Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Summary The Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner (CPP) serves as an advanced practice provider with prescriptive authority under an approved Scope of Practice. The primary responsibility is to coordinate and provide comprehensive medication management (CMM) for patients requiring pain management as well as Pain Management Opioid Safety Program (PMOP) administrative duties. Duties VA Careers

• Pharmacy: The duties and responsibilities of the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, include but are not limited to the following: Clinical (Pain Management): Provides clinical pharmacy services to patients on opioid therapy through on-site consultation and direct patient management. Possesses knowledge of potential side effects of pain medications and their treatment and management strategies. Assesses the potential for pain medication non-compliance and develops strategies for patients that are non-compliant or exhibiting signs of aberrant behavior. Provides recommendations to pain team provider for tapering, withdrawal, and dosing of pain medications. Promotes rational pain management strategies utilizing current VA resources and develops pain management policies, when needed. 6) Provides pharmaceutical services to focus on therapeutic drug monitoring. Analyzes medication regimens to ensure the most effective, least toxic, and most economical treatment plan. Understands and applies the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences in the geriatric population. Works collaboratively with other clinic providers to provide pharmaceutical care to patients as outlined by best evidence, VANIHCS procedures, and scope of practice. Program Management: Serves as a core member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP). Conducts prospective audit and feedback on antimicrobial prescribing for appropriateness, guideline adherence, and opportunities for de-escalation. Reviews cultures, microbiology results, and antimicrobial use patterns to identify optimization opportunities. Assists with therapeutic drug monitoring (e.g., vancomycin, aminoglycosides) and supports diagnostic stewardship efforts. Contributes ASP data to required local, VISN, and national reporting platforms. Provides ASP education to medical staff, trainees, and interdisciplinary teams. Supports development and implementation of facility-specific antimicrobial guidelines and pathways. Effectively directs drug therapy to conform to the national VA formulary. Works with other health care practitioners to ensure compliance with national, VISN, and local initiatives. Acts as a liaison between the pain management and antimicrobial stewardship programs and Pharmacy Service. Educational: Provides academic detailing services consistent with PBM and VHA Academic Detailing Program standards. Conducts one-on-one and group outreach sessions to prescribers on evidence based topics. Utilizes audit and feedback data to tailor provider education and practice recommendations. Maintains proficiency in academic detailing communication techniques, educational materials, and PBM messaging. Participates in training, national calls, and continuous quality improvement activities related to Academic Detailing. Assists patients on the proper use and care of their medications. Provides pertinent drug information to physicians and allied health personnel through the use of seminars, formal and informal consultations, conferences, and lectures Administrative: Serves as a voting member of appropriate committees, such as the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee or Pain Committee. Serves on or acts as a consultant to professional committees. Supports facility Pain Management, Opioid Safety, and Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMOP) requirements, including monitoring opioid safety dashboards, STORM outreach, naloxone distribution, and opioid risk mitigation strategies. Assists in tracking and validating national PMOP quality metrics and supports performance improvement initiatives. Collaborates with PMOP Coordinator, Pain Committee, Primary Care, Behavioral Health, and Pharmacy leadership to standardize opioid safety processes. Aids in policy development related to safe opioid prescribing, chronic pain management, and controlled substance monitoring. Supervisory Controls: The incumbent is accountable to the Chief of Pharmacy Service, or their designee, for professional licensure and competency. However, daily activities should require minimal supervision, and problems should be managed independently. The incumbent uses initiative in planning and carrying out work requirements according to established scope of practice and care coordination agreement and in alignment with policies and procedures. The CPS provider's primary responsibilities are to provide care coordination and comprehensive medication management for patients treated within the assigned area(s) Work Schedule: Monday
• Friday, 7:30am -4:00pm Eastern Standard Time Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93117-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Qualifications 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. 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: (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 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). 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. NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetence or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the State for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C. § 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed pharmacists on VA rolls as of that date, provided they maintain continuous appointment and are not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abil