Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager) Quality Assurance in Atlanta, Georgia
Summary The incumbent of this position will be assigned to the Pharmacy Service & serve as the primary support for the pharmacy's quality assurance program. He/she will be responsible for all aspects of ensuring quality assurance & medication safety. This includes oversight of medication error prevention & reporting, adverse drug events (VA ADERS) reporting and analysis. He/she will also implement corrective action where needed for all medication management processes. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Reviews, audits, and implements corrective action, where needed, for all components of medication management, i.e. purchasing, preparation, dispensing, storage, administration. Provides oversight for medication error reporting within pharmacy service. Manages the adverse drug reaction reporting system (VA ADERS). Develops/ coordinates emergency management policies and procedures. Conducts weekly inventory of pharmacy drug cache. Maintains all inventory records of pharmacy drug cache. Coordinates all controlled substances destructions with Supply Chain Management, the controlled substances Coordinator, and medication destruction vendor. Maintains controlled substances destruction program including all appropriate records and monitors. Provides staff education on regulations and standards in collaboration with the Facility Program Manager, Pharmacy Education. Reviews, audits, and implements corrective action, where needed, for regulatory compliance such as The Joint Commission, Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am until 4:30 pm with rotating weekends, if needed Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54950F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). 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. (COPY OF LICENSURE REQUIRED). English Language Proficiency: 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. Facility Program Manager. Manages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development, quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomes. Coordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation, or multiple program areas within a facility to develop, organize, manage, and control complex pharmacy programs. Develops, organizes, coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facility; this may include a single program area at multiple facilities. The Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Service; a complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), rural health, telemedicine, etc; specialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy, quality assurance, pharmacy informatics, clinical applications coordinator, Home Based Primary Care, pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNs. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff. b. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. c. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy. d. Skill in managing people or programs. Preferred Experience: None Reference: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The incumbent of this will be selected above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over, Straight pulling (2-3 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, both hands required, Walking (2-3_ hours), Standing (2-3_ hours), Kneeling (_1 hours), Repeated bending (Intermittent hours), Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Both eyes required, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid permitted), Mental/emotional stability. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.