Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Mental Health

Duties/Tasks may include but are not limited to: Interviews the patient to obtain pertinent past medical history; chief complaint(s), history of present illness, and review of systems; medication use history; home blood pressure monitoring data and daily weights; allergies/adverse reactions; social history; dietary patterns to the extent that these relate to disease progression; assessment for medication adverse effects. Directly involves in the design, implementation and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Evaluates the drug literature by analysis of experimental design and methodology, in order to compare and contract therapeutic regimens and roles for new drugs, with a special emphasis in medications used in cardiometabolic conditions and it related complications. Educates patients on the importance and use of medications; identification of medications and possible side effects as well as interaction with other medications, vitamins and nutritional supplements. Identifies, interprets, and resolves prescribing and dispensing issues, including pharmacotherapeutics and formulary adherence issues. Provides patient education on medication including, but not limited to, any changes made in the current medication regimen. Using suitable oral, written or audiovisual communication techniques, verifies, through direct feedback, the patient's or caregiver understands of the purpose, proper use, and expected outcomes of the prescribed drug therapy. Serves as a preceptor and role model for Pharm.D. students and Pharmacy Residents. Assists with the performance improvement program within Pharmacy Service as it relates to clinical practice. Participates in interdisciplinary care teams and committees to improve quality of patient care. Documents cost avoidance and savings realized through pharmaceutical care interventions. Participates in quality assurance programs to achieve optimal patient outcomes at the most advantageous cost. Designs and/or participates in research studies or outcomes research involving drug therapy or clinical pharmacy functions. Work Schedule : Incumbent will be assigned to work rotating shifts including Weekends and Holidays, required to be On Call. Main Shift : Monday thru Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Authorized U.S. Citizenship : Citizens of the United States. 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 (Pharm.D.) degree. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/. (NOTE: Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree program. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy. Graduate 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). Creditable Experience: (1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices . To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board. (2) Residency and Fellowship Training . Residency and fellowship training programs in a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. The pharmacy residency program must be accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). A fellowship program that is not accredited by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) will need to have comparable standards for experience to be creditable (Professional Standards Board refers to the Deputy Chief Consultant for Professional Practice for the determination). (3) Quality of Experience . Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Grade Determinations: At the GS-13 grade level: The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: 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. Specialized experience for the GS-13 grade level: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). PLUS; Pharm. D. Degree (required) AND; Completion of a Pharmacy Practice or Specialty Residency with a substantial component (>25%) of patient care activities in pharmacotherapy. If currently employed in the VA System, one (1) year of creditable Clinical Pharmacy experience at the GS-12 grade level. Preferred Experience : a) Possess a Clinical Residency or Specific training and/or experience in the area of Mental Health. b) The incumbent is recommended to have certification as Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP). c) One (1) year of practice experience with a substantial component (>25%) of patient care activities in pharmacotherapy. Selective Placement Factor : Must be proficient in spoken Spanish Pharmacist assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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. GS-660, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standards. Physical Requirements: The work requires physical exertion such as reaching, bending, standing, walking, climbing. Occasionally may need to lift 15-30 pounds. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical in a clinical pharmaceutical setting. The work area should be adequately lighted and ventilated. Employees may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, goggles, gloves, or shields to minimize risks. None To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: CV or Resume Copy of License and Registration Copy of Diploma/Transcript or Certification of Degree If applying as current Federal Employee, provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, " Notification of Personnel Action " showing you are in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's, as they do not contain the information required to assess eligibility. VA Form 10-2850c. Can be found at: http://www.va.gov/vaforms/search_action.asp?FormNo2850&tkey&Actio...