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The Clinical Pharmacist works independently under the direction of a supervisory pharmacist. The Clinical Pharmacist's primary responsibility is the utilization of evidence-based pharmaceutical care services through direct interactions with patients and providers as well as the safe provision of pharmaceuticals and medication information in a timely manner at Northern Indiana Health Care System. 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. Verification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; phone: (312) 664-3575, or through their Web site at: http://www.acpe-accredit.org/.(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. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1.) 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11), OR 2.) Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. (b) Assignment. A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and national policies and regulations. These include, but are not limited to: 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 ordered 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; providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution. Pharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs): 1. Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. 2. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. 3. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. 4. Skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters. References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G15 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Duties may require sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping or kneeling for extended periods of time. Ability to lift/push/pull light loads, carts weighing 40 pounds or more. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination. Normal range for hearing and vision. ["This pharmacist promotes and manages drug therapy based on current clinical knowledge and established policies. Responsibilities also include but are not limited to completion of electronic prescription orders, checking of completed prescription orders for accuracy and safety, management of VA and VISN formularies, and assistance in achieving medical center goals related to medication management in the inpatient and/or outpatient pharmacy settings. a. Provides timely responses to drug information requests from patient care providers and nurses.\nb. Evaluates provider's orders for appropriateness of therapy, incompatibilities, side effects and interactions of drugs and drug products.\nc. Appropriately interacts with the ordering provider or attending as needed.\nd. Utilizes patient care information systems such as VistA and CPRS to obtain critical patient data elements and to document pertinent patient care issues.\ne. Provides medication use counseling at time of patient encounter.\nf. Counsels' patients on drug-drug interactions, adverse effects, food-drug interactions, product availability, appropriate use of, and PNT Committee and pharmacy policies as appropriate.\ng. Manages recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths or products per facility policy.\nh. Enters supply orders appropriate for patient care per facility policy.\ni. Manages various actions, as appropriate, for medication orders to include flagging prescriptions, managing view alerts, using the \"hold\" function.\nj. Extends refills until next scheduled appointment under the provider's name per facility policy.\nk. Interacts with and makes recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy ordered to ensure safe and effective care.\nl. Directly involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes by direct interactions with patients and providers.\nm. Obtains medication histories from patients and summarizes significant findings in the medical record and/or to the provider.\nn. Performs medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications.\no. Involved in reviewing patient medication regimens for cost effective drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, therapeutic duplication, appropriate route and method of administration, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.\np. Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues. Documents findings per facility/VHA procedures.\nq. Applies a knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities.\nr. Has expertise in the principles of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and is able to make dose adjustment recommendations based on objective laboratory findings.\ns. Reviews and evaluates requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria where applicable.\nt. Documents clinical interventions in CPRS in a timely and professional manner as appropriate.\nu. Maintains his/her professional competency, licensure, and continuing education requirements by keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature, new drugs and therapies, and applies this knowledge in his/her daily duties. Work Schedule: Part- Time (20 hours per week)\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 91275-A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]