Clinical Pharmacist - Community Care

Veterans Health Administration • Iron Mountain, MI

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The pharmacist will ensure efficient and timely workload completion of community care prescriptions and act as a liaison with our community care partners to resolve problems as they arise with this program. This position requires a thorough knowledge of the electronic health record, outpatient pharmacy, and the VA national formulary. Major duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Practice: Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in the assigned areas (i.e., adult and geriatric populations). This entails a knowledge of human growth and development, ability to assess and interpret age specific data and provide age specific care, communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses to treatment and ability to involve family/ significant others in decision making related to plan of care. The knowledge, abilities, and skills needed to provide such care will be refined through continuing education, training and experience. This position requires an especially strong emphasis in clinical skill covering a variety of disciplines. Coordinates with facility clinicians, when needed, for the appropriate care of mutual patients. Responsible for helping maintain clinical pharmacy services for the outpatient CCNRx areas. Duties include, but are not limited to, VA formulary, criteria for use, prior authorization drug request (PADR) and utilization. The CCNRx/Outpatient Pharmacist will document significant findings, interventions and recommendations in the electronic health record using consults and templated notes. Documentation to be completed within established timeframes and discontinuing the same if no action taken within established timeframes. Responsible for assisting with the management of therapeutic regimens upon request by providing recommendations for appropriate medication, diagnostic studies/tests, progress notes, etc., in the patient's chart in accordance with established clinical privileges. The CCNRx/Outpatient Pharmacist is responsible for detection and prevention of drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions. The incumbent is also responsible for detection of potential drug interactions with laboratory tests and providing appropriate interpretations/alternatives. Reviews and evaluates requests for both Community Care and VA non-formulary and restricted drug requests for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. Clinical Education: Creates an environment to stimulate, encourage and support the participation of pharmacy personnel in providing drug information to the hospital staff and other facilities as deemed appropriate. Attends and actively participates in clinical pharmacy activities, i.e., staff development, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy leadership meetings and other pertinent activities. Particular attention will be given to education and training for pharmacy staff, internal customers and external customers on policies, procedures and guidelines for community care prescription processing. Administrative: Implements appropriate procedures, oversees and ensures facility compliance with Mission Act, appropriate federal laws, and related VHA directives and regulations related to community care prescriptions. Reviews appropriate related policies at minimum every 5 years, or more frequently as needed, and proposes updates. Communicates updates and provides training, as needed, to IMVA pharmacy staff. Acts as a member, or pharmacy representative, for VA Committees related to CCNRx, as requested by leadership. Assists in data collection for medication use evaluation (MUE) and participates in quality assurance when requested by leadership. Acts as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and other health care providers. Provides technical knowledge and assistance as required to support the outpatient pharmacy operations. Exchange ideas, assist and provide support with pharmacy staff and actively seek and maintain face-to-face contact in the usual work areas with other members of Pharmacy Service.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• 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.
• 1 year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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).

Responsibilities

• Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in the assigned areas (i.e., adult and geriatric populations).
• Coordinates with facility clinicians, when needed, for the appropriate care of mutual patients.
• Responsible for helping maintain clinical pharmacy services for the outpatient CCNRx areas.
• The CCNRx/Outpatient Pharmacist will document significant findings, interventions and recommendations in the electronic health record using consults and templated notes.
• Responsible for assisting with the management of therapeutic regimens upon request by providing recommendations for appropriate medication, diagnostic studies/tests, progress notes, etc., in the patient's chart in accordance with established clinical privileges.
• The CCNRx/Outpatient Pharmacist is responsible for detection and prevention of drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions.
• The incumbent is also responsible for detection of potential drug interactions with laboratory tests and providing appropriate interpretations/alternatives.
• Reviews and evaluates requests for both Community Care and VA non-formulary and restricted drug requests for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable.
• Creates an environment to stimulate, encourage and support the participation of pharmacy personnel in providing drug information to the hospital staff and other facilities as deemed appropriate.
• Attends and actively participates in clinical pharmacy activities, i.e., staff development, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy leadership meetings and other pertinent activities.
• Implements appropriate procedures, oversees and ensures facility compliance with Mission Act, appropriate federal laws, and related VHA directives and regulations related to community care prescriptions.
• Reviews appropriate related policies at minimum every 5 years, or more frequently as needed, and proposes updates.
• Communicates updates and provides training, as needed, to IMVA pharmacy staff.
• Acts as a member, or pharmacy representative, for VA Committees related to CCNRx, as requested by leadership.
• Assists in data collection for medication use evaluation (MUE) and participates in quality assurance when requested by leadership.
• Acts as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and other health care providers.
• Provides technical knowledge and assistance as required to support the outpatient pharmacy operations.
• Exchange ideas, assist and provide support with pharmacy staff and actively seek and maintain face-to-face contact in the usual work areas with other members of Pharmacy Service.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level