Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Home-Based Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Savannah, GA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist develops, organizes, coordinates, and manages clinical pharmacy functions for assigned Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) teams. The specialist participates in multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings, conferences, and other meetings, making recommendations and providing consultation on pharmacy-related matters. The role shares responsibility for clinic management, including maintaining clinic grids and utilization, managing missed opportunities and cancellations, and restructuring clinic operations as needed to maintain patient care in response to staffing needs.

The specialist provides clinical coverage to assigned HBPC interdisciplinary teams and regions, as well as pharmacist-run Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT) and other clinics as assigned. Working independently within a defined scope of practice, the specialist may initiate, change, and discontinue prescription and over-the-counter medications, devices, and supplies in an outpatient clinical pharmacy setting. In collaboration with the appropriate provider, the specialist may also provide advanced medication services outside that scope without provider co-signature, excluding controlled substances.

Distributive duties include verifying computer prescriptions, directing pharmacy technician support when applicable, coordinating medication orders with central pharmacy or CMOP, and entering non-emergent prescriptions for mail-out from CMOP. Ninety-day supplies are encouraged for maintenance medications. The specialist maintains the clinical knowledge needed to serve HBPC and PACT teams and takes ownership of administrative activities, including timely consult review, accurate completion and closure of encounters, independent resolution of provider and patient-care issues, and ensuring appropriate coverage for clinical services.

The position has a Monday–Friday schedule of either 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; the schedule may change based on agency needs. Ad hoc telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval. The full-performance level is GS-13.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with a BS Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT requirements.
• A full, current, unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required for licensure.
• One year of experience equivalent to GS-12, including relevant pharmacist duties such as medication-order review, medication therapy recommendations, medication reconciliation, drug information, formulary activities, and adverse drug event documentation and assessment.
• 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.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Valid, unrestricted state-issued driver's license and a clean driving record report from the DMV during onboarding.
• Meet pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, physical examination, drug screening when applicable, influenza vaccination, and required onboarding and application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of an ASHP-accredited pharmacy residency program with at least 50% of practice in an ambulatory care setting.
• Current or previous experience providing direct patient care under a primary care scope of practice.
• Previous or current experience in home-based primary care.

Responsibilities

• Develop, organize, coordinate, and manage clinical pharmacy functions for assigned teams.
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings, conferences, and other meetings; provide pharmacy recommendations and consultation.
• Share responsibility for clinic management, including maintaining clinic grids and utilization, managing missed opportunities and cancellations, and restructuring clinic operations as necessary.
• Provide clinical coverage for assigned HBPC interdisciplinary teams and regions, pharmacist-run PACT clinics, and other assigned clinics.
• Initiate, change, and discontinue prescription and over-the-counter medications, devices, and supplies within the defined scope of practice.
• Provide additional advanced medication services in collaboration with the appropriate provider, outside the defined scope when permitted and excluding controlled substances.
• Verify computer prescriptions for patients in assigned or other designated clinic areas.
• Direct pharmacy technician support when applicable.
• Coordinate medication orders with central pharmacy or CMOP and enter non-emergent prescriptions for CMOP mail-out; encourage 90-day maintenance supplies.
• Maintain clinical knowledge necessary to provide pharmacy services to HBPC and PACT teams.
• Review consults promptly, complete and close encounters accurately, resolve provider and patient-care issues independently, and ensure coverage for clinical services.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential awards up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and program approval.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position status and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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