The Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is primarily responsible for the development and implementation of clinical pharmacy services which support the Hematology/Oncology section of Medical Service within VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS). In addition to staff pharmacist duties, the Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist will serve as the clinical pharmacy consultant in the area of Hematology/Oncology. 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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. 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. 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. Creditable Experience. Knowledge of Professional Pharmacy Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with professional pharmacy practice. Professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional or unlicensed graduate pharmacist as defined by the appropriate licensing board. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to pharmacy experience at the next lower level. Experience as a Graduate Pharmacist is creditable provided the candidate was used as a professional pharmacist (under supervision) and subsequently passed the appropriate licensure examination. Part-time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional pharmacist is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a pharmacist employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist (Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level of federal service OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program 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): Knowledge of professional pharmacy practice. Ability to communicate orally and in writing to both patients and health care staff. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to the distribution and control of scheduled and non-scheduled drugs and pharmacy security. 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, Part II, Appendix G15.These standards are available for review in the local HR Office. Physical requirements: The work requires standing, walking for short periods of time, light carrying and lifting under 15 pounds; bending, reaching and stooping. The work also involves working around machinery with moving parts and working closely with others. ["This position works in the hematology/oncology section of pharmacy and supports the inpatient section of pharmacy as a floater as needed by the supervisor. Functions: a. Clinical: i. Monitors oncology patients for complications of cancer chemotherapy, established drug interactions associated with cancer chemotherapy, and adherence to the prescribed cancer chemotherapy regimen. Makes judgments regarding oncology patient drug therapy and resolves problems with the prescribing or attending physician. The following records are necessary to allow the oncology pharmacist to perform this function. 1. Maintains accurate, current patient profiles which includes, but is not limited to, the following patient information: name, last four digits of social security number, age, weight, height, body surface area, tumor type, protocol description, and list of current medications. 2. Maintains a calendar of scheduled patient treatments indicating each patient's name, drug regimen, and frequency of treatment on all study patients. 3. Maintains drug protocol files on all investigational cancer chemotherapy used with VANCHCS ii. Serves as clinical pharmacy consultant to VANCHCS personnel regarding all drug therapy of the cancer patient. 1. Attends and contributes to hematology/oncology ward rounds, hematology/oncology clinics, tumor board, and journal club. a. Reviews patient's therapeutic regimen recommends alternatives when appropriate, and effects change of physician prescribing habits. b. Participates in hematology/oncology clinics by taking medication histories, educating patients about their drug therapy, and coordinating cancer chemotherapy. 2. Provides information on the chemical, biological, pharmacological, and therapeutic properties of cancer chemotherapy and other agents used for cancer patient care. 3. Provides information concerning the proper handling, preparation, and route of administration of cancer chemotherapy for Pharmacy Service. 4. Track necessary laboratory tests frequency and coordinates futures testing to ensure safety and efficacy around use of chemotherapy and other agents used for cancer patient care. 5. Trains and educates VANCHCS personnel, students, and patients regarding all aspects of cancer patient drug therapy. 6. Trains selected staff pharmacists to serve as backup hematology/oncology pharmacist. Trains pharmacy technicians to assist in the preparation of antineoplastic agents. 7. Develops educational materials and gives presentations to students, patients and VANCHCS personnel regarding cancer chemotherapy and related subjects. 8. Precept's pharmacy clerkship students and pharmacy residents during their assigned rotation in hematology/oncology. 9. Instructs oncology nursing and medical staff in proper and safe methods of cancer chemotherapy administration. iii. Assumes responsibility for the custody, control and dispensing of all cancer chemotherapeutic agents ordered by physicians of Hematology/Oncology section of Medical Service within VANCHCS. 1. Maintains adequate inventories of investigational agents and FDA approved cancer chemotherapeutic agents. 2. Prepares or directly supervises the preparation of all cancer chemotherapy in accordance with investigational protocol, FDA approved guidelines, and the procedures manual for handling parenteral antineoplastic agents. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Generally between: Monday - Friday 0700 to 1800 Compressed/Flexible: Not Approved Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
