Summary The pharmacist will serve as the Care in the Community (CITC) operational pharmacist, responsible for staff training of CITC processes and procedures and act as the backup for the CITC program manager in times of absence at the Illiana Health Care VA System in Danville, IL Responsibilities The pharmacist is expected to perform the work as assigned and to assist other positions as volume and workflow dictates in other work areas within the outpatient pharmacy. Properly assesses outside prescriptions for proper approval, entry and dispensing for qualified Veterans to receive Care In the Community (CITC) services. Presents drug information to patients/caregivers and healthcare professionals upon request, and special instructions to nursing staff or patient/caregiver on the storage, stability, use of medications, indications, side effects and interactions with another medications/OTC. Provides professional guidance on pharmaceutical problems of difficult, complex, and unusual nature in addition to routine dispensing duties. Ensures appropriate selection of drug therapy based upon the pharmaceutical principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; monitors for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcomes to advise providers as appropriate. Provides information to providers and other staff members on availability of new drugs, warnings on currently marketed ones, contra-indications, and incompatibility of other pharmaceuticals. Delivers patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers both orally and in writing. Performs chart reviews when required and makes his/her recommendations in the progress notes with proper documentation. Non-formulary and restricted medication reviews for CITC prescriptions will be documented in CPRS by the pharmacist. Outside offices will be notified of non-formulary denials and will be offered formulary drug alternatives for substitution if available and clinically appropriate. Reviews the patient's active and pending medication profile. They will review the profile for drug interactions and therapeutic duplication to determine the appropriate quantity to dispense/days supply, assess dosage ordered, and ensure labeled directions are correct and understandable. Provides verbal education and/or written educational information from the national drug database system as well as required medication guides for designated drugs. Complies with all legal requirements concerning counseling. Is responsible for ensuring the work and production of the pharmacy technicians assigned to work in their area and assuring workflow is optimized to accomplish tasks. Assists in special assignments, reports and projects, problem solving on matters that require an overall knowledge of pharmacy, and matters affecting the operation of the pharmacy. Makes recommendations to their respective Supervisor, Associate Chief or Chief, Pharmacy Service on matters concerning budget, procurement, duty assignments/workflow processes and established policies. Provides training on CITC processes and procedures to pharmacy technicians and other pharmacists as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May Be available based on Needs of the Facility and Supervisory Approval Telework: Not Available. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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: You 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.) OR 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: In addition to the Basic Requirements above, applicants must meet the following grade requirements. GS-11 Pharmacist: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Clinical Pharmacist: Experience or Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 11), OR Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. AND In addition 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 11 to GS 12. Physical Requirements: Work is performed primarily in the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy in Danville, where there is a potential for exposure to communicable diseases. Such areas are adequately heated and ventilated, and safety precautions are required. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of interview. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.