Facility Program Manager - Pharmacy Medication Safety

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Meade, SD

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Facility Program Manager for Pharmacy Medication Safety plans, coordinates, and manages the Pharmacy Service medication safety program. The role collects and analyzes information and technology to improve clinical care, protect patient safety, and make medication management and Pharmacy services more efficient and effective. The manager collaborates with Pharmacy staff, healthcare staff, facility clinical leadership, Pharmacy leadership, and the facility Patient Safety Manager to identify safety and process-improvement opportunities, implement changes, assess their effects, and resolve medication safety issues.

The position reviews medication safety events and processes, including reports in the Joint Patient Safety Reporting system, and uses investigations and tracer activities to identify causes, system and performance issues, and quality-improvement solutions. It reviews information from VA ADERS, FDA MedWatch, and relevant safety organizations to develop strategies and educate staff. The manager also assists with medication-use evaluations; reviews and revises policies and procedures for regulatory and organizational compliance; coordinates responses to medication and supply recalls and safety notifications; and represents Pharmacy Service on medication-safety committees and workgroups. The role may include precepting pharmacy trainees.

When needed, the position performs clinical pharmacist duties to support safe, appropriate medication use and rational medication therapy. It provides medication-related education and information to patients and healthcare professionals, communicates about medication selection and management, supports pharmacy training, keeps current with developments in pharmacy practice, completes required training and policy reviews, and maintains required pharmacist credentials.

This is a full-time, non-virtual position with an ad-hoc telework option. The stated work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The position is at the GS-13 level. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate from an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and/or Doctor of Pharmacy degree; foreign graduates must provide the specified FPGEC certification.
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Meet the GS-13 experience requirement: one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, in addition to the GS-12 requirements.
• Have knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Be able to communicate orally and in writing with patients and healthcare staff.
• Know laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
• Be skilled in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Be able to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Have expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the program area.
• Be able to solve problems and coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in the program or clinical specialty area.
• Have expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or pharmacy.
• Have advanced skill in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except where the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens applies.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and pass the pre-employment physical examination.
• Meet pre-employment drug-screening requirements for testing-designated positions and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete required application documents and the online onboarding process; provide acceptable identification for employment requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated federal employment conditions.
• Submit a transcript with the application; qualifying education must be from a recognized accredited institution. Foreign education used to qualify requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.
• Maintain current pharmacist licensure, registration, and certification as required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and manage the Pharmacy Service medication safety program.
• Collaborate with Pharmacy and healthcare staff to identify process-improvement opportunities, implement changes, and evaluate their effectiveness and impact.
• Collect, analyze, and review medication safety event and process data, including reports submitted through the Joint Patient Safety Reporting system and other platforms.
• Investigate safety events and conduct tracer activities to identify causes, system issues, performance issues, and clinical judgment concerns; develop quality-improvement solutions with staff and leadership.
• Revise policies, procedures, protocols, and standard operating procedures to reflect changes, and provide education and training as needed.
• Review information and data from VA ADERS and FDA MedWatch for medication-safety improvement opportunities.
• Review guidance from NCPS, PBM, VA MedSAFE, ISMP, and other sources to develop practice strategies and provide staff education and training.
• Work with Pharmacy leadership, facility clinical leadership, and the facility Patient Safety Manager to resolve medication-safety issues and minimize prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring errors and adverse events.
• Assist with medication-use evaluations and analyze data to recommend improvements to prescribing and medication use.
• Help ensure Pharmacy Service and facility policies and procedures comply with facility requirements, VHA directives and handbooks, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with Pharmacy procurement staff and management on medication and supply recalls, patient-safety announcements, and notifications.
• Use continuous quality-improvement principles to identify problems and implement corrective actions and improvement initiatives.
• Represent Pharmacy Service on medication-safety committees, subcommittees, workgroups, and task forces, including presenting items to the Safe Medication Use Subcommittee and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• May precept pharmacy residents and students on medication-safety topics or practice areas.
• Perform clinical pharmacist duties as needed to support safe, appropriate medication use and rational medication therapy.
• Communicate with healthcare professionals about medication therapy selection and management, including formulary selection and pharmacokinetic monitoring and dosing.
• Provide medication information and education to patients and healthcare professionals.
• Provide feedback to Pharmacy Supervisors about staff education needs and participate in Pharmacy training for students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff.
• Conduct on-the-job training and provide guidance through designated programs.
• Keep current with pharmacy practice and medication-therapy developments through professional literature and continuing education.
• Complete required VA-specific training and review new and revised facility and service-line policies and procedures by established deadlines.
• Maintain current pharmacist licensure, registration, and certification as required.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; 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