Summary The Pharmacist Clinical Specialist in Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) has responsibility to develop, organize, manage and control pharmaceutical care for patients in the HBPC program by functioning as a consultant and as a mid-level provider for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes direct and indirect patient care, quality assessment, pharmacy and ancillary staff education, pharmacy consultation, and HBPC interdisciplinary team interactions. Responsibilities Clinical: Provides initial and periodic assessment of medication therapy for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes. Analyzes medication regimens to ensure the most effective, least toxic, and most cost effective treatment plan. Understands and applies advanced knowledge of pharmaceutic, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacotherapeutic principles/differences specific to the geriatric population. Formulates pharmaceutical care treatment plans and recommends appropriate adjustments to attain disease state outcome goals. Provides in-depth, patient-specific pharmacologic consultations upon request. Provides and coordinates medication management services for patients in Home Based Primary Care according to a primary care collaborative disease state management scope of practice (managing chronic diseases including, but not limited to, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking cessation, pain management, depression, insomnia, and osteoporosis) upon request or as the need is determined. This shall include ordering lab tests necessary to manage care, referring patients to appropriate health care providers as needed, performing patient triage functions, and ordering medications. Medications will be initiated, renewed, monitored, titrated, and/or altered per the scope of practice noted above and in congruence with current VA Pharmacy Service policies/procedures/criteria for use/clinical recommendations. Interviews patients to ascertain significant past medical history and medication history. Identifies patient-specific medication issues, including medication therapy without indications, indications without medication therapy, drug interactions, efficacy, therapeutic duplications, adverse drug events and medication compliance barriers. Provides medication information to other HBPC team members. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary HBPC team, educates the veterans and caregivers regarding proper use of medications. Conducts comprehensive medication counseling and educates the veterans and caregivers on complicated medication regimens or for those having difficulty (i.e. adherence, understanding) with their medication regimens. ? Recommends and develops medication education materials for HBPC patient use and HBPC interdisciplinary team member use. Documents all clinical activities, updates active VA and nonVA medication lists, and updates medication allergy and adverse drug event information in the medical record. Evaluates and completes non-formulary medication requests according to criteria for use, safety, and cost-effectiveness, using evidence-based decision making. Works with providers and pharmacy staff to enhance and maintain proactive adherence to the national and local VA formulary. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team during rounds, patient care conferences, and other meetings for the purpose of reviewing patient care plans, making patient-specific recommendations for medication regimen changes, conducting timely follow-up on discussed issues, and providing consultation in all Pharmacy related matters. May participate in home visits for selected veterans as requested by HBPC staff or as needed. Supervises and precepts pharmacy students and residents assigned to participate in the HBPC program. Education: Serves as the preceptor and mentor for trainees in HBPC. Provides written and verbal drug information and education to professional staff. Participates in and attends staff development presentations for all Pharmacy Service personnel. Maintains a clinical faculty appointment at the University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy. Maintains qualifications, as set forth by ASHP, to serve as a residency preceptor for the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program. Completes all required TMS training on a timely basis. Attends and actively participates in clinical pharmacy activities, e.g., staff development, residency conferences, preceptor meetings, journal club, staff meetings (huddles). Dispensing/Operations: Assists the HBPC team with expedited medication delivery. Evaluates prescriber's medication orders for appropriateness, renal/hepatic/geriatric dosing, drug interactions, allergies/adverse reactions, and duplicate therapy. Utilizes VISTA and CPRS packages to maintain complete patient medication records. Reviews service connection for appropriate costs and payment and applies VA local standards for appropriate dispensing and filling. Enters and verifies outpatient prescriptions for dispensing. Adheres to dispensing guidelines for hazardous medications and disposal guidelines for all medications. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications 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: (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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, (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). (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. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) 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: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-13 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience: In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12). The GS-12 requirements include: (1) 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) or (2) Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. AND the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: 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. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. Physical Requirements: The required work places no special demands on the employee. The work includes some walking, standing, bending, and some moderate lifting up to 44 pounds. Most of the work is performed while seated. Education IMPORTANT: 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/. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.