The incumbent serves as a Clinical Pharmacist in the Office of Quality Management to provide oversight of the appropriate prescribing, dispensing. administration, ordering, and inventory control of all narcotics and other controlled substances dispensed at the Birmingham VA Health Care System (BVAHCS), and the clinical review and analysis of all Adverse Drug Events (to include adverse drug reactions and medication errors) associated with Medication Management Processes. 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. (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. 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 Experience. Must have one (1 ) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12 grade level). Pharmacist at GS-12 grade level assignment includes, but not limited to: handling routine medication-related activities in accordance with established local and national policies. 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; contacting providers as appropriate; documenting recommendations and interventions; providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies; taking health and medication histories; performing medication reconciliation; providing drug information; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. Pharmacist assigned to this position must demonstrate the [KSAs identified for the assignment] and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs as indicated by an asterisk (*): 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: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G15, Licensed Pharmacist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The incumbent will be considered to be above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion. Physical demands may include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, bending, stooping, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA facilities and/or outpatient clinics and possession of a valid driver's license may be required. ["Major duties include, but are not limited to: Controlled Substance Program: Perform quarterly clinical reviews of the Chronic Opioid Provider summary supplied by the National Pharmacy PBM and ensure outliers are sent for Supervisory and/or Peer review. Ensure required inventories are completed in all areas that store controlled substances. Implement the nationally mandated training program for Controlled Substance Inspectors. Plan, coordinate, provide and document training for all inspectors. Ensure all monthly inspections are assigned and completed. Submit a monthly report on status of inspections to the Medical Center Director. Establish procedures for validation of data to assure accurate, timely, and consistent submission of monthly inspection reports, quarterly statistical data and end of the year analysis. Develop written guidelines, policies, and procedures to communicate Controlled Substance Program required mandates and regulations. Adverse Drug Event Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting: Performing ongoing patient chart reviews to validate reported adverse drug events associated with drug/drug, drug/food interactions, drug/disease state interactions, and allergic reactions. Reviewing, analyzing, and reporting all Adverse Event Reports involving Medication Therapy Management (MTM). Working with Patient Safety to facilitate quarterly Medication Error Aggregate Reviews to identify opportunities to improve MTM processes at Birmingham facility. Serves as a Joint Safety Report reviewer for medication errors and near miss events. Develop policies and procedures relating to Adverse Drug Event Reporting based on best practices as found in the VA and other regulatory agencies. Initiate Medication Use Evaluations (MUEs) at the direction of the local PBM subsequent to findings associated with Adverse Drug Event reports Performs other duties as assigned. In addition to duties listed, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) at this grade level 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. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53080 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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