Pharmacist(Clinical Specialist) - Ambulatory Care Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Ann Arbor, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ambulatory Care Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Specialist works independently at the highest level of clinical practice within the Mental Health Clinic areas of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The incumbent serves as a mid-level provider with an advanced scope of practice, initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy, and consulting on intensive medication therapy management.

The specialist maintains an independent Mental Health Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy practice site and collaborative medication therapy management clinics and services in designated practice areas under a scope of practice. The role includes physical assessment; ordering laboratory and diagnostic tests to manage medication therapy; referring patients to appropriate providers; patient triage; and independently initiating, adjusting, and discontinuing medications. Care may be delivered face-to-face, by telephone or video/telemedicine, through e-consults, chart reviews, shared or drop-in group appointments, group education classes, and secure messaging.

The specialist documents encounters and clinical decisions in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), uses the Pharmacists Achieve Results with Medication Documentation (PhARMD) Tool to track disease states and clinical interventions, and responds to alerts from other members of the health care team. The role includes collaborative case management with registered nurse case/care managers and nurse practitioners, providing medication extensions when a prescribing provider is unavailable, reviewing prior authorization drug requests, and providing professional consultation such as drug information, formulary management, and medication recommendations.

The work schedule is 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., negotiable. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. 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, or meet the stated foreign pharmacy education requirements through FPGEC certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT.
• Hold a full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Be proficient in spoken and written English.
• For GS-13, have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, in addition to the basic requirements.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
• Demonstrate expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for the program area.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve problems, coordinate, and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in the program area or area of clinical expertise.
• Have expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or pharmacy specialty area.
• Demonstrate 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 non-citizen appointment exception applies.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, drug screening if selected for a testing-designated position, and physical examination; participate in seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Complete the required application and onboarding documentation and serve the stated two-year trial period.
• Meet the stated physical capabilities for the work, including frequent hand use and fine motor skills, lifting up to 25 pounds, standing and walking, bending, reaching, and use of a computer keyboard and monitor.

Nice To Haves

• PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency.
• PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice residency.
• Equivalent psychiatric pharmacy practice experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an independent Mental Health Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy practice site and medication therapy management clinics and services within an assigned scope of practice.
• Provide direct patient care through in-person visits, telephone, video/telemedicine, e-consults, chart reviews, shared and drop-in group appointments, group education classes, and secure messaging.
• Perform physical assessments and order laboratory and diagnostic tests needed to manage medication therapy.
• Refer patients to appropriate health care providers and perform patient triage functions.
• Independently initiate, adjust, and discontinue medications for patients within the scope of practice.
• Provide medication extensions when the prescribing provider is unavailable.
• Document encounters and clinical decisions in EHR progress notes and use the PhARMD Tool to track disease states and clinical interventions.
• Respond to alerts from other members of the health care team and maintain collaborative case management relationships with registered nurse case/care managers and nurse practitioners.
• Review prior authorization drug requests for criteria compliance, appropriateness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide professional consultative services, including drug information, formulary management, and medication recommendations.
• Design, implement, assess, monitor, and document therapeutic plans using effective, safe, and economical medication treatments.
• Contribute to budgetary execution and work with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams to support patient-centered outcomes.

Benefits

• Comprehensive 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