Clinical Pharmacist

Quick Facts

• Role: Clinical Pharmacist

Description

The Clinical Pharmacist independently supports clinical and operational pharmacy activities, with primary responsibility for adjudicating prior authorization drug requests (PADRs) according to formulary and policy requirements. The role includes clinical medication reviews, therapy outcome monitoring using laboratory and diagnostic data, coordination with other healthcare providers, and documentation in the patient clinical record. The position also supports dispensing and distribution activities, medication usage evaluation, formulary management, and technical support for automated dispensing and BCMA systems.

Responsibilities

• Adjudicate PADRs to promote safe, cost-effective, optimal medication use

• Perform clinical reviews; monitor and interpret outcomes of drug therapies

• Apply advanced clinical pharmacy knowledge across multiple disease areas

• Maintain competency through ongoing education; integrate clinical innovations into daily practice

• Coordinate patient care with other healthcare providers as needed

• Document all clinical encounters and pharmacy interventions

• Review service connection for costs/payment and follow VA local standards

• Supervise pharmacy technicians; review and approve items prepared by technicians

• Use pharmacy resources (computer software and hardware)

• Follow hazardous medication dispensing and disposal guidelines

• Process electronic orders: verify patient information, correct dose, route, frequency; check allergies/interactions/incompatibilities/duplications and priority

• Identify and resolve prescribing/dispensing issues; document interventions in required timeframe

• Assist in coordination of technicians/volunteers for medication preparation, labeling, dispensing, manufacturing, and delivery per physician orders

• Serve as preceptor for students and PGY-1/PGY-2 residents; provide education/in-servicing to healthcare providers

• Interface with providers/administrators to ensure compliance with policies

• Develop/improve clinical pharmacy services and proposals

• Support medication usage evaluation and cost reduction/cost avoidance documentation

• Contribute to criteria development, data collection, quality assurance, and medication use evaluation activities

• Manage and supervise technical support for Pyxis (automated dispensing) and BCMA

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficient in written and spoken English

• Full, current, unrestricted pharmacy licensure; maintain registration as required

• Education: ACPE-accredited BS Pharmacy and/or Pharm.D. OR foreign pharmacy degree with FPGEC certification and TOEFL iBT proof

• Experience/education for the grade: 1 year of GS-11 level equivalent VA/non-VA experience OR completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program

• Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice and regulations for scheduled/non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with patients and healthcare staff

• Skill in monitoring and assessing drug therapy outcomes using physical assessment and interpretation of lab/diagnostic parameters

• Must meet physical requirements, including hazardous drug handling and PPE use

Benefits

A comprehensive federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on position type and status.