Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - GeriPact

Veterans Health Administration • Mather AFB, CA

12d

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist 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 designs, implements, and monitors therapeutic drug plans to achieve defined outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers. Patient interactions may take place by telephone, video telehealth, or in person. Under an approved scope of practice, the CPS may manage medications and order, perform, review, and analyze laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies needed to monitor therapy. The role includes following up with patients about results, providing comprehensive medication management, documenting histories, assessments, and care plans in the electronic medical record, coordinating appropriate care, and determining when referrals are needed.

The CPS also provides indirect patient care by identifying patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management; reviewing medication regimens for effectiveness, selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and outcomes; and communicating findings and recommendations to the health care team. The specialist obtains medication histories, reconciles medications, monitors and reports medication errors, adverse reactions, allergies, and compliance issues, and documents findings. The role includes attending pharmacy, interdisciplinary, and assigned team meetings; supporting VHA, VISN, and local drug-use criteria; assisting with non-formulary and prior-authorization processes; and providing pharmaceutical care support services such as drug distribution, drug information, and database management.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not a virtual position; ad-hoc telework is available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The full performance level and selection grade are 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.
• Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, with current registration maintained if required for licensure.
• 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 area of clinical expertise.
• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation and required onboarding and pre-employment physical examination.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Must meet seasonal influenza vaccination requirements for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must complete application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period and receive written certification to continue employment after that period.
• Foreign education used to qualify must be supported by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript; education must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• EDRP applicants must meet VHA policy eligibility requirements and submit an application within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of a residency program.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve defined outcomes 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 other diagnostic studies needed to monitor and support drug therapy.
• Follow up with patients about laboratory and test results and discuss therapy plans.
• Provide comprehensive medication management and document relevant history, assessment, and pharmaceutical care plans in the electronic medical record in a timely manner.
• Coordinate appropriate care and determine whether referrals to other providers or services are necessary.
• Identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive medication management using population management reports, initiatives, or local team activities.
• Review medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and therapeutic outcomes.
• Communicate medication-related findings, recommendations, and plans to the health care team.
• Obtain medication histories and reconcile medications using patient and collateral sources; summarize significant findings in the medical record or with the health care team.
• Monitor and report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues, documenting findings according to facility procedures.
• Attend and actively participate in required pharmacy, interdisciplinary, and assigned team meetings.
• Support effective drug-use criteria approved by national VHA PBM, VISN PBM, and local Pharmacoeconomics to support quality and cost-effective care.
• Assist with non-formulary and prior-authorization medication processes for assigned teams as needed.
• Provide pharmaceutical care support services as required, including drug distribution, drug information, and database management.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award amount up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee 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
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree