Pharmacist - Wage

State Role Title: Pharmacist I

Hiring Range: $65.00 - $75.00/hr

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: Dept of Health

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Job Duties

The Division of Pharmacy Services (DPS), part of the Office of Epidemiology, operates in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment that supports the timely delivery of lifesaving medications across the Commonwealth. DPS plays a vital role in protecting public health by ensuring Virginia’s communities have access to essential medications, medical supplies, and personal care products. The wage pharmacist will allow for uninterrupted service delivery and will operate independently to ensure Virginians continue to maintain access to care.

• Works independently entering prescription information into a prescription computer database, filling prescriptions, compounding and dispensing strengths and dosages not available commercially.
• Carefully reviews orders for completeness, reviews patient drug profiles, resolves concerns regarding drug interactions and compliance, and provides drug information to healthcare professionals, patients and the public.
• Initiates medication billing and reimbursement to third parties, including adjudication of claims and prior authorization.
• Maintains inventory and control of pharmaceutical items in accordance with state procurement policy and regulations, state and federal laws and regulations, group purchasing organizations and HRSA 340B program.
• Repackages drugs into dispensing packages, utilizes packaging solutions such as multidose compliance packaging, maintains physical security of pharmacy to comply with state regulation, answers questions from patients and healthcare personnel.
• Provides daily oversight of pharmacy activities.
• Provides oversight and support for distribution of bulk clinic pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, and medical supplies to local health departments and external entities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

As a pharmacist, works independently entering prescription information into a prescription computer database, filling and dispensing prescriptions, compounding strengths and dosages not available commercially, repackaging drugs, and utilizing packaging solutions such as multidose compliance packaging. Has comprehensive knowledge of pharmacy practices, procedures, regulations and laws, drug therapies, especially those associated with the treatment of communicable and chronic diseases in support of public health, knowledge of contemporary public health pharmaceutical issues, strategies and solutions. Initiates medication billing and reimbursement to third parties, including adjudication of claims and prior authorization. Carefully reviews orders for completeness, reviews patient drug profiles, resolves concerns regarding drug interactions and compliance and provides drug information to health care professionals, patients and the public. Maintains inventory, compliance and control of pharmaceutical items in accordance with state procurement policy and regulations, state and federal laws and regulations, group purchasing organizations and HRSA 340B program. Provides daily oversight of pharmacy activities. Provides oversight and support for distribution of bulk clinic pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, and medical supplies to local health departments and external entities as identified. Maintains physical security of pharmacy and ensures medications are prepared and dispensed in compliance to policy, procedures and regulation promulgated by state and federal entities. Serves in a consultative role to help respond to questions from patients, clinicians, health departments, constituents and legislators in the Commonwealth. Participates in pharmacy and program management activities involving reviewing policies, procedures, protocols, therapeutic guidelines, disease/treatment management and standards of pharmacy practice. Provides collaborative and interdisciplinary care in a cost-effective, evidence-based manner to improve patient outcomes. Perform continuous quality improvement, problem solving, quality assurance and project management. Assists managers with running and providing specialized reports and works on projects as assigned. Utilizes strong customer service, organization, time management and communication (oral and written). Utilizes computer software, including Microsoft Excel and Word. Requires problem solving and analyzing data/information. Requires standing for extended periods of time and lifting up to 35 pounds. Must be licensed to practice in Virginia and willing to do minimal travel.

Wage employees are subject to the following conditions of employment:

• Wage employees serve at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.
• Wage employees are not covered by the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act. Therefore, they are not eligible for benefits which are provided to salaried employees, such as leave credits, holiday pay, insurance, access to the grievance procedure, etc.
• Wage employees are paid only for the hours they actually work.
• Virginia state law currently requires that agencies not permit wage employees to work in excess of 29 hours per week on average over the course of a year.
• Wage employees may not work for VDH beyond 1,500 hours during the period of May 1 – April 30 of the following year (the Standard Measurement Period).
• Once a wage employee works the maximum of 1,500 hours during the Standard Measurement Period, the employee may be rehired as a wage employee of VDH only after the next Standard Measurement Period has begun.
• Wage employees are eligible to apply for all classified positions for which recruitment has been initiated, including those limited to State Employees Only.
• If a wage employee becomes employed in a classified position, he/she will be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the time worked as a wage employee.
• Continuing employment is based on available funding and business need.

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed pharmacist in Virginia
• Experience preparing/running reports and compiling and analyzing data
• Experience with inventory management related to pharmacy operations
• Experience working with patients, clinical personnel and other pharmacy staff
• Experience facilitating training or informational/educational events pertaining to drug therapies or other pharmacy related issues
• Experience dispensing pharmaceutical products as a practicing pharmacist
• Experience adjudicating insurance claims

Additional Considerations

• Experience with analytical and computer software, including Microsoft Office programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Sharepoint preferred
• Experience with project management, including initiating and leading special assigned projects preferred
• Experience with managing 340B inventory and ensuring compliance preferred
• Experience working in public health environment preferred

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position. Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions. It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov. If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment. As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Contact Information

Name: Curt Crostic

Phone: N/A

Email: curt.crostic@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019. Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.