Clinical Pharmacist

The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for performing comprehensive pharmaceutical care in an Ambulatory Care, Acute Care or Community Living Center setting as assigned. The Clinical Pharmacist handles routine medication-related activities to include, but not limited to: reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness, processing and filling medication orders, and making recommendations to clinical staff regarding medication therapy to ensure safe and effective care.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Pharmacy Program Management: The Clinical Pharmacist will be involved in the independent professional practice of pharmacy in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Pharmacy Service Policies and Procedures, VA Regulations, and State and Federal Laws governing the practice of pharmacy. The Pharmacist will work in conjunction with Clinical Pharmacists, Clinical Pharmacy Specialists (CPS), and other health care professionals to form an organized team approach to the delivery of pharmaceutical care. Activities shall include:
  • Maintains workflow patterns that assure timely deliver of pharmacy services, ensures accurate dispensing and record keeping, and oversees technical and nonprofessional staff in the ambulatory care, acute care, or CLC pharmacy setting.
  • Effectively organizes workload, solves problems, and achieves established goals.
  • Participates in quality improvement activities, pharmacoeconomic initiatives, committees, and workgroups in support of the pharmacy service strategic plan.
  • Provides patient care utilizing an advanced in-depth knowledge of ambulatory care, acute care, and/or CLC specialized areas of pharmacy practice. Oversees day to day maintenance and operation of pharmacy equipment and automation, such as Scriptpro, Pyxis, Parata, and BD Cato.
  • Assists in assuring that pharmacy programs are compliant with all regulatory and accrediting body requirements.
  • Distributive:
    • Review pharmacy orders to include patient information, dose and route, frequency of administration, patient allergies, drug interactions, incompatibilities, duplication, and priority. Resolves prescribing and dispensing issues, including pharmacotherapeutic and formulary issues. Documents interventions as necessary.
    • Finish, input and/or verify information and orders in the computer system and dispense medication in accordance with dosage form requirements (outpatient, unit dose, and IV admixture).
    • Identify actual and potential drug-related problems prospectively, thereby eliminating duplication efforts, reducing medication errors, and increasing patient satisfaction.
    • Dispenses controlled substances according to current policies, procedures, and standards established by DEA, FDA, VA, and Joint Commission.
    • Effectively utilizes the Veterans Integrated Systems Technology Architecture (VistA), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), and Bar Code Administration (BCMA) computer systems and other automated pharmacy equipment and computer software systems.
• Clinical Program Management: The Clinical Pharmacist shall provide and support clinical pharmacy services, pharmacoeconomic activities, and is directly responsible for monitoring and managing medication therapy for assigned patients. Activities shall include:
  • Responsible for ambulatory care, acute care, or CLC pharmacy activities involving highly innovative methods of health care delivery.
  • Participates in a patient-focused, team-based multidisciplinary model of patient centered care to promote positive patient outcomes through direct and indirect interaction with patients and providers.
  • Evaluates appropriateness of pharmacologic therapy at clinic visits or during hospitalizations and as the level of care changes. Makes appropriate therapeutic recommendations and monitoring plans and documents the activities in the medical record via electronic progress notes.
  • Provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and develops appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and pharmacoeconomics.
  • Provides medication reconciliation and patient medication counseling verifying and documenting patient understanding of the medication, proper medication use, expected outcomes, how to obtain refills of the medication, along with how the current prescription will be processed.
  • Under appropriate supervision by a physician, assumes authority to direct therapy, order lab tests, and medications as indicated for appropriate patient monitoring.
  • Reports actual and/or potential medication errors or adverse events and participates in quality improvement initiatives that promote patient safety. Actively participates in the VA Adverse Drug Reaction (VA ADERS) reporting program.
  • Plays a role in budget execution by working with and educating providers to ensure adherence to the formulary process so that patients receive the most cost-effective drug therapy.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm, 8:00am-4:30pm, or 8:30am-5:00pm
Telework: Not eligible
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.)
  • 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.
  • 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.

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:

Clinical Pharmacist GS-12:

• Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following:
  • 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, or
  • Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Pharmacists assigned to this position 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 GS-12.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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/.

• 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.
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.
• 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.