The Informatics Pharmacy Specialist must be a licensed pharmacist and supports the CAC section of the Clinical Informatics service under the Office of the Chief of Staff. The incumbent serves as the expert consultant in any pharmacy-related issues relevant to the use of VA's electronic health record. Incumbent spends the majority of time working in Clinical Informatics at the Greater Los Angeles (West Los Angeles campus). 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 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. (1)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. (2)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. Grandfathering Provision: All licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1)Employees grandfathered into the GS-660 occupational series may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2)Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (3)If a licensed pharmacist who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. English Language Proficiency: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determination: GS-13 (a)Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b)Assignments. Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. 1. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. A CPS plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a mid-level provider who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments; helping achieve positive patient centric outcomes through direct and indirect interactions with patients, providers, and interdisciplinary teams in assigned areas; performing physical assessments; and ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. b. Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area. c. Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise. d. Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy. e. Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: See VA Handbook 5005, Part II. Appendix G15The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. ["Functions of this position include, but are not limited to: Responsible for supporting the electronic patient record including design of data input and reporting mechanisms. Works closely with clinicians and administrative staff to facilitate the resolution of concerns, issues and problems relating to the use of the electronic medical record and its underlying data structures. Works with local VA, VISN, and National VA resources support personnel on an as needed basis. Assess and evaluates both inpatient and outpatient care processes. Works directly with clinicians to customize and configure applications to meet patient care needs and to ensure the highest quality of care possible. Works to customize (1) menus, (2) progress note titles and templates, (3) order sets, (4) clinical reminders, (5) consults, (6) health summaries, (7) parameter settings for view alerts and notifications, and order checks, and (8) maintenance of the orderable item file. Performs analyses of projects incorporating broad knowledge of all technical, administrative and clinical impacts and implications, and makes reports and recommendations to management. Consults with appropriate staff to initiate, develop and execute projects in support of development of data needs. The incumbent will be expected to exercise initiative and to collaborate effectively in a lead role with complex and competing activities. Designs and implements numerous data entry and reporting systems for inputting and displaying data. Proactively works with field leaders to identify needs and develop information products to meet those needs Evaluates often incomplete information and makes recommendations for effective use of those data to achieve optimum organizational changes. Ensures the accuracy of information delivered, including, but not limited to, technical delivery, program ownership, accountability and long range strategic planning, and works with appropriate personnel to design and implement methods of identifying erroneous data and correcting those data. Provides troubleshooting assistance on a wide range of issues, and works with IT staff and programmers to define solutions. Serves as the knowledge expert for the computerized medical record and medication ordering systems, and providers IT and other staff with consultative support and education. Develops training materials or other tools to assist staff in utilizing data and reports that are produced. Ensures that comprehensive documentation is provided where necessary, and monitors end user satisfaction to drive enhancements and increase performance. Responds to user feedback mechanisms. Preferred Experience: (Selecting official will review) 2 years of Clinical Applications Coordinator. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM -4:30 PM\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:PHARMACIST (FACILITY PROGRAM MANAGER)/000000\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]