Clinical Pharmacist

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Clinical Presents drug information to patients/caregivers and healthcare professionals upon request, and special instructions to nursing staff or patient/caregiver on the storage, stability, use of medications, indications, side effects and interactions with another medications/OTC. Provides professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult, complex, and unusual nature in addition to routine dispensing duties. Ensures appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitors for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcomes to advise providers as appropriate. Provides information to providers and other staff members on availability of new drugs, warnings on currently marketed ones, contra-indications, and incompatibility of other pharmaceuticals. Delivers patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers both orally and in writing. Performs chart reviews when required and makes his/her recommendations in the progress notes with proper documentation. Routinely identifies customer concerns and performs the required tasks to resolve these problems in a timely manner. Properly assesses outside prescriptions for proper approval, entry and dispensing for qualified Veterans to receive Care In the Community (CITC) services. Dispensing Reviews the patient's active and pending medication profile. They will review the profile for drug interactions and therapeutic duplication to determine the appropriate quantity to dispense/days supply, assess dosage ordered, and ensure labeled directions are correct and understandable. Is available for verbal education and can provided written educational information from the national drug database system as well as required medication guides for designated drugs. Pharmacist can present the patient with an updated medication list. The pharmacist verifies with the patient the current list of Non-VA meds and can add or delete medications/supplies/supplements according to information provided by the patient. Complies with all legal requirements concerning counseling such as indications for use, directions and proper techniques, precautions and side effects, proper storage, drug interactions, what to do about missing doses, verifying allergy information. Is responsible for ensuring the work and production of the pharmacy technicians assigned to work in their area and assuring workflow is optimized to accomplish tasks. Verifying that the work and production are of current safety practices in a manner to ensure patients receive correct products and pharmaceutical care. Examines all medications and affixes labels to containers identifying medications, strength, directions for use, date, and other imperative information such as cautions or what may be necessary. Issues and completes written records of each prescription filled for pharmacy files. Performs duties associated with the Unit Dose Medication Dispensing System and/or Automated Dispensing Equipment for proper dispensing. Administrative Assists in special assignments, reports and projects, problem solving on matters that require an overall knowledge of pharmacy, and matters affecting the operation of the pharmacy. Makes recommendations to their respective Supervisor, Associate Chief or Chief, Pharmacy Service on matters concerning budget, procurement, duty assignments/workflow processes and established policies. Reviews and records pharmacy stock needs and participates in the procurement of pharmacy supplies. Issues and accounts for controlled substances per medical center policy and federal regulations. Utilizes reporting systems for adverse drug events (VAADERS), patient safety concerns (JPSR) and disruptive behavior (DBRS). Education Counsels patients regarding their medication(s) in accordance with federal and state requirements, VA standards, and pharmacy best practices. This would include oral counseling and providing written information. Provides documentation of all counseling in appropriate records. Teaches staff, patients, and healthcare trainees on a wide range of medical subjects. Teaching may be in regularly scheduled classes or may include presenting lectures, preparing hand-outs, giving demonstrations, newsletters, or other means available. Provides accurate and thorough drug information to the pharmacy and clinical staff in a timely manner. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, tour varies between the hours of 7:00am-4:45pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 10518F, 10519F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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). 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.) (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) • OR- 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). (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED) 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. 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 Employees grandfathered into the GS-0660 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. 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. 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: GS-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist Education or Experience: In addition to the Basic Requirements above, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) VA or Non VA Experience • OR- Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. AND In addition, must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the outpatient pharmacy in Peoria, IL, where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required. In some cases, dealing with anti-neoplastic drugs may expose the incumbent to hazardous and toxic agents. The incumbent works with drugs/chemicals and must exercise precautions to avoid accidental contact to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of interview. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. 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). 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. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.