SummaryThe Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager - Pharmacy Informatics Specialist) serves as the program manager for all pharmacy information management and informatics activities at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and affiliated sites of care. The incumbent develops - organizes - coordinates - and manages the pharmacy informatics program to support safe - effective - and efficient medication use across inpatient - outpatient - and clinical areas.QualificationsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEducation (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.) degreeVerification of approved degree programs may be obtained from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education - 20 North Clark Street - Suite 2500 - Chicago - Illinois 60602-5109phone: (312) 664-3575 - or through their Web site at: 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 InternetLicensureFull - current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State - Territory - Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - or the District of ColumbiaThe pharmacist must maintain current registration if this is a requirement for maintaining full - current - and unrestricted licensureA 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 16NOTE: 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 licens e 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 employmentThis 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(1) ExceptionNon-licensed pharmacists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment at the entry level as a Graduate Pharmacist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B)The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a pharmacist that provides care under the supervision of a licensed pharmacistFor grade levels above the GS-11 - the candidate must be licensed(2) Failure to Obtain LicenseIn all cases - pharmacists must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointmentAt the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the unlicensed pharmacist with the written requirement to obtain licensure - the date by which the license must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadlineFailure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0660 Pharmacist series and may result in termination of employmentGrandfathering ProvisionAll licensed pharmacists employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupationAdditional provisions applyPhysical RequirementsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019English Language ProficiencyPharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d)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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 2 - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesGS-13 (a) ExperienceIn addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level(b) AssignmentsCandidates at this grade level are to be in one of the assignments listed belowFor all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the timeFacility Program ManagerManages all aspects of a distinct program to include policy development - quality resources and specialty functions unique to the program to optimize cost effectiveness (budget) and patient outcomesCoordinates a single program area of a complex pharmacy operation - or multiple program areas within a facility to develop - organize - manage - and control complex pharmacy programsDevelops - organizes - coordinates and manages single or multiple program areas within the medical facilitythis may include a single program area at multiple facilitiesThe Program Manager title is reserved for those individuals who have one or more of the following: supervisory responsibilities for various sections within Pharmacy Servicea complex program requiring coordination of multiple locations such as medical center care facilities - Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) - rural health - telemedicine - etcspecialized areas of a complex nature such as nuclear pharmacy - quality assurance - pharmacy informatics - clinical applications coordinator - Home Based Primary Care - pharmacoeconomist or liaison pharmacist duties requiring the coordination of processes with other medical facilities or VISNsPharmacists assigned to this position must demonstrate the KSAs identified in subparagraph 3b(3)(b)1 aboveReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.DutiesVA Careers - Pharmacy: Duties include but are not limited to: Applies a unique combination of pharmacist and informatics-related knowledge and skills to successfully plan - implement and manage existing and future specialized pharmacy service automated data processing (ADP) applicationsImplement - coordinate - evaluate and manage the CPRS programs as it relates to Pharmacy packages as well as other interfacing clinical packagesResponsible for gathering - compiling - assessing accuracy - correcting - and reporting data including pharmacy costs - workload data and other patient care dataServes as the Clinical Liaison between Pharmacy - Nursing - and Physicians staff for controlled substances - IV medications - unit dose medication - and outpatient prescriptionsLiaison between Pharmacy Service - Clinical Applications Coordinators - and the Office of Information and Technology (OI&T)Performs process improvement - quality assurance and administrative functions as requested that are inclusive of proposals for improvements to or the expansion of clinical and operational pharmacy servicesResponsible for coordinating and providing expert training to pharmacy residents and staff on existing and new software applications and automation systemsWorks collaboratively with pharmacy managers and other healthcare disciplines to develop and implement local - VISN and National initiatives to improve patient care and cost efficiencyCoordinate - evaluate and manage the CPRS programs as it relates to Pharmacy packages as well as other interfacing clinical packagesServes as a resource person to Pharmacy Service regarding their clinical information systems applicationsDesign and implementation of CPRS pharmacy medication quick orders and order sets to increase accuracy of orders and decrease medication errorsCoordinates multiple program areas of complex Computerized Patient Record System operations - within a VA Medical Center by developing - managing - and overseeing multifaceted pharmacy applications which interface with the electronic record systemExtensive knowledge of the VISTA clinical information system programs to implement new applications and to maintain desired functions is requiredEvaluating new equipment and technology needs - the incumbent provides detailed formats - documents - flowcharts - diagrams - and other necessary information to make informed decisions and accomplish objectivesServes on local - VISN and/or National Committees as assigned by Chief - Pharmacy Service and/or designeeWorks with procurement personnel to maximize cost savingsCollaborates with counterparts in the VHA system - the CIO Field Office - and participates in activities that are essential to optimum delivery of patient care based on the development of quality Clinical Informatics programsWork Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm (Monday - Friday) Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 61658F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized#J-18808-Ljbffr
