Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist) - Mental Health

Serves as a provider with prescribing privileges as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) in Mental Health for comprehensive medication therapy management. The primary responsibility of the CPS is to provide evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct care with patients and consultation with other providers on their team. They promote and manage drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge that is consistent with policies established at the national, VISN, and local levels.

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

Major Duties:

• Global:
  • Possess necessary interpersonal skills to function effectively with the healthcare professionals and patients within the assigned patient care area. Strong oral and written communication skills are essential.
  • Needs general VVC Integrated Training or Clinical Video Tele-Health certification and expertise in video tele-health patient assessment and therapeutic relationship.
• Clinical Duties:
  • 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 as a provider.
  • Actively involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required as a provider. Communicates findings with other providers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
  • Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities.
  • Has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is knowledgeable and able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings.
  • Coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes for tele-health program including management of health emergencies at remote site. As required, the CPS will provide tele-health assessments and treatment provided by tele-work.
  • Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate.
  • Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record.
  • Performs drug use evaluations on behalf of national, VISN and local medical center initiatives and other Pharmacy and Therapeutics activities as needed.
  • Provides patient-specific drug therapy to maximize patient response and minimize drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and polypharmacy while providing cost-effective treatment. The assessments are based on clinical reviews and objectives measures. Clinical pharmacy specialists will determine if a referral to the physician is necessary when disease progression occurs or adverse drug events require treatment interventions.
  • Orders, performs, reviews and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. 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).
  • Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Incumbent documents findings per facility procedures.
  • Reviews and evaluates requests for assigned prior authorization drugs as assigned for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable. m. Promotes and monitors compliance for established drug therapy policies. n. Works with providers to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. o. Serves on medical center, VISN or National committees as requested.
• Education and Research:
  • Participates in the training and in-service of medical staff, nursing staff, residents, students and other allied health professionals as required.
  • Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices. Incumbent adjusts communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations. Accurately assesses and document patient comprehension. Refers patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams.
  • Utilizes effective written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others.
  • Assists in new employee orientation sessions as scheduled.
  • Assists in the development of proposals for improved and/or new clinical pharmacy services.
  • Independently designs and conducts clinical research with the scope of practice.
  • Assists in the training of new pharmacy staff. h. Serves as a preceptor to students of Affiliated Schools of Pharmacy and pharmacy residents in accordance with established protocols.

Major Duties continues in Qualifications Section below.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: AD-Hoc Only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 54952-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Major Duties continued:

• • Ensures the residency is effectively managed and maintains ASHP accreditation for the program when serving as a Residency Program Director.
  • Contributes to the marketing and advancement of the pharmacy team through active involvement in facility-based programs designed to support veteran care and healthcare education/communication (e.g., diabetes education, health fairs, local, state, regional and/or national poster/platform presentations, and active participation in pharmacy professional organizations).
• Drug Information:
  • Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information.
  • Possesses good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic.
  • Maintains current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. d. Provides timely and accurate responses to drug information inquiries from all customers.
• Safety:
  • Complies with safety and environmental rules and regulations for safe job performance.
  • Uses and maintains personal protective equipment when required and provided.
  • Promptly reports all accidents/illnesses to supervisor.
  • Notifies supervisor of all unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace and works to eliminate such conditions.
• Leadership and Dependability:
  • Provides guidance and leadership for team members as assigned in the absence or in the support of supervisory personnel when required for patient care.
  • Acts as a service and communication liaison between service line leadership, pharmacy management, medical staff and healthcare personnel and pharmacy team members.
  • Scans the internal and external environments to determine opportunities to enhance pharmacy services to support patient education, patient adherence, clinical outcomes, and team member support and development. The CPS communicates opportunities with supervisory personnel.
• Organizational Presentation and Regulatory Responsibilities:
  • Represents Pharmacy Services in a professional manner that focuses on the needs of the Pharmacy Service and mental health and not on personal or competing agendas.
  • Participates and facilitates departmental and organizational compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC), Office of General Counsel (OIG), and other applicable regulatory and accreditation regulations and guidelines regarding patient safety and care.
• Licensure/Certification:
  • Maintains licensure in good standing
  • Obtains and maintains Basic Cardiac Life Support Certification.
• Continuing Education:
  • Completes continuing professional education required to maintain licensure and keep current with state of the art professional knowledge.
  • Completes the number of employee education hours necessary to comply with organizational standards.

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.)
  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. 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 e 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 as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. For grade levels above the GS-11, the candidate must be licensed.
  • Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employment.
• 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

1. Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
2. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs):
   1. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
   2. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
   3. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
   4. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.

Qualification continues in Education section below.

Qualifications section continued:
5. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.

Preferred Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Mental Health)

1. Education/training: PGY1 Pharmacy Residency
2. Education/training: PGY2 Pharmacy Residency in Mental Health or PGY1 + 3 years > 50% clinical experience in Mental Health
3. Certification: BCPP
4. Experience: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Mental Health) - direct patient care with scope of practice
5. Licensing: DEA license or experience prescribing/managing controlled substances

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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization.

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/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

• 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.
• 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.