Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Acute Care

The clinical pharmacist specialist works within the inpatient practice setting to promote the optimal use of medications in view of patient disease state(s) and clinical response.

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provide pharmaceutical care. Ensure the safe and appropriate use of medications and medical items. Promote the optimal use of medications (including prevention of improper or uncontrolled use of medications). Educate healthcare professionals, the patients and the public in pharmacotherapy. Filling and/or compounding prescriptions. Bulk compounding. Prepare I.V. admixtures. Ward inspections. Participate in medication management to include designing, implementing, assessing, monitoring and documenting therapeutic plans utilizing the most effective, least toxic and most economical medication treatments. Additionally, ordering laboratory and other tests to help determine efficacy and toxicity of medication therapy; and therapeutic substitution as per protocol or provider consultation and medication reconciliation. Participate in daily multi-disciplinary team rounds (when applicable) and provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and Pharmacoeconomics, i.e., antibiotic streamlining, anti-coagulation monitoring, pharmacokinetic dosing, drug interaction evaluation etc. Medication reconciliation process: Interviews and evaluates patients upon admission to the hospital, daily during hospitalization and upon discharge for appropriateness of pharmacologic therapy; designs a pharmaceutical care plan as appropriate and documents the pharmaceutical care plan in the patient's electronic medical record. Process and/or ensure the processing of all discharge medications for the assigned patient care area. Providing appropriate recommendations to providers regarding anti-thrombolytic therapy for inpatients and coordinating transfer of patients to the Outpatient Anticoagulation Clinic. Support the Allergy/ Adverse Drug Reaction Program. Administrative aspects, including patient status, controlled substances control, procurement procedures, prepackaging log records, prescription control, AMIS reports and other details peculiar to the operation of this section. Screen prescriptions for over-dosage, drug interactions and drug overlap. Counsel patients concerning their medications regarding proper methods of administration, potential side effects and any appropriate precautions. Coordinate with and support the unit dose drug distribution system and interact with Nursing Service personnel and the Medical Staff in resolving all drug related problems. Proficient in screening physicians' orders for over-dosage, incorrect strengths, drug incompatibilities, interactions, overlaps and any other uncommon situations. Provide drug information education and training to pharmacy residents, interns students and in-service training for staff pharmacists and technicians. Responsible for special formulations, compounding procedures and extemporaneous compounding of routine and special medications, this is especially true when knowledge is required in a specific area where a precedent or official guideline is lacking. Serves as a reference source and guide to proper I. V. therapy and scientific compounding techniques for physicians, nurses and other members of the health care team. Well versed in the latest LV. admixture techniques, LV. equipment and intravenous information references. Integral to this is the understanding of the critical nature of infection control procedures and the importance of maintaining a clean, aseptic medication preparation area. Thorough knowledge of drug stabilities and reconstitution requirements enabling the recognition of incompatibility, overdoses, and contraindications in prescriptions and doctor's orders. Participates in planning, developing and the implementation of new Pharmacy programs and procedures. Orientation and on-the-job training of pharmacy students/interns, pharmacy technicians and newly hired pharmacists. Designs and/or participate in research studies or outcomes research involving drug therapy or clinical pharmacy functions. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday; 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.