Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • Memphis, TN

24d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in Pharmacy Service at the Memphis VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) for Mental Health is a licensed pharmacist who provides mental health clinical pharmacy services and consultations in outpatient and inpatient mental health, residential rehabilitation treatment programs, Primary Care–Mental Health Integration, and other mental health care areas. The primary responsibility is comprehensive medication management for Veterans within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), working with interdisciplinary teams on medication reconciliation, therapeutic monitoring, laboratory orders and monitoring, and patient education. The specialist may also support opioid service agreements, review pharmacologic pain treatments, recommend patient-specific changes to improve pain and function and reduce adverse effects, and identify aberrant behaviors related to pharmacologic therapy.

The CPS practices as an advanced provider within an individual scope of practice, providing specialty expertise to providers, pharmacists, nurses, and other disciplines. Duties include evaluating and managing medication therapy, performing physical assessments, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, educating patients and caregivers, supporting discharge planning, and advising the interdisciplinary team on treatment options. The specialist also supervises and trains pharmacy residents and students in mental health, evaluates their performance, and provides in-service presentations to learners and healthcare staff.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval; the potential award is up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years.

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.
• A pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy: a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and/or Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including passing the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT.
• A full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain registration when required for licensure.
• At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12).
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities: oral and written communication to influence clinical and management decisions; expert understanding of applicable regulatory and quality standards; problem-solving and coordination skills to maximize outcomes; expert knowledge in a specialized clinical pharmacy practice area; and advanced ability to monitor and assess medication outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Complete required application and onboarding requirements; males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Serve a two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment after the period.

Nice To Haves

• PGY-1 pharmacy residency experience.
• PGY-2 pharmacy residency, board certification, or relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive medication management to Veterans within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program and other mental health care areas.
• Work with interdisciplinary teams on medication reconciliation, therapeutic monitoring, laboratory ordering and monitoring, and patient education.
• Support opioid service agreements; review pharmacologic pain treatments; recommend patient-specific care to improve pain and functional status, reduce adverse effects, and identify aberrant medication-related behaviors.
• Check inpatient and outpatient medication orders for accuracy, allergies, interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority; identify and resolve prescribing, dispensing, pharmacotherapeutic, and formulary issues; document interventions as needed.
• Dispense controlled substances accurately in accordance with current policies and procedures.
• Provide advanced-practice mental health pharmacy expertise to providers, pharmacists, nurses, and other disciplines within the CPS scope of practice.
• Provide patient care that may include prescribing, initiating, continuing, discontinuing, or changing medication therapy under established formularies or protocols; conducting physical assessments; monitoring medication regimens; ordering and analyzing laboratory tests; adjusting medications; and assisting with medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic conditions.
• Provide drug information and recommendations on treatment alternatives or interventions, taking into account patient response, safety, efficacy, formulary, pharmacoeconomics, adverse reactions, allergies, and disease states; communicate relevant information and changes to the interdisciplinary team.
• Prepare patients for discharge by evaluating medications, ordering necessary medications, and educating patients or caregivers.
• Provide timely, accurate, and professional oral and written consultations to healthcare professionals about drug therapy selection and management, including drug-induced problems.
• Design patient-specific therapeutic regimens, including therapeutic endpoints, medication and related therapy selection, and dosage regimens.
• Supervise and train pharmacy residents and students in mental health; evaluate them based on performance, presentations, and examinations.
• Provide in-service presentations on mental health topics to students, residents, and professional healthcare staff, and maintain an organized acute care rotation for pharmacy learners.
• Perform clinical cross-coverage and assist in other patient care areas as needed to maintain pharmacy services.
• Provide education to staff in mental health care settings.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior 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