Pharmacy Informaticist / Outpatient Implementation Specialist
The Pharmacy Informaticist / Outpatient Implementation Specialist shares responsibility for all computer and automation activities within the Pharmacy Service of this multispecialty facility. The facility has a diverse teaching, research, medicine, and transplant hospital and an extensive, multisite Ambulatory Clinic Program. Responsibilities include:
Clinical Practice: The Pharmacy Informaticist / Outpatient Implementation Specialist supports the framework, philosophy and environment for effective pharmacy staff participation in the following clinical activities:
- Evaluates orders for appropriateness and drug interactions, allergies, and adverse reactions.
- Intervenes with physicians and other staff members for rational, safe, and effective drug therapy and documents interventions.
- Knows and follows formulary guidelines and ensures therapeutic and cost-effective alternatives to non-formulary drugs.
- Monitors drug therapy and provides information to other health professionals.
- Accountable for medication reconciliation according to procedure.
Administration: Has technical, professional, and administrative responsibility for planning, developing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating integrated pharmacy informatics programs. Serves as the Pharmacy Informaticist and is responsible for the implementation and ongoing operation of all pharmacy application packages. Monitors operations to ensure that all local and national VA, federal, and regulatory policies are followed. Ensures that all procurement requisitions related to the informatics programs are properly prepared, submitted on schedule, and that adequate stocks are maintained, and monitored. Develops requests for new equipment, construction projects, and staffing needs to submit to upper management. Ensures proper maintenance of equipment, furniture and accessories. Maintains smooth functioning of complex automation.
Education: Ensures staff involvement and communication for development and implementation of informatics policies and procedures. Develops and implements training programs for software and equipment for pharmacy staff and other health care providers as needed. Facilitates patient and staff medication training/education programs including but not limited to the training/education required for the informatics programs. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining professional competency by keeping up with information on new drugs, new drug therapies, innovations in pharmacy practice, and integrating this information into their daily practice. Assists in training residents and students when they are assigned.
Research: Collaborates with the Research/Investigational Drug Services Pharmacist on any service line related drugs studies by performing required investigational drug handling, verification, and accountability in line with local policies, procedures, and study training materials. Actively participates in pharmacy-led research projects either by acting as a Principal Investigator, a co-investigator, preceptor, or consultant and participates in the design, submission, process development, and conduct of research project.
Work Schedule: Full-time, primarily Monday - Friday, Days; occasional PM shifts and weekend coverage.
Requirements:
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements:
- Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Experience, GS-13: You must have at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12), which include but not limited to:
- 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.
- OR You must have completed a 1 year Post Pharm D. accredited Residency.
- AND In addition to the experience listed above, the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions.
- Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
- Ability to solve problems, coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise.
- Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
- Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters.
Physical Requirements: It is VA policy to ensure that all selected applicants and employed personnel are physically, cognitively, and emotionally fit to perform the duties of the position to which assigned. It is also the policy of VA to assist employees through the EAP for biopsychosocial issues which affect employee performance and/or conduct as well as problems related to alcohol or drug abuse.
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: . 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: .
Additional Information:
- Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
- 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.
- 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.