Pharmacist (Medication Safety/Compliance Facility Program Manager)

Veterans Health Administration • Palo Alto, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Pharmacist serves as the Medication Safety Officer and Facility Program Manager for the Pharmacy Service at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, working at the Palo Alto Division. This pharmacy leadership position manages and coordinates medication safety, performance improvement, and regulatory compliance across Pharmacy Service throughout the health care system. The incumbent collaborates with Pharmacy, Nursing, Quality/Safety/Value, and health care system leaders, supervisors, and frontline staff. The pharmacy serves a 300-bed acute care hospital, an extended care and mental health residential rehabilitation division, and ambulatory care clinics across several community-based outpatient clinics.

The Program Manager coordinates medication safety and compliance across a complex, multi-location pharmacy operation. Responsibilities include co-chairing the Medication Safety Committee, reviewing medication variance and adverse drug reaction information, monitoring regulatory compliance, developing and revising policies, participating in root cause analyses and performance improvement efforts, and precepting pharmacy residents and students.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework, compressed schedules, and flexible schedules are not available; this is not a virtual position. The full-performance grade and actual grade for selection are GS-13. A physical examination and occupational health requirements apply; work involves sitting, walking, standing, bending, lifting or carrying light items, extended computer use, and telephone use.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification.
• Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist 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, in addition to GS-12 requirements.
• 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 program or clinical-area outcomes.
• 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.
• Meet applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, seasonal influenza vaccination, onboarding, and application documentation requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification conditions.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of a PGY2 Medication Safety Pharmacy Residency or Fellowship is strongly preferred.
• At least two years of work experience as a Medication Safety Officer or Director/Assistant Director of Pharmacy is preferred.
• Medication Safety Officer Certification (CMSO) is preferred.
• Lean Management certification or training at the yellow, green, or black belt level is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Co-chair the health care system Medication Safety Committee with a nurse leader, including reviewing items, preparing agendas, minutes, and summaries, coordinating presentations, and following up with requestors.
• Serve as a backup Secretary of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• Use medication variance reporting tools and submit monthly and quarterly trend reports to pharmacy management and the Medication Safety Subcommittee.
• Identify problem-prone or high-risk areas for performance improvement in coordination with responsible section supervisors and staff.
• Review adverse drug reaction reports, evaluate them monthly, and submit them to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee for review and potential intervention.
• Ensure Pharmacy Service compliance with applicable regulatory agencies and standards, including VHA, DEA, Joint Commission, USP, and EPA requirements.
• Review regulatory standards, assess compliance, coordinate action plans with Pharmacy leadership, facilitate implementation, and reassess compliance.
• Develop and revise medication- and regulation-related health care system policies by researching topics, obtaining stakeholder input and concurrence, drafting or editing policies and manuals, and routing policies for signatures.
• Participate in health care system medication-related Root Cause Analysis and Medication Aggregate Review teams, identify improvement opportunities with pharmacy supervisors, and facilitate implementation.
• Participate in process-improvement activities as a facilitator, champion, or member; collaborate with pharmacy supervisors, informatics, pharmacoeconomic and procurement pharmacists, and frontline staff to complete projects and collect post-implementation data.
• Precept PGY1 Pharmacy Residents and pharmacy students in a five-week Medication Safety/Compliance block rotation and a longitudinal leadership rotation.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit based on prior federal work or military service, if requested and approved before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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