Clinical Pharmacist

Veterans Health Administration • Iron Mountain, MI

23d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist position is at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The primary function is to ensure safe and appropriate medication use by evaluating drug therapy based on patient-specific factors, individualizing therapy, dispensing medications, and providing drug information. The position’s full performance level is GS-12; selection may be at GS-11 or GS-12.

The pharmacist provides clinical pharmacy services, reviews patient records and laboratory data, evaluates prescriptions and medication profiles, documents provider interventions, and advises physicians, nursing staff, and patients on medication-related matters. The role also includes sterile preparation of IV medications, chemotherapy, and hyperalimentation; processing community care prescriptions; and supporting medication reconciliation, patient education, and dispensing during admissions and discharges.

Dispensing duties include verifying prescriptions, dosage, quantities, directions, allergies, and medication lists; providing written medication information and counseling; inspecting technicians’ work and optimizing workflow; and maintaining prescription records. Administrative work includes identifying and resolving drug-related problems, advising the Chief of Pharmacy Service on budget, procurement, and policy matters, monitoring stock needs, accounting for controlled substances, and assisting with pharmacy projects and reports.

The schedule includes rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position may involve exposure to communicable diseases and, when handling antineoplastic drugs, hazardous or toxic agents. Safety precautions are required when working with drugs and chemicals.

Requirements

• Graduate from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, or meet the stated foreign pharmacy degree certification requirements.
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted pharmacy license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated exception for eligible entry-level graduate pharmacists.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For GS-12: Have one year of experience at or equivalent to GS-11, or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• For GS-12: Demonstrate knowledge of professional pharmacy practice; oral and written communication skills with patients and health care staff; knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards for drug distribution, control, and pharmacy security; and skill in monitoring drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and diagnostic parameters.
• Meet U.S. citizenship and other applicable federal employment conditions, including background/security investigation, pre-employment requirements, and physical examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Select drug therapy based on pharmaceutical principles, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and monitor efficacy, side effects, and clinical outcomes.
• Review patient charts, laboratory data, allergies, and other relevant information when processing prescription orders.
• Document interventions with providers in patient charts.
• Provide medication information to physicians, nursing staff, and patients, including guidance on storage, stability, dosing, interactions, and other medication inquiries.
• Provide professional guidance on complex, unusual, and routine pharmaceutical problems.
• Aseptically prepare IV medications, chemotherapy, and hyperalimentation using laminar flow hoods and biological safety cabinets in accordance with medical center policies.
• Process community care prescriptions (CCNRX).
• Coordinate medication reconciliation, patient education, and medication dispensing as part of facility admission and discharge processes.
• Review active and pending medication orders and profiles for interactions, quantity, days’ supply, dosage, and correct and understandable directions.
• Provide patients with written medication education, required medication guides, updated medication lists, and allergy verification.
• Verify and update patients’ lists of non-VA medications based on information provided by patients.
• Counsel patients on medication indications, directions, techniques, precautions, side effects, storage, interactions, and missed doses.
• Inspect assigned technicians’ work and ensure pharmacy workflow is optimized.
• Issue and complete written records of prescriptions filled for pharmacy files.
• Identify, prevent, and resolve drug-related problems and notify the supervisor.
• Make recommendations to the Chief of Pharmacy Service regarding budget, procurement, and policy.
• Review and record pharmacy stock needs and collaborate with pharmacy procurement.
• Issue and account for controlled substances according to medical center policy and VHA directives.
• Assist with special assignments, reports, projects, and pharmacy-related problem solving.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval, with a potential award of up to $200,000 over one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal work or military service, subject to prior approval.

What This Job Offers

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