Clinical Pharmacist - Inpatient Pharmacy

Veterans Health Administration • Cleveland, OH

11h • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting an Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist to interpret medication orders, review computerized medication profiles, resolve medication-related problems with prescribers, dispense medications, and provide pharmaceutical information and guidance to patients and medical center staff. The pharmacist performs medication screening and order review, makes therapeutic recommendations, participates in clinical rotations and rounds, and supports safe, effective medication therapy for inpatients and outpatients. The role also includes preparation and dispensing of a variety of dosage forms, training and oversight of pharmacy learners and technical staff, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and local pharmacy policies. Work is assigned in general terms by the pharmacy supervisor, and the pharmacist keeps pharmacy management informed of issues and concerns.

This is a GS-12 full-performance-level position. The work schedule is 07:00/08:00–15:30/16:30, with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. The position requires regular physical exertion, including prolonged standing, lifting and carrying pharmaceutical supplies weighing at least 50 pounds, and bending or stooping.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for appointment when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree; qualifying foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification.
• Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-12, 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.
• Must meet VA pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, required onboarding and identification documentation, and pre-employment physical evaluation; applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete the application requirements listed in the announcement.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.
• Must be physically and mentally able to perform the duties, including prolonged standing, lifting and carrying supplies weighing at least 50 pounds, and bending or stooping.

Nice To Haves

• Three or more years of inpatient pharmacy experience.
• Completion of a PGY1 pharmacy residency.

Responsibilities

• Screen patient profiles for appropriateness, duplication, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, incompatibilities, and other medication-related problems; recommend changes to prescribers when appropriate.
• Provide drug information to physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, patients, and others, tailored to age and physical status.
• Participate in clinical rotations with the medicine service as needed and attend daily rounds.
• Review and evaluate physician medication orders for appropriateness based on medication profiles, medical history, age, and physical status, including dosage errors, interactions, allergies, contraindications, formulary availability, and stop dates.
• Consult with prescribers or other providers when appropriate; document recommendations and interventions.
• Prepare, compound, dispense, and label pharmaceuticals for inpatients and outpatients, including parenteral, oral, topical, sterile intravenous, and diagnostic products.
• Precept or train pharmacy interns, pharmacy students, and technician students.
• Assist with supervision of technicians, interns, students, and volunteers; check and evaluate dispensing activities and provide oversight of technical staff in medication distribution.
• Support medication-related activities such as medication reconciliation, taking health and medication histories, refill extensions and partial supplies, formulary management, medication usage evaluations, and adverse drug event assessment.
• Assist in medical emergencies and keep pharmacy management informed of issues and concerns.
• Perform duties in accordance with Medical Center and Pharmacy Service guidelines, policies, agreements, and applicable federal laws and regulations.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for qualifying birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
• Potential childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

What This Job Offers

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