Clinical Investigative Pharmacist Specialist
Job Summary Aptive is seeking a Clinical Investigative Pharmacist Specialist (CIPS) to support VA PBM Clinical Informatics and EHR Modernization (EHRM). This role investigates pharmacy informatics issues before and after go-lives, supports readiness and response activities at medical centers, and develops mitigation strategies in collaboration with EHRM stakeholders. Primary Responsibilities
- Investigate pharmacy-related concerns and issues arising before and after EHR Go-Lives, determining root causes and developing effective mitigation strategies
- Actively engage with VA Medical Centers to support preparedness, readiness, and operational response during EHR deployment
- Work closely with EHRM Solution Experts and stakeholders to resolve identified issues and drive timely, sustainable solutions
- Support the Associate Chief Consultant for Network Pharmacy Informatics with analysis, functional specifications, and project execution
- Serve as a conduit between focus groups, end-users, and the project team to refine and implement pharmacy informatics specifications
- Proactively liaise with OI&T staff to ensure functionality and accessibility of VISN, regional, and central data warehouses for VA clinicians
- Serve as a VHA subject matter expert collaborating with DOD counterparts to define joint business processes, requirements, and information models
- Communicate PBM CI issues effectively to MAP, VISNs, VACO/Patient Care Services, and medical center personnel
- Complete and verify orders in Legacy VistA or Cerner EHR, ensuring patient safety is the primary consideration in resolving clinical system discrepancies
- Maintain the PBM Master account database for clinical and technical accuracy across pharmacy files and applications
- Survey user needs, develop software requirement specifications, and recommend solutions that best satisfy business owner requirements
- Conduct specialized studies on automation in support of pharmacy re-engineering and EHRM
- Assist in coordinating and delivering pharmacy information system training at VA medical centers
- Assess new technology for patient safety enhancement and participate in research and review of new pharmacy systems
Minimum Qualifications
- U.S. citizenship, pharmacy degree (BS Pharmacy and/or PharmD), and active, unrestricted pharmacist license in a U.S. state/territory/DC.
- Strong oral/written communication skills and experience explaining EHR functionality/configurations to diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience investigating EHR behavior/configuration issues and contributing to mitigation strategies (Oracle Cerner EHR experience strongly preferred).
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives and apply regulatory/quality standards to drive operational improvements.
Desired Qualifications
- Prior experience supporting VA EHRM or federal EHR Go-Live activities
- Familiarity with BCMA, Adverse Reaction Tracking, and VA pharmacy data systems
- Experience working in or with VHA, DOD, or IHS pharmacy informatics programs
- Technical analysis and discovery experience or knowledge
- Experience in the practice of Lean Portfolio Management, Agile methodology and/or SAFe delivery with appropriate tools (i.e., Jira, Confluence or Jira Align)