Department: Department of Veterans Affairs
Location(s): Leeds, Massachusetts
Salary Range: $134137 - $174381 Per Year
Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Major Duties:
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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) GS-0660-13 Experience and Education: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet the following: 1 year of experience at or equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS12) and Completion of an ACPE-accredited Pharm.D. program. Functions include but are not limited to: A. Customer Service Treats patients, team members, other facility employees and visitors with respect. Responds to the needs of the Veteran and staff in a courteous and timely manner. Listens to customer/patient feedback whether positive or negative, acts to resolve complaints within their control, and reports feedback to management in a timely manner. Demonstrates appropriate and proactive interpersonal skills to achieve the goals of the service. Acts as a team member and is supportive of group efforts at all times. Demonstrates an ability to work under a variety of circumstances to maximize group productivity and quality. B. Clinical - Direct Patient Care Activities that require a scope of practice 1) Responsible for developing, organizing, coordinating and managing all aspects of clinical pharmacy functions for HBPC, attends and participates in HBPC multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings , conferences, and other meetings as required for the purpose of making recommendations and providing consultation in all Pharmacy-related matters. Responsible for all HBPC patients registered in the program. The incumbent must work independently and effectively to assure appropriate, accurate drug reviews are completed; interpret prescriptions and/or physician orders for accuracy, eligibility, availability, cost effectiveness and therapeutic appropriateness; reviews patient medication profiles, contacts physicians and makes authorized changes in orders or prescriptions as required. Provides direction to HBPC primary care providers and other providers on national formulary management issues including compliance with national pharmacy performance measures. Functions independently in day to day clinical and administrative duties associated with the position, consulting with higher level supervisors only when required. In general, uses a high degree of appropriate professional judgement to care for complex problems. Demonstrates recognized expertise in the area of geriatrics and the HBPC program. Performs and documents in CPRS initial and periodic assessment of patients' medication therapy, monitors as needed, and makes recommendations or changes within their scope of practice as necessary. Timeliness of reviews will be determined by JCAHO, HBPC, and/or other regulatory requirements. Functions under a scope of practice to implement, and monitor therapeutic drug plans to achieve definite outcomes through direct interactions with patients and providers. Modalities of care encounters include in-home visits and telehealth video visits. Orders, performs, reviews, and analyzes appropriate laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy. Follows-up with patients on lab or test results to discuss the plan of therapy, i.e. changes in medication therapy, monitoring, and additional testing requirements. Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or families on request and appropriate discharge counseling when necessary. Clinical pharmacy specialists will determine if a referral to a higher level of care is necessary when treatment interventions fall outside of the CPS scope of practice. C. Education and Research Participates in the training and in-servicing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other staff on assigned teams. Is skilled at using both written and verbal communication techniques in teaching others. Serves as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents in accordance with established policies. Assists in new employee orientation, competency assessments, and mentoring as required. D. Drug Information Serves as an authority on drug usage, interactions, over-dosages, and compliance, to medical staff, nursing staff, technicians and students. Uses appropriate references to research drug information. Has a good working knowledge of information resources, both written and electronic. Maintains a current knowledge of therapeutics and disease management. E. Program Management Serves on medical center and/or VISN committees as requested. Adheres to all medical center and department policies and regulations. Preferred Experience: Candidates for the HBPC PACT CPS position should possess the skills outlined above with specific experience in the area of geriatrics and chronic disease management. Candidates should have recent experience in a current or previous job (including residency training) that includes direct patient care and comprehensive medication management responsibilities. Preferred candidates will have an advanced pharmacy degree (Pharm.D), board certification (BPS), PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, or equivalent experience or mentorship. PGY1 Residency and/or PGY2 Residency in Geriatrics or previous experience in Geriatric care. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Please see VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health
How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/05/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12836667. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
Application Deadline: 2025-12-05