Clinical Pharmacist - Inpatient Rotational

Veterans Health Administration • Minneapolis, MN

1d

About The Position

The Inpatient Rotational Clinical Pharmacist provides pharmacy care, including clinical and operational duties primarily for inpatients, with possible outpatient care. The pharmacist primarily covers an assigned inpatient team and the central inpatient pharmacy, and may cross-cover other inpatient pharmacy areas. The role works with pharmacy staff and interdisciplinary teams to provide safe, effective, cost-conscious, patient-centered drug therapy. This includes assessing medication therapy in light of patient-specific factors, recommending alternatives to optimize medication use, and providing drug information and education to healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. The pharmacist follows applicable regulations and standards for the distribution, control, and records of scheduled and non-scheduled prescription and over-the-counter medications and medical supplies. Indirect patient care work may include pharmacy benefits management, staff development, quality assurance, medication utilization review, and teaching and mentoring students, interns, residents, and other trainees.

In the inpatient clinical pharmacy program, the pharmacist provides clinical services, supports pharmacoeconomic activities, and assesses, monitors, manages, and documents medication therapy for assigned patients. The pharmacist participates in multidisciplinary, team-based care to promote positive patient outcomes; records patient care and clinical interventions in the medical record and other appropriate systems; and provides anticoagulation, pharmacokinetics, and other assigned clinical services. Care for patients on an extended care and rehabilitation teamlet, if assigned, is provided under a Scope of Practice.

In inpatient pharmacy operations, the pharmacist practices in accordance with pharmacy policies and procedures, VA regulations, and federal laws. The pharmacist works with pharmacy and other healthcare professionals to coordinate pharmaceutical care; contributes to work groups that improve inpatient pharmacy processes; organizes workload to complete assigned work during the shift; resolves problems independently when possible; discusses issues constructively using continuous-improvement techniques; and participates in quality improvement, pharmacoeconomic initiatives, committees, and workgroups.

The pharmacist also assists with training pharmacy employees, residents, and Pharm.D. students in coordination with the Clinical Program Manager; develops or assists in developing rotations and learning opportunities; and precepts trainees in advanced clinical practice areas. Learning experiences are to be documented and evaluated appropriately and on time. The position is full-time, with various day and evening tours, some overnight shifts, and assigned weekends and holidays. The position is not virtual; telework is ad hoc only.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary entry-level Graduate Pharmacist appointment may be permitted under specified conditions.
• For GS-12 qualification, either 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.
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with patients and healthcare staff.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• Skill in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Submit a transcript with the application.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug testing if selected for a testing-designated position, physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Complete the online onboarding process and serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.

Nice To Haves

• Residency or two years of inpatient pharmacy experience is preferred.
• Residency or fellowship training in a specialized clinical pharmacy area may substitute for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis, subject to applicable accreditation or comparability standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and operational pharmacy care, primarily for inpatients, and potentially for outpatients.
• Provide coverage for an assigned inpatient team and central inpatient pharmacy, with cross-coverage in other inpatient pharmacy areas as needed.
• Assess, monitor, manage, and document medication therapy for assigned patients.
• Participate in multidisciplinary, patient-focused care through direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers.
• Document patient care and clinical interventions in medical records and other appropriate systems.
• Provide anticoagulation, pharmacokinetics, and other assigned clinical pharmacy services.
• Assess patient-specific medication therapy and recommend alternatives to optimize safe, effective, cost-conscious care.
• Provide drug information and education to healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers.
• Follow regulations and standards governing distribution, control, and records for medications and medical supplies.
• Contribute to inpatient pharmacy work groups and improve pharmacy processes for safety, efficiency, education, and patient-centered care.
• Organize workload to complete work within the assigned shift and resolve problems independently when possible.
• Participate in quality improvement activities, pharmacoeconomic initiatives, committees, and workgroups.
• Assist with training pharmacy employees, residents, and Pharm.D. students in coordination with the Clinical Program Manager.
• Develop or assist in developing rotations and learning opportunities, precept trainees, and document and evaluate learning experiences.
• Contribute to indirect patient care activities such as pharmacy benefits management, staff development, quality assurance, and medication utilization review.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Selected applicants may qualify for additional annual-leave accrual credit based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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