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Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Oncology)

Veterans Health Administration | Charleston, SC

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Posted Date 11/18/2024
Description The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is seeking a Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The pharmacist in this assignment is responsible for covering in the Hematology and Oncology Clinic, Oral Chemotherapy clinic, Close To Me Program Clinic, and Chemotherapy Infusion Clinic or any of the specialized areas of pharmacy related to Oncology.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.

VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws

Total Rewards: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Major duties include but are not limited to:

Clinical Functions
A. Provides clinical coverage in the hematology/oncology clinic and other clinics as assigned.
B. Medication Management: Operates independently under a defined scope of practice to initiate, change, and discontinue prescription and OTC medications in an outpatient clinical pharmacy practice setting. In collaboration with the appropriate provider, provides additional advanced medication services outside of defined clinical scope without need for provider co-signature and excluding controlled substances.
C. Offers expert knowledge and advance skills in pharmacology, therapeutics, drug interactions, and medication safety.
D. Reviews clinic patient profiles for appropriate drug therapy, adherence issues, drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, medication safety, unnecessary polypharmacy, and dosage adjustments for special considerations such as renal/hepatic insufficiency.
E. Obtains patient medication histories and counsels patients and/or relatives on medications as requested by providers or for patients emailed in pharmacist-run clinics.
F. Incorporates pharmacoeconomic considerations into clinical practice to promote cost-effective and evidenced-based drug therapy, considering but not limited to drug selection, dosage form, administration frequency, duration of therapy, monitoring, and efficacy.
G. Documents all clinical interventions/suggestions in the patients' medical record.
H. Actively participates in the process of medication reconciliation.
I. Ensures adherence with the VA formulary and P&T Committee drug therapy & policy recommendations. Recommends alternative medications as needed and completes automatic therapeutic substitutions when appropriate.
J. Evaluates and processes non-formulary medication requests from assigned providers.
K. Identifies, reports, and appropriately manages medication-related complications, adverse drug reactions or events, and medication errors.
L. Provides expert, clinically appropriate drug information to patients, caregivers & medical center staff as needed.
M. Orders laboratory tests as necessary to evaluate and monitor medication therapy.
N. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to adult and geriatric patients in his or her assigned unit,
area or department.
O. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possession of the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status. Accurately interprets information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs and appropriately provides care as described in the unit's/area's/department's policies and procedures.

Distributive Functions
A. Verifies computer prescriptions or orders (with provider order entry) for patients in his/her assigned clinic area or other areas as assigned.
B. Reviews and interprets physician orders for accuracy eligibility, availability and therapeutic appropriateness.
C. Provide professional guidance on admixtures or related matters to medical and nursing staff.
D. Directs pharmacy technician support, where applicable.
E. Coordinates medication orders with central pharmacy or CMOP when necessary.
F. For non-emergent medications, prescriptions will be entered for mail-out from CMOP (90-day supplies will be encouraged for maintenance
medications).
G. Participates with the pharmacy management in formulation and implementation of policies and procedures to assure accurate compounding
and dispensing of all therapeutic and diagnostic agents and other supplies furnished by Pharmacy Service to beneficiaries through the various inpatient and outpatient functional areas.
H. Performs other clinical and staff pharmacist duties as required in periods of acute staffing needs.

Performs other duties assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm, 8:30am to 5pm or 9am to 5:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 52432F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredApplicants 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.
  • 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.)
  • 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).

Grade Determinations:

GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level)
Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
1. 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level,
or
2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.

(b) Assignment. A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness; processing and filling medication orders; interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care; reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews and medication usage evaluations; documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs); assisting in medical emergencies; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):
1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice.
2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff.
3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security.
4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Clinical Pharmacist GS-13
(a) Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs:
a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience:
Post-graduate training year 2 (PGY2) residency in Oncology and board certification in oncology pharmacy or other related area
Or
Three (3) years of practice with substantial component of patient care activities acting as a mid-level provider in the specialty area of Oncology.


References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15, June 7, 2012

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13

Physical Requirements: See VA HandbookIMPORTANT: 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Salary138,711.00 - 180,329.00 Annual
Opportunity Type
Job

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