# Presentation: 499856

## Federal Civilian Pharmacists Survey

**October 7, 2004**
**Presented By**
**PharmPAC Civilian Pharmacists Subcommittee**

## Survey

- Purpose: To assess the needs of Civil Service Pharmacists in IHS, NIH & FDA
- The number of pharmacists surveyed: 187 pharmacists from 14 states
- Survey Tool: SurveyMonkey.com
- Response Rate: 63 % ( 2 reminders)
- Date completed: June 25 , 2004

## Civilian Subcommittee Members

- Renan Bonnel (FDA)
- Jennie Chang (FDA)
- Min Chen (FDA)
- Beverly Conner (FDA)
- Scharla Estep (NIH)
- Jae Kim (NIH)
- Hyon Kwon (FDA)
- Cindy Kortepeter (FDA)
- Bob Porter (I H S)
- Martin Pollock (FDA)
- Joyce Weaver (FDA)
- Jessie Weintraub (NIH)

##      Which HHS agency do you work for?

##     How long have you been practicing as a federal civilian pharmacist?

## Which degree(s) do you hold?

## Does your current organization provide you with opportunities for professional growth/development?

## How often do you attend a national professional meeting?

## If answered “rarely” or “never”, please cite your reasons for not attending a professional meeting

- Budgetary reasons (18)
- Scheduling conflicts/workload (13)
- No opportunity/support (7)
- Opportunity is given to others (3)
- Lack of interest (2)

## Consideration of joining Commissioned Corps within the next few years

## Reasons for joining Commissioned Corps

- Benefits:  sign-on bonus, retirement, higher salary (7)
- Job growth and mobility (6)
- Impact on public health (1)

## Is salary package comparable with pharmacists in other setting (esp. private sector)?

## Are you in a position with promotion potential?

## Are civilian pharmacists valued and respected healthcare professionals in the federal sector?

## The level of satisfaction with current position

## Top three cited factors that would increase job satisfaction

- Adequate compensation, award, special pay
- Opportunities, promotion potential
- Recognition, respect

## Advantages & Disadvantagesworking as a federal civilian pharmacist vs. working in the private sector

- Advantages (98 responses):
- Flexible schedule/good working hours (33)
- Professional satisfaction (26)
- Job security (24)
- Benefits (20)
- Disadvantages (84 responses):
- Lower salary (44)
- Bureaucracy, no advancement, poor benefits, workload (4 responses each)

## Have you visited the PharmPAC website before?

## Would you want to participate in PharmPAC activities/committees?

## Which section of PharmPAC would you participate?

## Recommendations & comments received for services/activities

**Pay parity**
- There is a national shortage of RPh and yet specialty/retention pay for civilian pharmacists in the federal government does not exist.
- Reduction of pay discrepancy between two groups (federal vs. private sector).
- Assistance from PharmPAC with pay parity/retention pay for civilians that are currently enjoyed by physicians and Comm. Corp pharmacists.
- Special pay for pharmacist in federal agencies to make it more comparable to the current market  in order to attract more top talent RPh for both sides.

## Recommendations & comments received for services/activities (cont’d)

- Recruitment
- Update the classification system from the standards set in 1968 ( GS- 12, 13  levels for non-supervisory positions)
- Career development/administration
- Develop career ladder for civilians based on individual merits
- Communicate career opportunities to all pharmacists in the government
- Need for an objective evaluation and promotion system for civilians

## Action Items

- Seek guidance from PharmPAC on issues of salary, promotion and educational opportunities
- Recruit civilian pharmacists representatives into four sections of PharmPAC
- Have civilian pharmacist representation in national meetings along with the Commission Corps pharmacists

## Action Items (cont’d)

- Examine Title 42
- Streamline GS scale across HHS agency according to pharmacist’s role
- Seek advice on future needs of civilian federal pharmacists from an independent consultant group