Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Summary

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice - top of licensure - and serves as a mid-level provider - working independently with prescribing privileges as outlined in the individual's practice area-based scope of practice. The CPS provider delivers evidence-based comprehensive medication management (CMM) through direct patient care and as part of the interdisciplinary team providing Oncology/hematology (referred to as oncology in document) care.

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

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) 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
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/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 the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• (2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration - that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• (3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: GS 12-This recruitment is for the GS-13 grade level
• GS-12 information included for qualification requirement reference
• Experience or Education
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level - OR
• Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff
• Knowledge of laws - regulations - and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security
• Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• GS 13 Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: PGY2 residency or Clinical Pharmacist in Oncology experience of 1 year
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
  
  

Duties

• Prescribes - monitors and adjusts medications related to the treatment of cancer and supportive care as scope allows Reviews and recommends anticancer therapy adjustments based on lab and toxicity assessments Obtains pertinent medical history and obtains accurate anticancer medication related history from patient and via chart review Orders - monitors - and interprets needed labs
• implements follow-up on treatment actions as supported by lab interpretations Orders imaging as directed by clinical plan and as scope allows
• communicates results with appropriate provider Order and interpret precision medicine testing (pharmacogenomic - somatic - germline) as scope allows or per facility needs Provides patient and/or caregiver instructions and education Uses available population health tools (high risk drug dashboard) to identify and monitor patients receiving oral anticancer therapies Ensures referral of complex or unstable patients to higher level care - when needed Address other care needs and refers patients to other services for other needed care - as deemed appropriate (e.g. - mental health - PACT - physical therapy - yoga - etc.) Performs limited external physical assessment in alignment with established policies or procedures Performs medication reconciliation in alignment with established policies or procedures In addition to oncology and supportive care management - provides CMM for complex patients with chronic diseases exacerbated by oncology therapy including - but not limited to hypertension - bone health - pain - anemia and makes needed referrals
• May also treat other co-morbid conditions (in alignment with scope of practice) Determines if a referral to a physician is necessary when disease progression occurs - or adverse drug events require a higher level of treatment intervention Accepts urgent or same day patient visits including - but not limited to - patient medication review for polypharmacy - recent hospital or emergency department discharges - and co-managed care patients Follows up via face-to-face - telehealth - eConsult - telephone - secure messaging and other modalities to provide patient care Communicates with team for next steps and coordination of care - when necessary Participate in multidisciplinary tumor boards and provide input as necessary Research and respond to drug information questions Liaise with the dispensing pharmacist and infusion nursing staff regarding safe medication dispensing and administration Documents clinical interventions and patient care encounters in the electronic health record in a timely and professional manner as appropriate Provides formal and informal education and in-services to pharmacy - medical - nursing and other staff as requested Provides education to patients - their families and caregivers about medications - patient responsibilities - and information on health promotion Serves as the pharmacist subject matter expert on assigned oncology related committees and subcommittees
• Participates in design and/or completion of research studies and/or quality improvement projects involving drug therapy - clinical pharmacy functions - or improvements in patient care Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm or 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Subject to changed based on the needs of the service) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 564-01525F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized