Pharmacist - Intermittent

Veterans Health Administration • Togus, ME

14h • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Pharmacist (Staff Pharmacist) works as a member of the health care team in Pharmacy Services at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine. The pharmacist provides services based on the knowledge and skills represented by licensure as a registered pharmacist and handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, VISN, and national policies and regulations.

The position includes reviewing and verifying medication orders for appropriateness, processing and filling orders, identifying and resolving medication-related problems through review of medical records and patient information, and communicating with providers and other clinical staff to support safe and effective medication therapy. The pharmacist also completes medication histories and reconciliation, documents interventions, monitors drug therapy outcomes, counsels patients and caregivers, provides drug information, and assists with formulary management and adverse drug event assessment.

Additional responsibilities include evaluating chemotherapy orders, overseeing pharmacy technicians and medication distribution, managing medication recalls and shortages, conducting pharmacy and medication-stock inspections, and maintaining emergency crash carts. This is an intermittent position with variable hours, estimated at two to three shifts per week; shifts may include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available. The full-performance level and actual grade for selection are GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification, including the required examinations.
• A full, current, and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; maintain current registration if required for licensure.
• Meet the GS-12 grade determination through either one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 or completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with patients and health care staff.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards concerning the 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.
• Meet pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, required drug testing for testing-designated positions, pre-employment physical evaluation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
• Submit an education transcript when relying on education to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Responsibilities

• Verify the legality and appropriateness of prescriptions, including therapeutic use and dosage, duplication, polypharmacy, allergies, interactions, contraindications, and patient eligibility.
• Review patient medications, notes, allergies, laboratory results, and other medical-record information to identify and resolve medication-related problems.
• Evaluate chemotherapy orders for appropriateness based on disease state, regimen, patient-specific factors, and laboratory results, and ensure required double-checks are completed before dispensing.
• Contact providers to clarify orders and make medication-therapy recommendations as appropriate.
• Complete medication histories, including patient or caregiver interviews, and reconcile VA and non-VA medications.
• Document clinical interventions and recommendations in the medical record.
• Monitor and assess drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and diagnostic parameters.
• Counsel patients and caregivers on medication regimens to support proper use, compliance, and understanding.
• Become familiar with automated devices and technologies used to process, fill, and deliver medication orders.
• Oversee pharmacy technicians in the preparation and distribution of medications and supervise technicians in their assigned areas.
• Manage medication recalls and shortages through alternative dosage strengths or instructions and therapeutic substitutions in coordination with providers.
• Conduct monthly inspections of pharmacy, ward, and/or clinic medication stocks for compliance with national and local regulations.
• Maintain emergency crash carts.
• Process and fill medication orders, provide refill extensions and partial medication supplies, and provide drug information.
• Assist with formulary management, including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews, medication usage evaluations, and assessment and documentation of adverse drug events.
• Assist in medical emergencies.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package is available, with eligibility dependent on position type and other factors; contact the hiring agency for details.
• Eligible selected applicants may request credit for prior qualifying federal or military service toward annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level