Summary This position is located within the Pharmacy Service at the Birmingham VA Health Care System (Huntsville Clinic). Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPP) are assigned to individual Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) in the primary care clinics. This position will support the Close to Me Program which specializes in Oncology. As workload increases, this position will transition from PACT duties into mainly an Oncology care position and may cover other subspecialties as assigned. Responsibilities VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner functions at the highest level of clinical practice and works independently under their individual scope of practice to directly care for patients. The primary responsibility is coordination and provision of medication management to patients at the Birmingham VA Health Care System and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy; 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; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. Care may be provided through traditional clinic appointments or other modalities including, but not limited to, telehealth, videotelehealth, and shared medical appointments. Responsible for providing direct patient care and-consultative care in complex patients needing therapy as outlined in the scope of practice. Responsible for serving as an integral member of the pharmacy team including evaluation of current programs and identification of gaps in patient care. Responsible for practicing in conjunction with available tools (PharmD Tool, Population Management Dashboards, Secure Messaging, Tele-health, etc.) Responsible for practicing in a manner that enhances access to care, clinical outcomes, and cost-effective therapy. Responsible for providing cross-coverage to pharmacy areas outside of usual assignment and schedule when necessary for patient care and appropriate competencies are in place (ie: Anticoagulation, subspecialty area, etc.). NOTE: Initially, the selected candidate will serve as a PACT pharmacist, with some coverage of oncology patients. As the oncology workload grows, it will transition to a full oncology position. FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES: A. Clinical--Direct Patient Care that requires a Scope of Practice 1. Responsible for providing direct patient-care medication management performed with the efficiency and depth of an experienced clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) in ambulatory care related conditions per approved scope of practice 2. Designs, implements, monitors, and evaluates patient-specific pharmacotherapy plans to achieve defined outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Implements or recommends corrective actions to providers and documents in CPRS as appropriate for areas including but not limited to the following: a. Appropriate laboratory monitoring parameters. b. Drug-drug interactions and co morbidities. c. Duplication of therapy. d. Medication side effects. e. Appropriate dosing regimens. f. Absence of an essential medication. g. Drug allergies. h. Occurrence of adverse events. 3. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. 4. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e. changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements. B. Clinical-Indirect Patient Care Activities 1. Coordinates and/or performs medication reconciliation for ambulatory care patients with scheduled face-to-face or telehealth appointments as related to medication management and/or transitions of care where required. 2. Provides formulary management support through consult review and team collaboration. 3. Provides e-consult support to various services for medication recommendations, Skilled Nursing Home transitions, etc. 4. Identifies patients via population management dashboards who may benefit from Comprehensive Medication Management Services C. Education & Research 1. The pharmacist serves as adjunct instructor to approved schools of pharmacy. Individually precepts Doctor of Pharmacy advanced practice students and pharmacy residents. 2. The pharmacist provides lectures and educational material to medical students and residents, nurses, physicians, and other related healthcare professionals and trainees. 3. The pharmacist serves as pharmacy liaison for drug research activities for the medical center and associated clinics. Work Schedule: 8 hr shift between 6a and 6p with rotating Weekend, Holiday, Evening and Night hours Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. English Language Proficiency: Healthcare Engineer candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 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 or Graduate of a foreign pharmacy degree program that meets the educational requirement and can 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. I have a 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. 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 GS-13 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. To be creditable, experience must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (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. Additional Special Qualifications: Ability to communicate orally to individuals and groups of people in person while at conferences, via video-conferencing and during teleconferences Ability to communicate in writing for a variety of purposes including the preparation of reports and analysis, publications, and newsletters Ability to organize projects of broad scope and objective without the use of established methods and procedures Knowledge of VA National Center for Patient Safety reporting systems Knowledge of pharmacy automated dispensing devices and equipment Knowledge of, and ability to perform, aseptic technique Knowledge of basic inventory procedures Knowledge of pharmacy information systems. Preferred experience: Preferred candidates will have completed a PGY1 Residency, preferably with Ambulatory and Oncology experience Highly Qualified candidates will have completed a PGY2 Oncology Residency, and have post-residency experience in medication management under a scope of practice, board certification, and/or clinical experience in a Oncology Clinic. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G-15 and FS 53229 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Physical movements involve completion of routine pharmacy functions which include, but are not limited to: significant computer work/typing, prescription order entry and processing, contact of patients (both face to face and via phone). Certain tasks are repetitive in nature and require multiple steps performed in succession for success. Incumbent must be able to stand or sit in one place for considerable time during completion of complex tasks. Complexity of mental processes involved is extensive, demanding, and challenging. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information 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. 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.