medications and their utilization in therapy. Evaluates drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs. Provides formal and informal education and training programs in the area of pharmacology, therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and related subjects to providers, nursing staff, and other health care professionals as appropriate. Evaluates health analytic data to evaluate prescribing practices and benchmark providers to identify outliers for improved quality, safety, and cost containment programs. Participates in P&T Committee functions and assignments as required, e.g., ADR monitoring, medication misadventure reporting, Medication Utilization Evaluation activities, drug monographs/reviews, annual order set and protocol reviews, etc. Serves as an authority on medication usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to clinical staff, residents, and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information. Possesses a working knowledge of information resources. Maintains current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. Provides accurate and timely responses to drug information inquiries from all customers. Documents drug information responses per Pharmacy Services on defined template. Provides drug information and drug literature evaluations as requested by the professional staff or identified as a need for the service Maintains current knowledge, responsibility, understanding, and oversight of all VISN 6 PBM, local and national performance measures in areas of assignment. Maintains current knowledge for access and use of VISN 6 PBM dashboard. Reviews and uses dashboards to ensure and project compliance with performance, measures, and to provide population-based management to meet measures. Provides and promotes cost-effective pharmacy services, offering reasonable, appropriate alternatives to high cost drugs. Identifies new performance measures to improve quality of care. Increases knowledge and skills by attending and contributing in workshops, lectures, journal clubs, case presentations, in-service meetings, team meetings, particularly in area of specialty. Participates in clinical rounds, noon conferences, morning reports, huddles, and system redesign in all areas of responsibility. Prepares and presents educational lectures to a variety of services. Serves as a mentor/preceptor to Pharmacy students and residents. Contributes to initial and on-going residency projects related to assigned work area or based on foreseen needs within the health care system Expert understanding and knowledge of regulatory requirements and quality standards for program area(s). Understands and adheres to policies and procedures of Pharmacy Service and VISN 6; includes Joint Commission, DEA, ASHP, and VA Pharmacy regulatory requirements. Knowledgeable and can perform all routine duties of a Clinical Pharmacist as outlined in Pharmacy Service Policy. Effectively communicates, both orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Performs required documentation (i.e. patient encounters, progress notes) in a timely manner and in accordance with facility timeline for completion. Actively serves and participates on local, VISN 6, and National committees as approved by Pharmacy Leadership and fulfills assignments timely and with quality products. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:45am-4:30pm rotated holidays and weekends Travel: Occasionally to Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Academic Detailer/000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.