Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - GeriPACT

Veterans Health Administration • Stockton, CA

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) serves as a mid-level provider for an assigned health care team, specifically GeriPACT, initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy and consulting on medication therapy management. The specialist provides direct patient care through in-person, telephone, and video telehealth interactions, designing, implementing, and monitoring therapeutic drug plans to achieve defined outcomes. Under an approved scope of practice, the CPS may manage medications, order and assess laboratory tests and diagnostic studies, follow up with patients about results and treatment plans, provide comprehensive medication management, document care in the electronic medical record, coordinate care, and determine when referrals are appropriate.

Indirect care responsibilities include identifying patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management; reviewing medication regimens for effectiveness, selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and outcomes; communicating recommendations to the care team; obtaining medication histories and reconciling medications; and monitoring and reporting medication errors, adverse reactions, allergies, and adherence issues. The CPS participates in pharmacy, interdisciplinary, and assigned team meetings, supports approved drug-use criteria and cost-effective care, assists with non-formulary and prior-authorization processes, and provides pharmacy support services such as drug distribution, drug information, and database management.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The actual grade for this vacancy is GS-13.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification, including the required examinations.
• A full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; required registration must be maintained if applicable.
• For the GS-13 grade determination, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program, in addition to GS-12 requirements.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the program area.
• Ability to solve problems and coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in the program area or clinical specialty.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or pharmacy specialty.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements; selected applicants are subject to drug testing when applicable.
• Must complete the required online onboarding and application documentation, and serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of a residency program.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans through direct interactions with patients and providers on the assigned health care team.
• Initiate, modify, or discontinue medications under an approved scope of practice and provide appropriate follow-up monitoring.
• Order, perform, review, and analyze laboratory tests and diagnostic studies needed to monitor and support drug therapy.
• Follow up with patients about laboratory or test results and discuss therapy plans.
• Provide comprehensive medication management and document relevant history, assessments, and pharmaceutical care plans in the electronic medical record in a timely manner.
• Help coordinate care and determine when referral to another provider or service is appropriate.
• Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management using population management reports, initiatives, or team activities.
• Review medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and therapeutic outcomes.
• Communicate medication review findings, recommendations, and plans to the health care team.
• Obtain medication histories, perform medication reconciliation, and summarize significant findings in the medical record or for the health care team.
• Monitor and report drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues; document findings according to facility procedures.
• Attend and actively participate in required pharmacy, interdisciplinary, and assigned team meetings.
• Support effective drug-use criteria approved by VHA, VISN, and local pharmacy programs to promote quality and cost-effective care.
• Assist with the non-formulary and prior-authorization medication process for assigned teams as needed.
• Participate in pharmaceutical care support services, including drug distribution, drug information, and database management.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for qualifying prior federal work or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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