Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

About the role

The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP), Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT)/Ambulatory Care is a representative of pharmacy service. The incumbent functions to provide for the pharmacotherapeutic needs of the patients through direct and indirect patient care.

To fulfill these obligations, the incumbent has a comprehensive scope of practice, which includes prescriptive authority, monitoring drug therapy, ordering laboratory tests, and other specified clinical functions.

What you will do

• Serves as an authoritative information source on drugs and their uses, with special emphasis on agents which require therapeutic monitoring including agents used in the treatment of cardiovascular, endocrine, and pulmonary disorders.
• Interfaces with physicians and other health care professionals in the care of patients to achieve rational, cost-effective drug therapy Designs therapeutic plans, including the choice of medication, dosage, and therapeutic endpoints, based on patient specific information available from the medical record, patient or his representative, and physician using accepted pharmacokinetic concepts and pharmacodynamic principles and consistent with policies/guidelines established at the national, VISN, HSA, and local levels.
• With approved clinical privileges outlined in a scope of practice and under the appropriate supervision of a physician, assumes authority to direct drug therapy and order laboratory tests as indicated to monitor drug therapy.
• Evaluates the drug literature to compare and contrast therapeutic regimens.
• Recognizes the important medical problems, disease states, symptoms, and abnormal findings which may necessitate alteration of drug therapy or which may be induced by drug therapy when given a verbal or written patient presentation of symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, and diagnoses.
• Develops, implements and maintains a pharmaceutical care clinic to ensure timely follow-up of selected patients with chronic diseases as applicable.
• Establishes and expands the patient database through interpretation of medication history, physical examination, and ongoing patient specific monitoring of drug therapy and documents this information in the formal patient medical record.
• Serves as a liaison for pharmacy service.
• Maintains awareness of quality indicators for assigned PACT teams and efforts, through population management, to identify patients who may benefit from PACT clinical pharmacy specialist services.
• Education and Training Functions: Assesses and provides for the educational needs of the patient and family to help ensure that pharmaceutical outcome goals are met.
• Provides specialized education and training support to other professional services in the broad area of advanced pharmacotherapeutics.
• Serves as a clinical resource in the broad area of medication use in patients.
• Supervises undergraduate and graduate pharmacy students on assigned rotations.
• Designs, implements, and supervises a clinical education and training program for post-PharmD. residents or fellows.
• Designs and supervises implementation of interdisciplinary programs in education, training, and clinical practice with pharmacy, medical, dental, nursing, and research services.
• Performs in-service training as scheduled.
• Dispensing: Assures the accuracy and appropriateness of drug dispensing and compounding of medications based on patient history and medication profile review.
• This includes data entry into the computer, screening orders for drug-drug and drug-food interactions, dosing errors, allergies, incompatibilities, contraindications, formulary availability and final verification of the order.
• Consults with other health care professionals (i.e., physicians, nurses, dietitians, etc.) when necessary in all areas (i.e., Outpatient, Unit Dose, IV Admixtures, Ward Stock Pharmacy Services, CBOCs, State Veterans Centers, etc.) Consults with patients and medical center staff whenever there are questions concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient prescriptions and inpatient physician orders.
• Provides quality control analysis of dispensing activities of automated dispensing equipment and pharmacy technicians.
• Utilizes innovative and creative procedures to implement cost containment.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #:635-52753A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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: ***

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: ***

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2.

All other VA employees. 3. All other applicants.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents you must provide

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Your resume/CV must include the following information for each job listed (a determination may not be able to be made if these items are missing): Job title and Duties Month & year, start/end dated (e.g. June 2020 to April 2021) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Series and Grade, if applicable The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met.

After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service.

HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities.

HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities.

HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer.

For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.