Clinical Pharmacist Specialist

Summary

The Anticoagulation Program Manager coordinates the daily work of anticoagulation clinical pharmacy staff - participates in all Pharmacy Service activities including clinically oriented programs - regulatory and quality assurance activities - and coordinates all functions and activities within the section to ensure they coincide with other sections and the overall goals and mission of Pharmacy Service. The Anticoagulation Program Manager maintains an active clinical practice 80% of their time.

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
• 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:
  
  (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 Equivalency Certification (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
• A pharmacist who has - or has ever had - any license(s) revoked - suspended - denied - restricted - limited - or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section B - paragraph 16
• 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)
• Preferred Experience:
  
  Experience managing anticoagulation therapy - including warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) - with demonstrated knowledge of pharmacokinetics - monitoring parameters - and dose adjustments
• Experience with tracking clinical outcomes - adverse events - and compliance metrics
• ability to use data for performance improvement
• Ability to mentor staff - provide education on anticoagulation best practices - and lead process improvement projects
• Grade Determinations:
  In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• GS-13 (a) Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• (b) Assignments
• Candidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed below
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Clinical Pharmacy Specialist The clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) 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 -…