at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Danville, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Summary The Mental Health and Acute Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) works in the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) and inpatient mental health units, providing a mix of mental health specific and general acute care services for all patients. The MH/Acute Care CPS is an integral member of their assigned team(s) and serves as an advanced practice provider to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. Responsibilities Serves as a liaison between Pharmacy Service and the Acute Care and Mental Health inpatient areas. Develops, implements, and maintains effective mental health and acute care pharmacy programs to enhance patient care. Evaluates patients’ ability to understand medication instruction and provides oral and written counseling on their drug therapy. Serves as a consultant within Pharmacy Service, and with other facility healthcare staff in monitoring and evaluating healthcare delivery to mental health and acute care patients. Assesses, plans, and evaluates the scope and quality of the mental health and acute care pharmacy services to ensure proper coordination between the delivery of pharmacy services and the overall delivery of healthcare. Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients’ health status by taking health and medication histories, documenting relevant findings. Evaluates drug therapy through direct patient care involvement, with clinical assessment and objective findings relating to patient’s responses to drug therapy and communicating and documenting those findings and recommendations. Evaluates medication orders and medication profiles for appropriateness of therapy, dosage range, synergistic, antagonistic, and cumulative effects, etc.; communicates questionable situations to the provider when necessary. Develops and documents therapeutic plans. Orders, perform, review, and/or analyze appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient’s drug therapy.. Assists in the management of medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic diseasestates. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Marta Fackelman marta.fackelman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Graduate of an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited College or School of Pharmacy with a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) and/or a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy. Note Graduates of foreign pharmacy degree programs meet the educational requirement if the graduate is able to provide proof of achieving the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEC) Certification, which includes passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). Licensure: Full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Note: You must provide a legible copy of your transcripts with your application package to receive consideration. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Experience/Education: Must possess at least one (1) full year of creditable experience at the next lower level (GS-12) or equivalent, which is directly related to the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist position which includes designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy; OR must have completed 1 year Post Pharm D. ASHP accredited Residency. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA Handbook 5005/55 Part II Appendix G15, This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Preferred Experience: PGY1 and PGY2 residency in Mental Health; Board Certification; Experience with Scope of Practice Physical Requirements: Light lifting under 15 pounds, use of fingers, extended periods of sitting, both hands required, walking some hours, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13’ to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted). Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. NOTE: This po
