Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Pain Management

Veterans Health Administration • Washington, DC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pain Management Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) assists pain clinic and primary care providers in co-managing high-risk patients treated with opioids for chronic, non-malignant pain. The position specializes in drug therapy management and monitoring for patients with chronic pain. The role includes clinical assessment and follow-up, medication and laboratory review, provider consultation, patient counseling, research, education, quality improvement, and pharmacy operations. The position is based in the Washington DC VA and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual.

The pharmacist evaluates medication therapy and orders, coordinates with providers and other care team members, provides drug information, and promotes appropriate pain-management strategies. The specialist also supports interdisciplinary care, research and education, supervises and precepts pharmacy residents and students as assigned, and participates in pharmacy and pain-management committees and quality improvement activities.

This is a GS-13 position. Applicants must meet VA pharmacist education and licensure requirements and have one year of experience equivalent to GS-12. Preferred qualifications include completion of PGY-1 and PGY-2 residencies in Pain Management, specialty board certification, and at least three years of experience. Physical requirements include visual acuity, hearing, clear speech and manual dexterity; the position may also involve extended walking or standing, bending, reaching, carrying, lifting, pulling and pushing.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• A baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or Doctor of Pharmacy degree 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Successful completion of pre-employment requirements, including a background/security investigation and physical examination; applicants selected for testing-designated VA employment are subject to urinalysis.
• Registration with Selective Service, if applicable to male applicants born after December 31, 1959.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
• Completion of the required online onboarding and application documentation.
• Service of a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, manual dexterity, and ability to distinguish basic colors; duties may involve prolonged walking or standing, stooping, sitting, bending, reaching, carrying, lifting, pulling and pushing.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of a PGY-1 residency in Pain Management.
• Completion of a PGY-2 residency in Pain Management.
• Specialty board certification.
• At least three years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitor medication therapy for chronic pain, including conducting initial assessments and follow-up clinic visits.
• For new patients, initiate patient agreements, review charts, take histories, order and evaluate laboratory tests, and perform medication reconciliation.
• Recommend medication therapy changes to other team members to optimize treatment, prevent and manage adverse drug events, and reduce medication errors.
• Provide drug information to physicians, nurses, trainees and other health care professionals.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care conferences related to the Pain Management program, including SCAN-ECHO.
• Promote rational pain-management strategies using current VA resources and help develop pain-management protocols.
• Provide patients and family members with information about medication regimens and counsel them on appropriate use and expected adverse effects.
• Supervise and precept pharmacy residents and students as assigned.
• Present lectures and conferences to medical, nursing and pharmacy staff and students on pain medication therapy.
• Participate in pharmacy research and support medical-center human research involving drugs.
• Help coordinate staff and resident research projects, presentations and publications.
• Serve as a liaison among the Pain Management program, primary care providers and the outpatient pharmacy.
• Participate in quality-improvement activities that assess the effectiveness of pain-management services.
• Conduct pharmacoeconomic analysis of unrelieved pain, including prolonged length of stay and unanticipated outpatient visits.
• Ensure appropriate use of high-cost drugs through non-formulary reviews and conduct drug-utilization reviews to monitor prescribing practices.
• Serve as a member of the Washington DC VA pain-management committee.
• Evaluate physician orders for appropriateness based on patient medication profiles, enter information into the computer system, and dispense medications and supplies.
• Clarify new medication orders with physicians and nurses.
• Follow medical-center and department policies and regulations; treat patients, colleagues, facility employees and visitors respectfully; respond to service needs courteously and promptly; and support team productivity and quality.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual-leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption or foster-care placement of a child.
• Potential child-care subsidy after 60 days for eligible full-time employees and qualifying families, up to 25% of eligible costs and a stated monthly maximum.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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