Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Neurology

Summary

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for Neurology assists the neurology service and primary care providers in co-managing high risk patients treated for neurological conditions. This position requires specialization in drug therapy management and monitoring in patients with headache, migraine, neuropathy, seizures, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, and tremor.

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.

• 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
  • Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the ACPE at 20 North Clark Street
    - Suite 2500 - Chicago
    - Illinois 60602‑5109
  • phone: (312) 664‑3575 - or through their Web site at: http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./
  • Prior to 2005 ACPE accredited both baccalaureate and Doctor of Pharmacy terminal degree programs. Today the sole degree is Doctor of Pharmacy.
  • 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 FPGEE and the 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 described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS‑13 – Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
• Experience
  • Must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS‑12)
  • Examples of duties at the GS‑12 level include:
    • Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice
    • Ability to communicate orally and in writing to 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
    • 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 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
    • Assisting in formulary management, including therapeutic substitutions, nonformulary reviews, and medication usage evaluations
    • Documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs)
    • Assisting in medical emergencies
  • Knowledge –
    
    Skills and Abilities
    
    (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 and coordinate 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…