Pharmacy Supervisor - Outpatient

Veterans Health Administration•Lyons, NJ

11d

About The Position

The Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the day-to-day outpatient pharmacy service. The role oversees accurate and timely outpatient prescription processing and dispensing, pharmacy benefits management, learner education and mentoring, research support, quality assurance, and staff development. This position supervises several outpatient pharmacists and technicians, is a core member of the outpatient pharmacy management team, and reports directly to the Associate Chief, Pharmacy Operations. The supervisor coordinates daily work by pharmacists, technicians, students, and volunteers; oversees dispensing, repackaging, and special extemporaneous compounding; and is accountable for planning, operating, and evaluating outpatient medication services. The role establishes program goals, develops operational plans and policies, supports cost-effective medication and supply procurement, and advises facility staff on health care delivery. Administrative duties include supervising outpatient processing and dispensing, maintaining workflow, managing staff performance and training, reviewing leave requests, counseling and evaluating employees, and contributing to hiring and promotion decisions. The supervisor implements and interprets policies and procedures and ensures compliance with USP 797, USP 800, Joint Commission standards, and VA directives and handbooks. The role also performs staff pharmacist duties and provides cross-coverage in outpatient pharmacy areas as needed. Clinical and distributive work includes reviewing medication orders, resolving prescribing and dispensing issues, documenting interventions, coordinating formulary discussions for patients transferring care to VA, entering or verifying orders, labeling and dispensing medications, and dispensing controlled substances in accordance with applicable standards. The supervisor identifies staff continuing-education needs, supports orientation and training, and collaborates with the Clinical/Education Pharmacy Program Manager on development for pharmacists, technicians, residents, and students. The position collaborates on outpatient quality assurance activities, with a lead role in areas such as controlled-drug dispensing, error rates, and wait times, and monitors activity and timely reporting.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Graduation from an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, or qualifying foreign pharmacy education with FPGEC certification, including the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT.
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.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level for GS-13, in addition to GS-12 requirements.
Ability to effectively supervise subordinate staff.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards pertaining to pharmacy.
Skill in managing people or programs.
Meet applicable federal employment requirements, including background/security investigation, pre-employment drug screening if selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment physical examination, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
Complete the required online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification and required application documents.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

VA supervisory experience preferred.
VA inpatient and outpatient experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate day-to-day activities of outpatient pharmacists, technicians, students, and volunteers.
Oversee outpatient pharmacy operations, including prescription dispensing, repackaging, and special extemporaneous compounding.
Plan, operate, and evaluate outpatient medication services; establish program goals and develop operational plans and policies.
Assist procurement staff with prompt, cost-effective purchasing of medications and supplies and advise on unusual usage.
Consult with Pharmacy Service and facility health care staff regarding health care delivery to patients.
Directly supervise outpatient processing and dispensing, maintain workflow, and take responsibility for work performed under supervision.
Approve or disapprove leave requests; develop performance standards; train or retrain, counsel, discipline, evaluate, and recommend employees for awards; and complete assigned performance reviews.
Implement, revise, and interpret outpatient pharmacy policies and procedures and contingency plans, and ensure compliance with USP 797, USP 800, Joint Commission standards, and VA directives and handbooks.
Participate in recruiting and hiring qualified employees and interviewing and selecting candidates for promotion in accordance with applicable federal laws, VA policies, and EEO requirements.
Assist with staff pharmacist and program manager functions, and provide outpatient pharmacy cross-coverage for urgent, unplanned leave as needed.
Review medication orders for patient information, dose, route, administration frequency, allergies, interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority; resolve prescribing, dispensing, pharmacotherapeutic, and formulary issues; and document interventions as appropriate.
Coordinate with non-VA physicians and VA primary care teams about VA National Formulary medications for patients transferring their care to VA.
Enter and/or verify information and orders in the computer system as assigned; accurately label and dispense medications for outpatient, unit dose, and IV areas; and ensure dispensing documentation is complete.
Identify actual or potential drug-related problems prospectively and dispense controlled substances in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and DEA, FDA, VA, and Joint Commission standards.
Identify staff continuing-education needs and provide programs or resources where possible; ensure employee orientation and training.
Collaborate with the Clinical/Education Pharmacy Program Manager on training and development for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, and students.
Collaborate with the outpatient management team to plan, coordinate, develop, and implement quality assurance activities, leading in areas such as controlled-drug dispensing, error rates, and wait times.
Assist other pharmacy program managers; monitor outpatient and other assigned pharmacy areas; and ensure data collection and reports are completed on time.