The primary responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through both direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers, routinely functioning with minimal supervision as an independent practitioner operating under a scope of practice at a minimum of 25% of their duties. 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. 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). 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. Preferred Experience: PGY1 Pharmacy residency highly desired. PGY2 Ambulatory Care residency strongly preferred. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15 June 7, 2012 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["This pharmacist promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN and local levels. S/he must be capable of using professional judgment and clinical expertise to solve complex problems and to provide clinical information to both providers and Veterans. This pharmacist functions a part of the Pharmacy Service to accomplish department missions and goals. FUNCTIONS: A. Clinical: Using advanced knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics, the CPS serves as an authority on pharmaceutical care in specialized and routine areas of clinical pharmacy practice. The CPS serves as drug information resource, answering inquiries regarding therapeutics, drug interactions, dosing, side effects, formulary options, etc. The CPS is responsible for the evaluation, monitoring and medication management of Veterans referred by consult to the clinical pharmacy specialist for chronic disease state management. This will involve the design of a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information, which includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, electing an appropriate drug and related therapy and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen. This includes the initiation, modification and discontinuation of appropriate pharmacotherapy and laboratory monitoring related to national guideline-based treatment of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, chronic pain management, tobacco cessation and other chronic disease state medication management as consulted. The CPS is expected to maintain a 70-80% available clinic time utilization. The CPS obtains medication histories from patients and performs medication reconciliation at all transitions of care, including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications. This may include adding non-VA medications or discontinuing duplicate medications or those the Veteran is not taking. Significant findings are summarized and documented in the medical record and communicated to other members of the health care team as appropriate. The CPS is actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, cost-effectiveness and therapeutic outcomes as appropriate. Findings and recommendations for alternatives to current treatment plan will be communicated to providers as appropriate. The CPS will monitor for and report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies and patient compliance/adherence issues, documenting findings in accordance with facility policies and procedures. When assessing or providing patient care the CPS will consider the age, literacy level and learning barriers (e.g. low vision, hard of hearing, dementia, etc.) of the patient as it relates to his/her ability to understand and follow directions, provide objective self -assessment or any other pertinent factors which may affect the Veteran's overall treatment plan. The CPS reviews electronically-submitted non-formulary drug requests utilizing National VA PBM Criteria for Use, completing review and documenting adjudication in CPRS in a timely manner as determined by VISN and National PBM leadership. The CPS participates in Pharmacy Service and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee quality assurance/performance improvement activities, including MUE projects. The CPS serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630 Telework: 1-2 days per pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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