Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (Mental Health)

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 4 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.

Duties

This position is in the Pharmacy Service at the Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) for Mental Health is a licensed pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completed an American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists accredited Clinical Pharmacy Practice Residency, or other equivalent experience. The incumbent is responsible for Mental Health clinical pharmacy activities and consultations in areas such as outpatient mental health, inpatient mental health, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Mental Health residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTP), Primary Care - Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) and other mental health care areas. Primary responsibilities will be providing comprehensive medication management to Veterans within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) for Mental Health will work with the Interdisciplinary Team(s) to assist in medication reconciliation, comprehensive medication management, therapeutic monitoring, lab ordering and monitoring, and patient education. They also may assist with opioid service agreements, review pharmacologic modalities used and make patient specific recommendations to improve patient pain and functional status and reduce adverse effects, while assisting to identify aberrant behaviors related to pharmacologic therapy -The incumbent will provide education to staff in the mental health care setting. The CPS may be assigned clinical cross-coverage duties as needed to meet the needs of the medical center. Assists in other patient care areas as deemed necessary to maintain the consistency of overall pharmacy services. Duties include but are not limited to: All inpatient/outpatient orders are checked to include patient information, correct medication, dose, route, and frequency of administration. Orders are checked for patient allergies, drug interactions, incompatibilities, duplication and priority. Identifies, interprets, and resolves prescribing and dispensing issues, including pharmaco-therapeutics and formulary. Documents interventions as necessary. Dispenses controlled substances with accuracy according to current policy and procedures for inpatients and outpatients. Acts as an advanced practice provider, with specialty training in Mental Health with a scope of practice, providing expertise to other providers, pharmacists, nursing, and other disciplines, as appropriate. As part of the interdisciplinary team, appropriately renders care to mental health patients, including, but not limited to, prescribing medications, to include initiation, continuation, discontinuation, and altering therapy, based upon established formulary or protocols under the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist's Scope of Practice; physical assessment; monitoring medication regimens; ordering and analyzing necessary laboratory tests; adjusting medications; and assisting in the management of medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic disease states. Provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, formulary, pharmacoeconomics, adverse drug reactions, allergies and disease states. Information and/or changes is communicated to the interdisciplinary team. Assist in preparing patients for discharge by evaluating the patients' medications, ordering necessary medications and providing education to the patient and/or caregiver. Provides oral and written consultation with other health care professionals regarding drug therapy selection or management (including drug induced problems) in an accurate, timely and professional manner. Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information that includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, electing an appropriate drug and related therapy, and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen. Supervises and trains pharmacy residents and students in Mental Health. Evaluates residents and students based on performance, presentations and examinations. Provides in-service presentations on mental health topics to students, residents, and professional healthcare staff. Maintains an organized and structured acute care rotation for pharmacy students and residents. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 07:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 50230-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Pharmacists must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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, Illinois60602-5109; 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. NOTE: 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 license 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 employment. This requirement does not apply to license