Pharmacist (Medication Safety/Compliance Facility Program Manager)

This Pharmacist (Medication Safety/Compliance Facility Program Manager) functions as a Medication Safety Officer for the Pharmacy Service. This important leadership position will work collaboratively with Pharmacy, Nursing, and health care system leadership and staff. The incumbent manages/coordinates all medication safety, performance improvement, and regulatory (e.g., VHA, DEA, Joint Commission, USP, EPA, etc.) compliance for the service.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 11679-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA Careers - Pharmacy: https://youtube.com/embed/Fn_ickNBEws The VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) has an immediate opening for a full-time Medication Safety and Compliance Pharmacy Program Manager to work at the Palo Alto Division. This pharmacy leadership position is responsible for all medication safety, performance improvement and regulatory compliance throughout pharmacy service across the whole healthcare system. Works collaboratively with Pharmacy, Nursing, Quality/Safety/Value (QSV) and Health Care System leadership, supervisors, and front-line staff. The VAPAHCS pharmacy provides comprehensive clinical and distributive pharmacy services to our 300-bed Palo Alto Acute Care hospital division, the Menlo Park extended care and mental health residential rehabilitation division, and Ambulatory Care clinics (primary care and specialty clinics) in the Palo Alto, San Jose, Monterey, Capitola, Livermore, and Fremont CBOCs within VAPAHCS. Duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to: Co-Chairs the healthcare system Medication Safety Committee (sub-Committee of P&T) with a Nurse leader. This includes reviewing items to be brought to the committee; preparing the agenda, minutes and summary; coordinating the presentations; and providing follow-up to the requestors. Reports, drug safety information, and policies are presented to the committee. Serves as a back-up Secretary of the P&T Committee. Utilizes medication variance reporting tools and submits monthly and quarterly trending reports to pharmacy management and the Medication Safety Subcommittee for discussion. Problem prone or high-risk areas are identified and targeted for performance improvement with the involvement of the responsible section supervisor and staff. Reviews all adverse drug reaction reporting, evaluates monthly and submits to P&T for review/potential intervention. Ensures Pharmacy Service is compliant with all regulatory agencies having jurisdiction (e.g., VHA, DEA, Joint Commission, USP, EPA, etc.). This includes reviewing standards and requirements, assessing current level of compliance, working with Pharmacy Leadership team to identify actions plans to achieve compliance, facilitating implementation of actions, and reassessing compliance. Develops and revises all medication/regulation-related Health Care System policies. This includes independently researching the topic, coordinating the discussion with interested parties to obtain input and concurrence, writing/editing Health Care System Memorandum or Pharmacy Policy and Procedure Manuals, and routing policy for signatures. All applicable laws and regulatory requirements and professional standards of practice are incorporated into policies. Actively participates in all health care system medication related Root Cause Analysis and Medication Aggregate Review teams and works with appropriate pharmacy supervisors to identify potential improvement opportunities and facilitates their implementation. Actively participates in process improvement activities in a variety of roles (Facilitator, Champion, Member). Collaborates closely with Pharmacy Supervisors, Informatics/Pharmacoeconomic/Procurement Pharmacists, and front-line staff to see projects through to completion; as well as post implementation data collection. Precepts PGY1 Pharmacy Residents and pharmacy students on a Medication Safety/Compliance 5-week block rotation and Longitudinal Leadership rotation.

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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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/.