Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner - Patient Aligned Care Team

Veterans Health Administration • Ogden, UT

2d

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner works as a clinical pharmacy specialist and mid-level provider, delivering direct and indirect patient care within an assigned area of practice. The role includes comprehensive medication management for patients with complex chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking cessation, pain management, hepatitis C, and osteoporosis. The pharmacist may conduct urgent or same-day visits, including medication reviews for polypharmacy, recent hospital discharges, and co-managed care patients. Under an individually defined scope of practice, the practitioner designs, implements, and monitors medication plans, performs physical assessments, and orders and interprets laboratory and other diagnostic tests to evaluate medication efficacy and safety.

The position also involves medication-regimen review, medication history-taking, monitoring for adverse events and adherence concerns, formulary and medication safety work, and timely documentation. The pharmacist communicates recommendations to providers and patients, provides drug information and medication education, and may teach or precept pharmacy learners and staff. The role may include committee service and support for the development and improvement of clinical pharmacy services.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; a compressed schedule is available. Ad hoc telework may be approved, but this is not a virtual position. Recruitment incentives may be authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its eligibility and application requirements; awards may be up to $200,000, with approval and terms determined by the program office. Permanent Change of Station is not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited pharmacy college or school with a BS in Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; alternatively, foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the required FPGEE and TOEFL iBT examinations.
• Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacy license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required for licensure.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-13: one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, in addition to the basic requirements.
• For GS-12: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, in addition to the basic requirements.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards relevant to the program area.
• Ability to solve problems, coordinate work, and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in the program or clinical specialty area.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized clinical pharmacy or pharmacy practice area.
• Advanced ability to monitor and assess drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Must complete a pre-employment physical examination and pass applicable background and security investigation requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and satisfy the announcement's onboarding, identification, and application-document requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Must be capable of working effectively in stressful situations and acting promptly and dependably in emergencies.

Nice To Haves

• PGY2 Ambulatory Care residency.
• PGY1 Pharmacy residency.
• Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) certification or another Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) certification.
• More than three years of ambulatory or primary care experience involving direct patient care and comprehensive medication management.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive medication management for patients with complex chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking cessation, pain management, hepatitis C, and osteoporosis.
• Conduct urgent or same-day patient visits, including medication reviews for polypharmacy, recent hospital discharges, and co-managed care patients.
• Design, implement, assess, monitor, and document therapeutic medication plans, and initiate, modify, or discontinue therapy within the defined scope of practice.
• Order, review, and analyze laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies needed to monitor medication therapy; follow up with patients about results, treatment changes, monitoring, and additional testing.
• Perform physical assessments and determine when disease progression or adverse drug events require referral to a physician or other provider.
• Review medication regimens for effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and outcomes; communicate findings and alternatives to prescribers.
• Obtain medication histories and document significant findings in the medical record or communicate them to providers.
• Monitor and report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues; participate in the VAADERS adverse drug reaction reporting program.
• Use laboratory values and diagnostic findings to evaluate care and recommend dose adjustments.
• Review non-formulary and restricted-drug requests for appropriateness and compliance with criteria; assist with medication-use evaluations and medication safety initiatives.
• Review and verify medication orders, promote compliance with drug therapy policies, and work with providers on national, VISN, and local initiatives.
• Document clinical interventions in CPRS and other findings according to facility procedures.
• Participate in professional development and train or teach pharmacists, technicians, students, residents, and other medical center personnel; may precept pharmacy students and residents.
• Assist with employee orientation and the development of proposals for new or improved clinical pharmacy services.
• Serve on medical center or VISN committees as requested and follow medical center and department policies.
• Provide timely, accurate drug information to clinical staff and other customers using appropriate references and information resources.
• Educate patients and family members on the use of medications and medical devices, adapting communication to age and developmental needs and assessing patient comprehension.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval; award may be up to $200,000.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type and other applicable conditions.
• Recruitment incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree