Clinical Pharmacist

Veterans Health Administration • Saint Louis, MO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist provides inpatient pharmaceutical services and outpatient prescription counseling and dispensing overnight at the Jefferson Barracks Division. This position handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with applicable local, VISN, and national policies and regulations. Work is full-time on an overnight schedule of seven days on and seven days off. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

The pharmacist reviews and verifies medication orders, processes and fills prescriptions, advises clinical staff on medication therapy, and supports safe and effective patient care. The role also includes medication teaching and consultation documentation in the electronic record, controlled-substance security, drug information and education, and serving as a preceptor or mentor for pharmacy students and residents. The full-performance level is GS-12; selection may be at GS-11 or GS-12.

Requirements

• Graduate from an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the required FPGEE and TOEFL iBT results.
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated temporary Graduate Pharmacist exception and grade-level restrictions.
• Demonstrate proficiency 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; the GS-11 grade determination requires no experience beyond the basic requirements.
• Have knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Be able to communicate orally and in writing with patients and health care staff.
• Know laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• Have skill in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Be able to distinguish basic colors.
• Meet stated employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship subject to the VA policy exception, applicable background/security checks, pre-employment physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Previous VA inpatient or outpatient experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform inpatient pharmaceutical services and outpatient prescription counseling and dispensing.
• Handle routine medication-related activities in accordance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Review, interpret, and verify medication orders for appropriateness; process and fill orders.
• Make recommendations to clinical staff regarding medication therapy to support safe and effective care.
• Accurately fill or check medication dispensing units, prescriptions, and aseptically prepared intravenous admixtures and other aseptically prepared pharmaceuticals.
• Use VistA and CPRS for order entry and completion.
• Review patients’ medications, allergies, laboratory results, and other pertinent medical-record information to identify and resolve medication-related problems; contact providers as appropriate.
• Document recommendations, interventions, patient medication teaching sessions, and consultations in the electronic record.
• Provide refill extensions and partial medication supplies; take medication and health histories; perform medication reconciliation.
• Provide drug information and education to health care personnel, patients, and their representatives.
• Maintain strict security of controlled substances by reviewing orders, issues, and receipts to prevent alterations, forgeries, and pilferage.
• Assist with formulary management, including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews, and medication usage evaluations.
• Document and assess adverse drug events and assist in medical emergencies.
• Provide oversight of technical staff in medication distribution.
• Act as a preceptor or mentor for pharmacy student and resident rotations.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package; employees and their families may have access to benefits, with eligibility depending on position type.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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