Clinical Pharmacist (Inpatient Pharmacy)

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist works primarily in inpatient and satellite inpatient pharmacies, providing inpatient care and verifying orders from clinics and procedural areas. The pharmacist applies professional pharmacy and technician knowledge and skills to distributive and clinical processes that provide outcome-driven pharmaceutical care to Veterans. The role ensures compliance with local, VHA, DEA, and other applicable regulations; monitors drug therapy; provides professional advice and consultative services; educates colleagues, patients, and families; documents care in the medical record; and uses new knowledge and technology to improve pharmaceutical care.

This position is assigned to a graveyard tour: four 10-hour shifts, Saturday through Tuesday, from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., with occasional holidays. The full performance level is GS-12, and selections may be made at GS-11 or GS-12. The position is not virtual, and telework is not available.

The pharmacist provides clinical services including order review and verification, medication reconciliation, medication counseling, medication therapy management, formulary and cost-effective medication support, patient-safety and quality-improvement activities, and participation in medical emergencies. The position also supports pharmacy technical staff and operations, educates and precepts learners and healthcare personnel, and assists with pharmacy-based research and investigational drug activities.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for noncitizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
• Graduate from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the required examinations.
• Hold a full, current, unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated temporary Graduate Pharmacist exception.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For GS-12, have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. GS-11 has no experience, education, or licensure requirements beyond the basic requirements, subject to the licensure exception.
• Demonstrate knowledge of professional pharmacy practice and laws, regulations, and accreditation standards for drug distribution, controlled substances, and pharmacy security.
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills with patients and healthcare staff.
• Demonstrate skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug screening, background/security investigation, physical examination, influenza vaccination requirements, and onboarding requirements.
• Meet the specified physical requirements, including heavy lifting over 45 pounds, moderate carrying, reaching, hand and finger use, walking, standing, bending, vision, depth perception, color distinction, hearing, and mental and emotional stability.
• Be able to work amid the listed environmental factors, including constant noise, dust, extensive keyboard and mouse use, protracted or irregular hours, and working alone and closely with others.
• Submit an unofficial transcript showing the required degree or program and the specified identifying and completion information.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of recent inpatient experience in a hospital setting.
• Strong clinical judgment and effective decision-making skills.
• Experience calculating complex medication infusions.
• Inpatient pharmacy experience at a medical center hospital with an advanced inpatient pharmacy automation system such as Pyxis or Omnicell.
• Experience with critical care or emergency medication infusions.
• Working knowledge of USP 797 and USP 800 sterile compounding standards.

Responsibilities

• Promote pharmaceutical care for Veterans in medical center clinics and inpatient wards.
• Dispense prescriptions and maintain accountability for controlled substances and high-cost drugs.
• Review, interpret, and verify medication orders for clinical appropriateness; review medical records, medications, allergies, laboratory results, and other relevant information; and contact providers as appropriate.
• Collaborate with providers on medication therapy, including anticoagulation, renal dosing, pharmacokinetic monitoring and dose adjustment, pain, electrolyte and glycemic management, parenteral nutrition, IV-to-oral conversions, sedation and analgesia, and antimicrobial stewardship.
• Complete medication reconciliation at admission, transfer, and discharge; update medication profiles and document transitions of care.
• Counsel patients on medications and verify understanding of purpose, proper use, expected outcomes, and refill or renewal processes.
• Promote cost-effective use of formulary medications and supplies and participate in cost-saving initiatives.
• Participate in quality-improvement and patient-safety programs, including incident and adverse-event reporting, medication-use evaluations, drug alerts and recalls, drug-shortage mitigation, clinical performance measures, and patient-outcome projects.
• Discontinue duplicate prescriptions received from other VA sites and notify those sites when appropriate.
• Assist in medical emergencies, including participation in code blue events.
• Train, educate, and precept pharmacy residents and/or students; educate coworkers, medical students, residents, nurses, other professional staff, patients, families, and caregivers; and communicate drug information to healthcare providers.
• Support and oversee technical staff in medication distribution and, when assigned, serve as Pharmacist-in-Charge in a supervisor's absence.
• Assist with developing quality and safety improvement initiatives, collecting and analyzing data, and developing policies and procedures to streamline drug distribution.
• Assist with the development and implementation of pharmacy-based, patient-focused research studies.
• Dispense investigational drugs and maintain their accountability records as needed; provide investigational drug information and counsel patients when appropriate.
• Adhere to local, VHA, DEA, and other applicable regulatory policies and requirements; document care in the medical record and integrate new knowledge and technology to improve care.

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, subject to the stated qualifying circumstances.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may continue into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual-leave accrual credit based on prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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