at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Job Description
Summary The Wilmington VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for a GS-0660-15 Chief of Pharmacy. The Chief, Pharmacy Service is responsible for all aspects of Pharmacy Services at the Wilmington VA Medical Center and CBOCs, by maintaining effective interdepartmental relationships demonstrating active problem resolution skills and close cooperation with other programs and services in accomplishing the Medical Center’s mission and goals. Responsibilities Functions Assigned Duties and Responsibilities The Chief, Pharmacy Service is responsible for ensuring all clinical, business operations and health information practices within their respective operations are measured with respect to quantity and quality of work performed. This work must be conducted in continuing compliance with the laws, regulations, and standards which govern those activities, reasonable expectation of VHA’s business partners, and the highest standards of compliance and business integrity. Clinical Functions: Directs the professional and clinical aspects of current Clinical Pharmacy programs. Actively seeks to develop and maintain effective and applicable Clinical Pharmacy programs from both a cost-benefit and patient outcome perspective. Advocates and promotes Pharmacy Service staff participation to include assessment of patient medication reviews, clinical consultation, review of pertinent laboratory monitors, specialized clinics, medication counseling, patient interviews, interdisciplinary team involvement, lectures/in-services, continuing education programs, and other applicable activities. Ensures appropriate quality of clinical pharmacy care and provides quality assurance assessments, including medication use evaluations (MUEs) through proactive and routine performance improvement programs. Program Management: Assures overall levels of pharmaceutical services are maintained at a quality consistent with current and accepted healthcare delivery standards. Maintains an effective continuous quality assessment and improvement program for the Pharmacy Service. Supervises an efficient and effective medication distribution system, including outpatient prescription dispensing, unit-dose dispensing, IV and chemotherapeutic admixtures services, automated medication replenishment and dispensing technology where appropriate. Serves as a subject matter expert and co-chair for Pharmacy and Therapeutics Council. Ensures pharmaceutical management is provided with pertinent, focused, safe, and current information concerning drug therapy alternatives, procurement, costs, medication usage, and National Formulary evaluation and compliance practices. Ensures council members are provided with necessary data, reports, and focused reviews to make appropriate and informed decisions. Maintains current professional service polices governing drug procurement, storage, and dispensing procedures, as well as the provision of drug information within the Pharmacy service. Coordinates efforts in maintain appropriate records and in meeting timely submission goals for all reports and measures pertaining to the Pharmacy Service. Budget and Fiscal Management: Responsible for the financial management of the service’s fund control points and recommendations for budget planning and management. Responsible for the primary oversight of inventory, procurement trends, and workload fluctuations affecting fiscal allocations. Proactively coordinates and develops the annual strategic and budget plan for the service consistent with guidance and goals from Medical Center leadership and/or Fiscal Service. Develops and implements tracking methods to monitor the service’s fiscal activities. Works with procurement to ensure proper utilization and management of departmental budgetary dollars. Collaborates and strategizes with other service chiefs in the development and execution of the overall Medical Center strategic and business plan. Plans initiatives and develops programs in collaboration with other services to ensure coordination of service, reduction of redundancies, and enhancement of cost effectiveness. Stays abreast of and educates staff about changing conditions in pharmacy and health care. Encourages and rewards risk-taking and entrepreneurial behavior that supports the mission and vision of the service and/or Medical Center. Coordinates and encourages demonstration projects, pilots, and other experimental approaches, which may lead to the development of alternative revenue streams and other gains in the organization’s outcomes. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm EST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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 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.) 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/. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: Experience. In addition to the GS-14 requirements, must have 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Grade Level Criteria. At the GS-15 level, Chiefs of Pharmacy must meet the following: 2. Individuals assigned as Chief of Pharmacy at Complexity Levels 2 or 3 and must meet the criteria noted below.: Manages a complex medical center-based pharmacy program that is defined as having multiple practice settings (e.g., hospital ambulatory care, long-term care, behavior health care) that require Joint Commission review as separate standards. In addition to the medical center pharmacy, has responsibility for pharmacy services at one or more of the following: CBOCs, Rural Health Program, domiciliary, or provides dispensing and/or clinical services to State Veterans Home. Presence of advanced clinical pharmacy programs that include pharmacist(s) that have approved scopes of practice with prescriptive privileges. Pharmacy provides clinical pharmacist services to three (3) or more specialty areas such as, but not limited to, hemo
