Pharmacist(Clinical Specialist)
About The Position
The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) practices independently at the highest level of clinical practice under an individual scope of practice. As a member of an interdisciplinary medical team, the CPS provides direct patient care, serves as a mid-level provider who can initiate, modify, or discontinue medication therapy, and consults on medication therapy management. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility requirements and timely application. EDRP approval, award amounts of up to $200,000, and eligibility periods of one to five years are determined by the program office after review. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized. This is a GS-13 position. The selected employee must meet the stated pharmacist education and licensure requirements and demonstrate the required experience and clinical competencies. The position includes physical demands such as lifting and carrying, prolonged standing, walking, pushing, reaching, bending, kneeling, and climbing, along with specified vision, hearing, speech, dexterity, coordination, and emotional-stability requirements.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Graduation from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; alternatively, foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT requirements.
- Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacy license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required for licensure.
- One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12), including the listed pharmacy practice duties.
- 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.
- For locations in Puerto Rico, proficiency in basic written and spoken Spanish is a selective placement factor.
- Meet the position’s pre-employment, security, physical examination, and vaccination requirements, and complete required onboarding and application documentation.
- For Puerto Rico locations, evidence of Spanish proficiency must be reflected in the resume.
Responsibilities
- Order, perform, review, and analyze laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies needed to monitor and support patients’ drug therapy.
- Follow up with patients about laboratory or test results and discuss therapy plans, including medication changes and referrals to primary care or specialty providers.
- Adjust medication regimens based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.
- Educate patients and caregivers about medication changes, new prescriptions, and therapeutic plans at key transition points to support understanding and compliance.
- Review medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential interactions, and therapeutic outcomes.
- Communicate medication-related findings to prescribers and recommend appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans.
- Monitor and report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues; document findings according to facility procedures.
- Participate in the VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VAADERS).
- Advise medical staff, nursing staff, technicians, and students on drug use, interactions, overdoses, and compliance.
- Research drug information using appropriate references.
Benefits
- Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): eligible participants may receive student loan payment reimbursement of up to $200,000, subject to program approval and eligibility requirements.
- Federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
- Annual leave accrual may be eligible for credit based on prior federal work or military service, subject to approval.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
