Pharmacist(Clinical Specialist)

Veterans Health Administration • Murfreesboro, TN

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) in Primary Care uses specialized expertise to support the goals and objectives of medicine and specialty services and optimize patient care. The CPP oversees clinical pharmacy activities and consultations in assigned Primary Care settings, serves as the local VAMC subject matter expert for Primary Care, and acts as a liaison between Primary Care services and Pharmacy Service. The position reports directly to the Primary Care/Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Programs Supervisor and requires minimal supervision.

The practitioner supports medication selection and safe, effective drug therapy; develops and maintains clinical pharmacy programs; participates in quality assurance and medication-use improvement activities; and evaluates drug literature, particularly literature concerning medications used in Primary Care. This is a full-time position. The work schedule is based on service needs. Telework is ad hoc; the position is not virtual.

Requirements

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree; foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC Certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT requirements.
• Full, current, unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required for licensure.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• One year of experience equivalent to GS-12.
• 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, coordinate, and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty pharmacy area.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
• U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Meet VA pre-employment conditions, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, physical examination, influenza vaccination program participation, onboarding, and required application documentation.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and written certification conditions.

Nice To Haves

• Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency, plus three years of practice with a substantial patient-care component acting as a mid-level provider in Primary Care.
• Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completion of both an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency and PGY-2 Ambulatory Care residency focused on chronic disease-state management, plus three additional years of practice with a substantial patient-care component serving as a mid-level provider in Primary Care.
• Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completion of both an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency and an ASHP PGY-2 Specialty Ambulatory Care residency with a substantial patient-care component during residency, serving as a mid-level provider in Primary Care.

Responsibilities

• Attend and participate in team meetings, conferences, and other meetings, making recommendations and providing consultation on pharmacy-related matters to Primary Care.
• Provide written and verbal consultation to assist other providers with rational medication selection.
• Plan, develop, and maintain effective clinical pharmacy programs, implementing rational, cost-effective drug therapy to improve patient outcomes.
• Provide medication information to medicine and specialty team members as required.
• Participate in developing criteria for drug utilization evaluations, data collection, trending reports, and other quality assurance activities to support appropriate and safe drug use.
• Assist with medication-use improvement strategies, including developing quick order sets, clinical reminders, patient and provider education handouts, and pharmacotherapy protocols.
• Promote medication-use safety and efficacy by reporting adverse drug effects, medication errors, and other quality issues.
• Analyze data to measure performance, track trends, and implement quality improvement strategies.
• Serve as the Pharmacy Service liaison for Primary Care and as the local VAMC subject matter expert in Primary Care.
• Evaluate drug literature, including experimental design and methodology, to compare therapeutic regimens and assess the roles of new drugs, with emphasis on Primary Care medications.

Benefits

• Eligible applicants may qualify for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to program approval and eligibility requirements.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree