Pharmacist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• 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 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.
• For GS-13, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• 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 outcomes in the program area or clinical specialty.
• 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.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to drug testing and must participate in seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Complete required online onboarding and application documentation, and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and a PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency, or five years of ambulatory care pharmacy experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve defined outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers.
• Prescribe medications within the pharmacist's approved scope of practice.
• Obtain patient medication histories and document or communicate significant findings to the medical record or provider.
• Review medication regimens for cost-effective selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and therapeutic outcomes; communicate findings and alternatives to prescribers.
• Monitor and report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues, documenting findings according to facility and VA policy.
• Apply knowledge of normal laboratory values to evaluate patient care and identify significant abnormalities.
• Use clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics expertise to recommend dose adjustments based on laboratory findings.
• Review non-formulary and restricted-drug consult requests for appropriateness and compliance with criteria, and provide therapeutic alternatives.
• Document clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner.
• Promote and monitor compliance with drug therapy policies and work with providers on national, VISN, and local initiatives.
• Respond to Code Blue emergencies and assist the Code Team as appropriate.
• Train and provide in-service education to pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, pharmacy students, and other medical center personnel.
• Instruct patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices.
• Serve as a preceptor for pharmacy students and/or residents.
• Maintain current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management, and provide timely, accurate responses to drug information inquiries.
• Act as a point of contact with Patient Care Services to resolve time-sensitive nursing and pharmacy issues.
• Participate in medical center and pharmacy service quality improvement programs, including ongoing professional practice evaluations.
• Serve on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested.
• Participate in drug use evaluation as needed.
• Conduct research activities in accordance with FDA guidelines and regulations and VHA policy.
• Coordinate receipt and distribution of investigational or clinical-evaluation drugs and maintain applicable records.
• Serve as primary investigator for pharmacy resident and/or student research projects as necessary.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families, with eligibility dependent on position type.
• Prior federal or military service may be credited toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval.