Facility Program Manager - Pharmacy Informatics

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Meade, SD

3d

About The Position

The Facility Program Manager for Pharmacy Informatics collects and analyzes technology and information to improve clinical care, support patient safety, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of medication management and Pharmacy services. The role coordinates Pharmacy-related information systems and automation, supports EHR operations and improvements, and works with facility, regional, and national Pharmacy and technology stakeholders.

The position provides administrative, technical, analytical, and automated data-processing support to Pharmacy Service. It coordinates system implementations, testing, quality assurance, troubleshooting, database and drug-file maintenance, ordering-menu management, and related EHR changes. The manager also develops and uses databases, dashboards, and reports; supports policy and procedure compliance; and provides training to Pharmacy and other healthcare staff. The position may represent Pharmacy Service on relevant committees and may precept Pharmacy trainees.

This is a full-time position with a Monday–Friday schedule; the tour of duty is determined by location. Telework is ad hoc, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for recruiting qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Graduation from an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the required FPGEE and TOEFL iBT components.
• Full, current, unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-13: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, in addition to the GS-12 requirements.
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with patients and healthcare staff.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards for distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• Skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• 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 pass a pre-employment physical examination and applicable background/security investigation; applicants selected for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Must meet Selective Service registration requirements where applicable and complete online onboarding and application-document requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, with continued employment subject to written certification that it advances the public interest.
• A transcript must be submitted with the application; foreign education used for qualification requires the specified foreign-equivalency documentation.

Responsibilities

• Act as liaison among facility Pharmacy Service, HAS Pharmacy, VISN Pharmacy, national Pharmacy Benefits Management, OEHRM, OI&T, Health Systems Informatics, BioMed, and other service lines on Pharmacy informatics and systems matters.
• Evaluate Pharmacy programs, operating systems, automation systems, and EHR systems for operability, performance, and improvement opportunities.
• Manage EHR troubleshooting, Pharmacy Service tickets, and change requests; assist with OI&T ticket entry, tracking, and resolution.
• Provide administrative, technical, analytical, and automated data-processing support to Pharmacy Service, including participation in information-management decisions and preparation of requested information.
• Coordinate changes to Pharmacy operating systems and ensure Pharmacy systems are integrated, operational, and resources are used effectively; perform testing, evaluation, and quality assurance as appropriate.
• Collaborate with clinical application coordinators, Health Informatics, Pharmacy staff, and other healthcare staff to develop, implement, and maintain medication power plans, order menus, clinical decision support menus, reminders, order checks, notes, templates, and consults or referrals as permitted in the EHR.
• Coordinate implementation and verification of new Pharmacy operating-system packages, program development and enhancements, troubleshooting, and problem prevention.
• Maintain facility-level Pharmacy drug files in collaboration with the national drug-file team and manage EHR ordering menus to support intuitive, safe, effective, cost-conscious prescribing consistent with formularies and applicable initiatives.
• Participate in formulary conversions, cost-savings and cost-avoidance initiatives, therapeutic substitutions, and other assigned projects.
• Maintain Pharmacy computer programs and database files, including staff and provider profiles, allergies, and drug interactions; collaborate to establish provider profiles and prescribing credentials and approvals.
• Design or use information databases, dashboards, and reports to obtain clinical and administrative data for Pharmacy Service evaluation.
• Assist in reviewing and revising Pharmacy Service and facility policies, procedures, protocols, and SOPs to support compliance with facility policies, VHA requirements, and regulatory requirements.
• Educate and train Pharmacy Service and other healthcare system staff on Pharmacy packages, automation, and Pharmacy-related EHR changes and updates.
• Represent Pharmacy Service on assigned committees, subcommittees, workgroups, or taskforces relating to Pharmacy Informatics.
• May precept Pharmacy trainees, including Pharmacy residents and students, on Pharmacy Informatics topics.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits are available to eligible employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

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