Summary

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) acts as a representative of the Pharmacy Service - in a variety of positions throughout the Healthcare System. The CPS functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice and works independently under a scope of practice in practice area(s) based on their knowledge - competencies - clinical experience - and skills.

Qualifications

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
• 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.)
• 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English
• 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 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
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• The Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) 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 Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) 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 residency - PGY2 in Acute Care - Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy or Geriatrics - Healthcare Trainee precepting experience - experience managing acute care patients involving interdisciplinary team discussion and intervention documentation with scope of practice or policies granting autonomy - Quality improvement project or MUE experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: There may be some walking - standing - sitting - bending - and carrying of light items.

Duties

• The practice for the CPS consists of direct and indirect patient care - drug therapy monitoring - prescriptive authority - quality assurance/improvement - and staff/patient education
• At least 25% of the CPS's time is spent performing these high-level practice activities
• The CPS is specially prepared by education - training - (i.e
• advanced degree - licensure - and clinical experiences to skillfully apply the knowledge of pharmacology - pharmacokinetics - pharmacodynamics - pharmaco-economics and pharmacotherapeutics in the clinical management of patients
• The CPS is able to effectively influence clinical decision-making through communication - both orally and in the electronic medical record
• The CPS participates in a professional practice evaluation (PPE) program (ongoing and focused - as appropriate)
• The CPS is knowledgeable - competent - and able to perform all the clinical and dispensing functions listed in the Clinical Pharmacist functional statement however spends the majority of time working at the top of their license
• The CPS is responsible to the Associate Chief - Clinical Pharmacy Programs and ultimately to the Chief - Pharmacy Service
• Functions - Assigned Duties and Responsibilities include and not limited to the following: Functions independently under an individual scope of practice as defined by the health care system for chronic disease states with comprehensive medication management to provide pharmaceutical care to patients
• This includes but is not limited to the design - implementation - and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve positive - definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas
• Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record
• Reviews patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness - drug selection - dosing - contraindications - side effects - potential drug interactions - and therapeutic outcomes as required and communicates findings with other relevant staff when applicable
• Monitors for and reports drug errors - adverse drug reactions - allergies - and medication adherence issues
• Documents findings per facility procedures
• Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care
• recognizes and takes necessary and appropriate action on significant abnormalities
• Has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustments and/or recommendations based on objective laboratory findings
• Performs patient care activities in working directly or indirectly with the health care team and patient - encompassing a variety of modalities and professional responsibilities
• Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable
• Reviews literature routinely to provide an evaluation of efficacy - safety - and cost effectiveness for routine patient care and projects as assigned
• Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management
• Assists with Medication Use Evaluations (MUE) and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee related activities
• Documents clinical interventions in a timely and professional manner as appropriate
• Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies in accordance with VHA/DoD guidance or latest evidence-based practice
• Works with providers to ensure compliance with national - VISN - and local initiatives
• Uses appropriate references to research drug information and serves as an expert on drug usage - interactions - over-dosages - and compliance to medical staff - nursing staff - technicians and students
• Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers
• Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested
• Other duties as assigned
• VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized This is Bargaining Unit Position