Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - PACT Job

Summary

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

  Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Duties

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


Clinical

• The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist plays a defined role in budgetary execution and serves as a pharmacotherapy specialist who functions to initiate, modify or discontinue medication therapy and serves as a consultant for intensive medication therapy management services.
• Designs, implements, assesses, monitors and documents therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments.
• Provides appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitoring for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome; and advises other health care providers as appropriate.
• Supervisory and Administration Activities
• Assesses drug safety and efficacy, including evaluation of physical symptoms and performance of limited physical assessments.
• Reports adverse drug events (ADE), near misses, and medication errors in alignment with VA ADERS reporting program.
• Participates in the NF/SG VHS medication utilization evaluation (MUE) program.
• Recommends formulary alternatives and completes non-formulary consults as assigned.
• Documents recommendations, interventions and therapeutic plans.
• Assists in medical emergencies including code teams (with BLS or ACLS certification) and emergency preparedness activities.
• Implements P&T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient and provider education.
• Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule.
• Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care per facility policy.
• Manages various actions, as appropriate, for medication orders to include: flagging prescriptions, managing view alerts, using the "hold medication" function, and generating unsigned discontinued orders using Service Reject.

• Functions as acting supervisor or pharmacist in charge when assigned.
• Reports actual or projected usage patterns to the Procurement Section to assist in the timely and cost effective ordering of supplies to meet patient needs.
• Represents pharmacy and contributes clinical and administrative expertise as a member of committees within the assigned area.

• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing.
• Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record.
• Processes, checks and fills all orders in a timely fashion; review of the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance should be performed and dealt with appropriately.
• Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse; problems encountered shall be resolved.
• Selects, compounds, dispenses and fills a range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, ophthalmics (subconjunctivals and intravitreal injections), narcotics, investigational drugs, etc., when applicable in the outpatient setting. Adequate quality assurance procedures shall be followed as applicable.
• Maintains adequate drug stock, inspects drug storage areas, supervises prepacking and the operation of automated dispensing equipment.
• Supervises the activities and provides oversight of support personnel and technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.
• Ensures drugs dispensed are completely and correctly labeled and packaged in full compliance with Federal rules and regulations.
• Compounds medications in accordance with USP 797 standards and local policies and procedures.
• Ensures USP 797 regulations for controlled environment are followed.

• Provides education to health care providers regarding medication use.
• Maintains advanced knowledge of pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the practice area of Ambulatory Care.
• Assumes an active role in the overall pharmacy-training program consisting of students, externs, interns, residents, and professional and non-professional staff members. Conducts on-the-job training and provides guidance through designated programs.
• Keeps abreast of new developments in pharmacy practice and drug therapy by reading pharmacy and medical literature, and participating in continuing education programs.

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. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12766530.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.