Clinical Pharmacist - Cape Coral, FL

Description:

The Clinical Pharmacist's primary functions will be the interpretation and verification of physician's orders, patient medication profile review (allergy, drug interaction screens, etc.) providing drug and policy information to patients and medical center staff. The pharmacist also applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs. The incumbent will report to the Pharmacy Service at the Lee County Healthcare Center, Cape Coral, FL.

Requirements:

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 :

• 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-Transcripts Submitted::
  • (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.)
  • (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)
• Licensure-Documentation Submitted: 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.
  • NOTE - Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.
  • EXCEPTION - Non-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level (GS-11) as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. S7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed two (2) years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grades GS-12 and above, the candidate MUST be licensed. Failure to become licensed within two (2) years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment.

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 . See "Additional Information" in this announcement for specific information regarding the Grandfathering Provision.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS :

Grade Determinations for Pharmacist - GS-0660-11

• Experience, Education, and Licensure. No post-educational experience, education, or licensure is required at the GS-11 level beyond the Basic Requirements.
• Assignments : Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity.

Grade Determinations for Pharmacist - GS-0660-12 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience -OR- Education . In addition to the Basic Requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
  • One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, -OR-
  • Completion of an ACPE-Accredited Pharm.D. program.
• 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; etc. (please see the referenced Qualification Standard for additional information).
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) : Pharmacist assigned to this position must demonstrate the following 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.

Preferred Experience:

• A minimum of one (1) year of experience working in a VA outpatient pharmacy setting as a licensed pharmacist.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience processing VA Community Care Prescriptions and eRx.
• Completion of PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0660-LicensedPharmacist.pdf

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: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion, involving stating or sitting for prolonged periods of time, typing, walking. Additionally, occasional lifting/carrying of pharmaceutical supplies may be required, and bending, stooping or stretching. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 for additional information.