Facility Program Manager

The Facility Program Manager, Pharmacy Informatics/ADPAC Specialist, is a multifunctional position with an emphasis on informatics operations that operates within the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. The incumbent serves as a resource person in the management and development of multiple hardware and software tools critical to pharmacy service operations, as well as the collection, management, and analysis of data for pharmacy service or Healthcare System management.

**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: Facility Program Manager (Pharmacy Informatics/ADPAC Specialist) 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: Functions as a CPRS program specialist by participation in the evaluation and maintenance of the electronic health record as it relates to medication utilization. This would include the following: Serves as an active member on Healthcare System CPRS committees. Coordinates with Pharmacy to support pharmacy initiatives in pharmaceutical care and proper documentation of these activities. Works with other Healthcare System services in their efforts to develop and maintain decision supported medication ordering pathways. Identifies and investigates problems relating to the electronic health record and initiates corrective actions or procedures. Functions as an automation specialist for all pharmacy equipment used to package, dispense, and store pharmaceuticals. This would include the following: Assists pharmacy management in the assessment of existing pharmacy automation. When it is determined that acquisition of new automation is necessary, assists in the evaluation of market options, assists in contract development, and assumes responsibility, along with Clinical Engineering, for assuring that vendor contract obligations are met. Coordinates with inpatient and outpatient pharmacy supervisors, as well as pharmacy technicians, to support continuing operation of pharmacy automation. Identifies and investigates problems relating to pharmacy automation and initiates corrective actions or procedures. Functions as the primary person responsible for the request of VISTA, network, and application specific user accounts. Assures pharmacy staff members receive appropriate levels of system access initially and then as the nature of their appointments change. Possesses a wide range of knowledge of parenteral and oral forms of medication and their uses, interactions or incompatibilities with other drugs, dosage forms, recommended dosages, and basic pharmacology. Possesses knowledge of kinetic dosing models and how they can be incorporated into order sets/control systems to ensure safety. Troubleshoots user problems on computer or ADP issues; refers technical problems to OIT and Biomedical Engineering as appropriate. Works with OIT to maintain the VISTA pharmacy package. Is designated as the VISTA pharmacy package manager. Serves as Pharmacy Service representative to the BCMA Multidisciplinary Committee and represents Pharmacy Service interests and perspectives related to ADP issues. Serves on other committees as assigned by Chief, Pharmacy Service. Gathers and interprets data about Pharmacy Service work processes and suitable process redesign of management information systems to capture data about these processes. This would include monthly Reprint Audits and OIG Non-Control Monitors. Works with Clinical Applications Coordinators (CAC's) in developing CPRS ordering enhancements, pharmacy related quick orders and VISN developed MUE's and clinical reminders. Participates in beta testing of nationally developed software such as BCMA, inpatient medications and outpatient medications prior to national release. Troubleshoots the software following developed test plans. Maintains pharmacy computer databases (National Drug File, local drug file, users, adverse reactions/allergies, orderable item file, IV additive and solutions file and pharmacy ordering enhancements). Reviews all changes and updates to all pharmacy related software. Performs Fileman, SQL and ProClarity searches as requested by the Pharmacy Management team, or their delegates. As a government purchase card approving official, the Program Manager, Pharmacy Informatics/ADPAC Specialist will ensure compliance with all VHA Handbook 1730.1 requirements related to the use of the government purchase card, retention, and applicable time frames. Supervisory Controls: The Program Manager, Pharmacy Informatics/ADPAC Specialist reports to the Chief of Pharmacy, administratively. This individual will work highly independent of direct supervision but will have responsibilities for projects arising from all Pharmacy Supervisors. (Clinical, Inpatient, Outpatient). The ADPAC will often confer with all Pharmacy supervisors to resolve particularly problematic issues. Preferred Experience: Prior experience with Pharmacy Informatics. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); straight pulling (1 hour); pushing (1 hour) reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (2 hours); standing (2 hours); repeated bending (2 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted).