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The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is a licensed pharmacist whose primary responsibilities are to provide out-patient-community-based services for the HUD-VASH program. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist will provide care to patients in ambulatory care clinics, inpatient clinical wards/units, long-term care and virtual care settings as assigned. 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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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. The pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full, current, and unrestricted licensure. A pharmacist who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16. Education: (1) 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.) (2) 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). NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. ? 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Exception. Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. ? 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed. Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment. ***May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grandfathering Provision: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.(3) If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must possess the following grade requirements. Applicants must have one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). In addition, applicants must meet 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 Assignment: The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist 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. The incumbent will provide consultation to the teams at large and clinical interventions as needed. The incumbent will also be responsible in providing care to patients in ambulatory care clinics, inpatient clinical wards/units, long-term care and virtual care settings as assigned. S/he functions at the highest level of clinical pharmacy practice to provide care to patients and optimizes patient care outcomes, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15 - Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standards. Physical Requirements: Please refer to Additional Information. ["The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist functions independently under scope of practice as defined by the medical center. Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their specific needs and to provide care needed to achieve positive patient outcomes. Provides medication management of chronic diseases consistent with their Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Scope of Practice including medication initiation, dose titration or adjustment, discontinuation, assessment and therapeutic monitoring, patient education and medication adherence enhancement. Orders, performs reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients for lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy (i.e., changes in medication therapy, monitoring and evaluation, additional testing requirements, or referral to primary care or specialty care providers as appropriate). Assists and collaborates in meeting clinical performance goals, especially with respect to medication management. Screens and assesses the patient's medication regimen for clinical effectiveness and therapeutic outcomes as required, allergies, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, drug interactions, duplication of therapy, adherence, weight, height, renal, hepatic function and other appropriate labs. Documents adverse drug events, medication errors, allergies, clinical interventions, drug information provided, patient therapy evaluations, and counseling in the computer and/or patient's record (e.g., CPRS, VistA, ePERs, and/or VADERs). Dispenses medications in accordance with dosage form requirements (outpatient, unit dose, intravenous admixture or ward stock/automatic replenishment). Provides continuing education (drug information, in-service, etc.) to peers, patients, physicians, nurses, pharmacy staff, and other healthcare professionals when requested. Possesses knowledge of the design, implementation, and interpretation of controlled clinical drug trials or other research related to healthcare. Responsible for the overall management of the designated pharmacy clinic/clinical area, including but not limited to developing and maintaining the clinic grids, maximizing and sustaining clinic utilization, managing missed opportunities, coordinating clinic cancellations, managing discharge planning, reducing medication-related rehospitalization, and restructuring as necessary to effectively maintain patient care in response to staffing needs. Critically analyzes trends in medication errors and adverse drug events within clinical practice area, identifies vulnerabilities within the system, and offers/implements necessary changes to improve patient safety. Independently and proactively resolves provider and patient care issues, concerns and questions to achieve positive patient centric outcomes. Possesses the knowledge, skills, and flexibility to be assigned to other sections of the Pharmacy Service for training, to provide for emergent patient care needs, or to improve the Service's operational and clinical efficiency. Occasionally accompany Case manager/Peer Support Specialist in the community to conduct Home visit and meet with Veteran(s) as needed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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