Associate Editor
Recent graduates, as well as practicing
pharmacists looking for a career move, will want to check
out the wide array of opportunities offered by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA). Running a patient clinic,
pursuing a specialty at one of its 157 medical centers, and
engaging in research are among the many paths a VA
pharmacist can follow.
The VA employs more than 5000 licensed pharmacists
throughout its network of medical centers, ambulatory and
community-based outpatient clinics, and nursing homes.
Pharmacists get the chance to apply the full scope of their
skills and knowledge in their practice—working closely with
physicians, nurses, and other health care practitioners to
ensure that the nation's veterans receive the best care. The VA
offers plenty of room for advancement, as well as a chance to
work with the largest residency program in the United States.
A FOCUS ON PATIENT CARE
The VA's pharmacy residency program offers more practice
settings and practice areas than any private sector system,
with specialty opportunities for both postgraduate year 1
(PGY-1) and postgraduate year 2 residents. These specialties
include ambulatory care, geriatrics, infectious diseases,
intensive care, internal medicine, oncology, primary care,
and psychiatry.
Jane Pendergrass, RPh, is chief of pharmacy service at the
Durham VA Medical Center (DVAMC) in North Carolina,
where she has been on the staff since 1978. DVAMC's PGY-1 program is one of more than 80 VA pharmacy residency
programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Pendergrass has seen much growth in the profession over
the past 30 years. "We now have a large staff of clinical pharmacy
specialists, and many of them have limited prescriptive
authority; in the late 1970s, that was unheard of," she
explained. "Pharmacists have moved beyond the walls of the
pharmacy to take active roles with the medical center."
Indeed, VA pharmacists round with the entire patient care
team, helping to guide the best course of drug therapies.
They provide direct patient education, as well as conduct
therapeutic and pharmacokinetic consulting services.
At DVAMC, pharmacy residents can choose from a
variety of elective rotations, including clinics focusing on
anticoagulation, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid and risk
reduction. "We have a lot of opportunity to assist our
patients by providing medication counseling and assuring
each patient understands his or her medications," notes
Pendergrass. Other rotations focus on infectious disease,
formulary management, pharmacy administration, and the
investigational drug service.
TRANSITIONING FROM THE RETAIL SECTOR
For those currently practicing in the retail setting, the VA
offers a high level of support to pharmacists who want to
make the switch. All newly appointed VA pharmacists complete
an extensive orientation program, and former retail
pharmacists hired into VA outpatient settings can complete
special training and certification. The VA also offers tuition
reimbursement and scholarship programs for professional
continuing education.
Another advantage the VA offers is mobility. With facilities
in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories,
an employee may seek employment at any VA location
posting a vacancy and, if hired, transfer without loss of
benefits. Only one active state license is necessary to practice
in any VA facility.
VA salaries are competitive with the private sector. Starting
salaries are recommended by a Pharmacist Professional
Standards Board, based on professional education, training,
and experience. VA pharmacists are compensated according
to a Locality Pay System that ensures that they are paid
competitive rates within each local labor market.
A PAPERLESS WORKPLACE
The VA has been on the leading edge of the electronic health
records movement. VA pharmacists work in a virtually
paperless workplace that includes a computerized patient
record system, a bar-code medication administration system,
and fully automated robotic dispensing systems. Thus,
VA pharmacists have more time to focus on patient care.
For more information on opportunities with the VA, go to www.VAcareers.va.gov, or call 800-949-0002. |
"Electronic medical records allow pharmacists to see
medication orders in real time, which improves the timeliness
of dosing. With built-in drug interaction programs and
allergy alerts, it really has improved our ability to deliver
high-quality patient care," notes Pendergrass.
"The VA is an excellent environment to practice pharmacy,"
she concludes. "We have both inpatient and outpatient
pharmacies which allow for a varied practice, and this helps
prevent burnout. Assisting in the care of military veterans is
rewarding by itself. Every day, in some way, we have made a
difference to our patients."
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