The primary responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) is the provision of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct care with patients and consultation with other providers on their team. The CPP promotes & manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with polices and guidelines established at the national, VISN, & local levels. 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. 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.) 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). 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. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). 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-13 Experience: In addition to the GS-12 KSA requirements below, applicants must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. 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. AND Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: 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. Pharmacists 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. Preferred Experience: The Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) must possess the skills to handle direct patient care. They should have completed a PGY 1 and PGY 2 residency in Pharmacy or have the equivalent in years of experience outside of a residency program. The CPP should have a background in many disease states and conditions that we see in the PACT setting and with Veterans aged 18 years and older. Some of these disease states and conditions include Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Smoking Cessation, Asthma and COPD, Anticoagulation, etc. A PharmD. is preferred for the CPP role. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/55 PART II APPENDIX G15. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (14-44 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.) use of fingers; walking (3 hours per day); standing (up to 8 hours per day); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing aid permitted. ["The CPP is directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers in assigned areas. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Reviews and implements pharmacotherapy and treatment guidelines with providers with independent functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy. Is actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings to prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plan as needed. Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives and observes budgetary compliance and execution to provide the most effective and economical treatment for patients. Works collaboratively with providers to provide pharmaceutical care to selected patients (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, heart failure, COPD, pain, smoking cessation, anticoagulation, and anemia management) and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services which include: a. Developing and executing (initiate, modify, and discontinue) drug therapy. b. Ordering, reviewing, and analyzing appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. c. Follow-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy (i.e., changes in medication therapy, monitoring and evaluation, additional testing requirements, referral to primary care or specialty care physician). Serves as the primary consultant to other VA providers on the appropriate VA National Formulary medications to consider for patients that choose to transfer care to PVAMC. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary (NF) and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable and assume management of the NF drug request review program for fiscal responsibility to the Medical Center and Pharmacy Service while providing the most economical treatment to patients. Documents clinical interventions accurately in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate. Serves as the primary or alternate consultant for the Home-Based Primary Care Service and as alternative consultants and back-up for CPP managed Specialty Clinics (Anticoagulation, Hepatitis C, and Erythropoietin clinics). Primary provider to document information into VA Adverse Drug Event Reporting System (VA ADERS). Local medical centers may designate a single pharmacist to follow-up on unique cases, but all CPPs share the responsibility to ensure reporting of adverse drug events is completed by clinicians. Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Assists with medication use evaluations and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics activities. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility procedures. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible: N/A Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F04837 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by a special rate. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment."]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
