Work in Washington Veterans Jobs

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities Duties will vary based on grade. At the GS-12 full performance level of this assignment, the incumbent integrates the knowledge and skills of pharmacists and technicians into the distributive and clinical processes of providing outcome driven pharmaceutical care to Veterans ensuring that all local, VHA, DEA, and other regulatory body policies and regulations are adhered to reviews and monitors drug therapy, provides professional advice and consultative services, educates peers, patients, and families, documents care in the medical record according to standard operating procedures, and continually integrates new knowledge and technology to improve the quality of pharmaceutical care provided to Veterans. Duties will include: Clinical Promotes pharmaceutical care service to Veterans in medical center clinics and on inpatient wards. Provides prescription dispensing and controlled substance and high-cost drug accountability. Reviews, interprets, and verifies medication orders for clinical appropriateness; collaborates with the providers at the front end of the prescription order process to improve patient outcomes; reviews patient's medications, allergies, labs and other pertinent information from the medical record for appropriate drug selection, dosing, contraindications, and potential interactions; contacts providers as appropriate. Proactively collaborates with providers regarding medication therapy including anticoagulation management, renal dose adjustment, pharmacokinetic monitoring and dose adjustment, pain management, electrolyte and glycemic management, parenteral nutrition management, IV to PO conversions, sedation/analgesia management, and antimicrobial stewardship i.e. vancomycin per pharmacy. Documents clinical pharmacy activities in the electronic health record (EHR) including therapeutic changes and recommendations with appropriate encounter information according to pharmacy standard operating procedure. Completes medication reconciliation upon admission, transfer, and discharge, ensures the patient's medication profile is updated, and documents appropriate transitions in care. Provides medication counseling and verifies patient understanding of the medication, its intended purpose, proper use, expected outcomes, and how to obtain refills/renewals. Ensures pending inpatient, clinic, and outpatient prescriptions and other distributive workload activities are triaged, prioritized, and processed in a timely manner. Promotes cost effective utilization of formulary medications and supplies and participates in cost savings initiatives. Critically evaluates and completes non-formulary medication requests by using evidence-based decision making. Participates in quality improvement and patient safety programs including patient incident and adverse event reporting, medication use evaluations, drug alerts, drug recalls, drug shortage mitigation, pharmacy related clinical performance measures, and other projects related to patient outcomes. Maintains knowledge and practice to help ensure full compliance with medical center accreditation standards and other regulatory requirements. Discontinues duplicate prescription(s) received at other VA sites and notifies other VA sites when appropriate (due to prescription duplication). Assists in medical emergencies by participating in code blue events. Education Trains, educates, and precepts pharmacy residents and/or pharmacy students. Educates coworkers, medical students, residents, attending staff, nursing and other professional staff. Educates patients, patient's family, and caregivers in issues relating to drug therapy. Distributes and communicates drug information to peers and other health care providers. Administrative Provides support to and oversight of technical staff in aspects of medication distribution. When assigned, serves as Pharmacist-in-Charge in the absence of a supervisor to ensure continuity of patient care and pharmacy operations. Assists with the development of quality and safety improvement initiatives and the collection and analysis of data. Examples include but are not limited to order sets, MUE's, protocols, monographs, and participation in committees or task groups. Assists with the development of policies and procedures that help streamline drug distribution processes. Work Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday 10:00pm-8:00am - Tour is non-negotiable Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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.) TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED 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. 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. 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-11 Pharmacist Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 2c(1) above.) Assignment: Pharmacists at this grade level serve in a developmental capacity. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) 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 2. Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. 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. Preferred Experience: Inpatient pharmacy experience with 2-5 years in a hospital setting. 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: light to heavy lifting (up to and over 45 lbs), moderate carrying (15-44 lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8 hrs), standing (6 hrs), repeated bending (2 hrs), near and far vision correctable, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), mental & emotional stability), extensive usage of keyboard and mouse, exposure to: constant noise, dust, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular working hours. 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.