Pharmacy Informaticist

Veterans Health Administration • Martinsburg, WV

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Pharmacy Informaticist provides pharmaceutical care and customer service consistent with the mission, vision, and goals of VAMC Martinsburg. The position supports Pharmacy Service through the assessment, design, integration, modification, maintenance, and analysis of data, data-management services, networking, and computerized medical records, and supports managerial decision-making.

The incumbent provides administrative, technical, analytical, and automated data-processing support; evaluates and improves information-management practices; identifies hardware and software needs; coordinates with Pharmacy Service leadership and IT; and acts as a liaison among Pharmacy Service, IT, Biomed, and Clinical Informatics. The role supports VISTA, LAN, and PC systems and requires knowledge of VISTA pharmacy and service-integrated programs, the VHA graphical user interface, VA FileMan, CPRS, and BCMA.

The position leads Pharmacy Service implementation of the Federal Electronic Health Record, manages system integration and resources, configures hardware and software for evolving initiatives, creates files, templates, and databases for clinical and administrative reporting, manages CPRS ordering menus, troubleshoots pharmacy hardware, and maintains Drug Accountability and Controlled Substances software. The incumbent must also be able to perform the functions of a GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist.

The role develops and delivers training on Pharmacy packages and automation, prepares instructional materials, and keeps current with Pharmacy Service changes and applicable VA, DEA, and Joint Commission regulations. The position is at VAMC Martinsburg; the work schedule is 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Telework may be available with ad hoc approval; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D.; foreign pharmacy graduates must provide FPGEC certification, including the required examinations.
• Full, current, and unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-12, including specialized clinical pharmacy experience described in the announcement.
• 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 program or clinical outcomes.
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or pharmacy.
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing drug-therapy outcomes, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and diagnostic parameters.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated limited exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; applicants selected for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• Must meet Selective Service registration requirements when applicable and complete the required onboarding and application documentation.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative, technical, analytical, and automated data-processing support to Pharmacy Service.
• Participate in Pharmacy Service information-management and policy design; evaluate existing processes and recommend improvements through automation and technology.
• Analyze Pharmacy Service hardware and software needs, streamline procedures, and compile and submit IT requests.
• Collaborate with Pharmacy Service leadership and IT personnel to develop or modify VISTA, LAN, and PC programs to meet service needs.
• Serve as liaison among Pharmacy Service, IT, Biomed, and Clinical Informatics, translating Pharmacy Service needs and coordinating hardware and software installations and upgrades.
• Collaborate with VA information-systems personnel on information-management and automation activities that improve patient care.
• Lead Pharmacy Service implementation of the Federal Electronic Health Record and ensure systems integration, effective resource use, and achievement of objectives.
• Configure hardware and software to support computerized initiatives and Pharmacy Service needs.
• Create computerized files, templates, and databases for clinical and administrative data and managerial reporting.
• Manage CPRS ordering menus to support intuitive, safe, effective, and cost-conscious pharmaceutical ordering consistent with the VA National Formulary and applicable initiatives.
• Troubleshoot pharmacy hardware and install, troubleshoot, and maintain Drug Accountability software and Controlled Substances Packages.
• Perform the functions of a GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist.
• Develop, coordinate, implement, and document training on Pharmacy packages and automation for Pharmacy Service staff, and assist with training providers from other disciplines.
• Prepare instructional materials and stay current on Pharmacy Service changes and applicable VA, DEA, and Joint Commission regulations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, comprising 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to family-income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term-life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior