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.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• 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
• NOTE: 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)
• 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: Grade 13 Level: (a) Experience
• In addition to the GS-12 requirements - must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Experience at the GS-12 level include: 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
• AND - (b) At the GS-13 level - Pharmacist-Facility Program Managers must meet the following knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs): Ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions
• Expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area
• Ability to solve problems - coordinate and organize responsibilities to maximize outcomes in their program area or area of clinical expertise
• Expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy
• Advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies - including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameters
• Preferred Experience: Sterile compounding experience including hazardous compounding (chemo and other HDs) - often in a hospital or large health system USP compliance knowledge and experience - specifically with USP 797 (sterile CSPs) and USP 800 (hazardous drug handling)
• Program management experience: leading a distinct service-wide program - writing and implementing policies - overseeing quality assurance - and coordinating across multiple locations (main hospital - clinics - CBOCs)
• Hospital and/or health-system pharmacy operational experience - including IV room workflows - inventory and procurement - and controlled substance or hazardous-drug accountability
• 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-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: Manages all Compounded Sterile Product (CSP) and Hazardous Drug Management Operations for Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System
• management and coordination of all pharmacists - technicians - trainees - and other supportive personnel involved in sterile compounding and/or hazardous drug management
• Directs - oversees - and supervises activities of all assigned operational - technical - and professional personnel - with a particular emphasis on assuring that all United States Pharmacopeia 795 - 797 and 800 CSP compliance requirements are met in the Sterile Processing and Hazardous Drug Management arenas - due to their inherent high-risk status in regard to the care of our patients
• Maintenance of all required processes and documentation for completely meeting USP795 - USP797 - and USP800 will be a primary focus of this position
• Develops and implements appropriate procedures - oversees - and assures facility compliance with VHA - Joint Commission - EPA - OSHA - NIOSH - FDA - USP795 - USP797 - and USP800 and other applicable laws - regulations - and standards - ensuring competency of personnel - and assuring environmental control of all compounding areas
• Work with the Controlled Substance and Research Pharmacist(s) when handling investigational drugs dispensed through the IV room
• Interacts with physicians and other health care professionals - especially the Hematology/Oncology staff to provide the best pharmaceutical care to patients receiving intravenous mixtures
• Performs quality assurance audits - drug utilization review activities - and gathers for administrative reports when assigned
• Upon request - independently prepares special reports or participates in performance improvement and miscellaneous pharmacy projects
• Reviews and revises current guidelines and processes in sterile compounding at a minimum of every 3 years or as needed and recommends updates
• Communicate updates and provides training as needed to staff
• Work Schedule: Full-Time - rotating all shifts-12am-12pm;Nights
• Days
• Holidays
• weekends.(subject to changed based on the needs of the facility) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 629-01481F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized