Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager) - Medication Safety, Quality and Research

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens.

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

The position requires extensive knowledge and skill in utilizing Medication Safety databases and informatics tools for patient safety/informatics analysis. The incumbent will provide a consistent point of contact for multidisciplinary and interdepartmental process improvement efforts in the areas of medication safety and quality, and will serve as a facility champion. This role will directly contribute to the health care system's commitment as a high reliability organization. The pharmacist may also function in the pharmacy to meet patient care needs.

Functions of Position:

A. Program Management - Medication Safety

1. Manages data collection, analysis, and review of medication safety events and practices including reporting of adverse events in JPSR, VA ADERS, and VistA ADR tracking system.
2. Reviews and assesses compliance with VHA Directives/Handbooks, USP, FDA, DEA, AWE, OIG and Joint Commission standards. Assists with the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation medication safety standards.
3. Utilizes resources published by the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS), Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM), the Center for Medication Safety (VA MedSAFE), the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), and the FDA, disseminates information on medication related patient safety issues to appropriate clinical staff and committees and collects and analyzes SFVA HCS data as necessary.

B. Program Management - Quality Management

1. Maintaining a system of internal reviews that ensure that service programs operate at a satisfactory level of performance and compliance with VHA Directive/Handbooks, regulatory bodies, and accreditation organizations.
2. Collaboration with pharmacy management and clinical ICCs to coordinate pharmacy service continuous readiness for all regulatory bodies including The Joint Commission, LTCI, CARF, AWE, OIG, VACO, and VISN 23.
3. Ensures that all pharmacy programs (to include Compounded Sterile Preparations, Anticoagulation, Pharmacoeconomics, Drugs Supply Chain, Controlled Substance, Clinical Pharmacy Programs) are in full compliance and readiness in regard to all applicable VHA regulations, policies, directives, and handbooks.

C. Administrative Program Services

1. Assists with the management of the Medication Recall and Drug Safety Alert System.
2. Develops and updates policies and procedures defining operational requirements of Medication Safety and Quality Program.
3. Assists with developing and updating all policies and procedures within the pharmacy enterprise.

D. Pharmacist Duties

1. Provide routine patient care in clinical settings as directed.
2. Participates in staff pharmacy duties, including order verification, medication preparation, dispensing in inpatient and outpatient settings.
3. Interacts with treatment team members to optimize drug treatment; develops and assesses target outcomes. Communicates effectively in meetings, in personal conversations, and in written progress notes or consultations.

E. Pharmacy Investigational Drug Service

1. Serves as an authoritative information source on investigational drugs and their utilization in therapy. This includes the interpretation and dissemination of information about investigational drugs to pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff via bulletins, newsletters, and policy memos as necessary or required.
2. Serves as a consultant on regulatory matters to all investigators. Ensures compliance with appropriate regulatory bodies (i.e. Institutional Review Board, Research and Development, AAHRPP, VHA Directives and Handbooks).
3. Coordinates patient care and addresses procedural concerns when patients are admitted to the Medical Center and are currently enrolled, or previously have been previously enrolled in investigational studies.

F. Education:

1. Collaborates with Pharmacy Management and Patient Safety on pharmacy-related training and development, to promote the learning experience and improve the performance of providers, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy residents, medical residents and students.
2. Develops and implements of formal and informal drug education/clinical consultation to medical, surgical, nursing, and pharmacy staff in the form of in-services and continuing education programs.
3. Interfaces with health-care providers and administrators to ensure compliance with established pharmacy policies and procedures.

G. Research
May be involved in designing and conducting research studies or assist in the same. Proposals for research must be submitted to the IRB and Research and Development Committee.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.

Qualifications

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: 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.
• 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. 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.
• Foreign Education: 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).
• 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 Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager)
Experience. In addition to the GS-12 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

AND

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.

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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on Veterans' Preference.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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