Clinical Pharmacist

Veterans Health Administration • Jackson, MS

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist interprets provider orders, dispenses and prepares medications, compounds specialized preparations, and counsels patients on medication administration and storage. The role performs pharmaceutical duties across areas of an active medical center and provides oversight of technicians, pharmacy residents, students, and other non-professional employees in an assigned area. The pharmacist maintains day-to-day workflow, ensures quality and compliance with pharmacy policies, and exercises professional technical authority over matters handled individually.

The pharmacist reviews prescriptions and medication profiles for accuracy, eligibility, allergies, availability, therapeutic appropriateness, dosing, route, timing, interactions, incompatibilities, and duplication. The position supports appropriate, cost-effective formulary use, recommends therapy changes, consults with providers and nursing staff, and participates in medication reviews and multidisciplinary rounds when assigned. It also supports controlled-substance and investigational-drug accountability, medication procurement and distribution, compounding, data processing, and other operational pharmacy functions.

The work schedule is seven days on and seven days off, starting every other Monday and ending Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; the schedule may change according to facility needs. Telework and virtual work are not available. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks and normal safety precautions, but may involve several simultaneous tasks and stressful situations. Physical activities may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Personal protective equipment and annual TB screening or testing may be required.

The full performance level is GS-12; selection may be made at GS-11 or GS-12. Applicants need an ACPE-accredited pharmacy degree and a full, current, unrestricted pharmacy license, subject to the stated temporary graduate-pharmacist exception. For GS-12, candidates must also have either one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, and demonstrate the listed knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduation 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.) degree.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated temporary appointment exception for eligible non-licensed graduate pharmacists.
• For GS-12: either one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• For GS-12: knowledge of professional pharmacy practice; ability to communicate orally and in writing with patients and health care staff; knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards concerning distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security; and skill in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Pass required pre-employment drug screening, physical evaluation/examination, and background/security investigation; complete onboarding and application-document requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and meet applicable identification and Selective Service requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Nice To Haves

• Inpatient and outpatient pharmacy experience.
• Knowledge of 797/800.
• PADR processing experience.

Responsibilities

• Interpret provider orders and prescriptions; review them for accuracy, eligibility, allergies, availability, and therapeutic appropriateness.
• Review patient medication profiles and contact providers to make authorized changes to orders or prescriptions as required.
• Dispense and fill prescriptions and orders accurately and promptly; counsel patients on appropriate medication administration and storage.
• Compound and dispense extemporaneous preparations, including technically complex preparations, and develop special formulas as required.
• Directly oversee technicians, pharmacy residents, students, and other non-professional employees in assigned areas; maintain smooth daily workflow and take responsibility for supervised work.
• Inspect completed technician work to assure quality; oversee unit-dose cart filling, IV admixture preparation, and prescription filling.
• Follow pharmacy administrative requirements and policies concerning narcotic control, formulary, investigational drugs, procurement, dispensing and storage, security, and infection control.
• Provide required collateral documentation and maintain accurate controlled-substance and investigational-drug administrative records and accountability.
• Consult with providers, nurses, medical staff, pharmacy staff, residents, and students on drug use, interactions, overdoses, compliance, and investigational drugs; research drug information using appropriate references.
• Assess medication regimens for appropriate diagnosis, dose, route, interval, interactions, incompatibilities, and therapy duplication; recommend changes based on standards of care and patient response.
• Manage formulary use and ensure non-formulary medication use is appropriate under VA policy and standards of care, considering cost-effectiveness and individual patient needs.
• Review medications on medical and surgical units and the CLC when assigned; attend multidisciplinary rounds and other medication-review meetings as assigned.
• Process CLC pass medications and enter pharmacy orders into VISTA Pharmacy Programs when assigned; perform related data-processing tasks such as printing order lists, labels, and medication profiles.
• Coordinate prepackaging, labeling, stocking, and medication distribution to maintain an uninterrupted supply.
• Recommend policy and procedure changes to the Chief, Pharmacy Service, as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with peers and subordinates, including in stressful circumstances.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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