Federal Civilian Pharmacists Survey

1
Federal Civilian Pharmacists Survey

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

2
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

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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)

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Which HHS agency do you work for?
5
How long have you been practicing as a
federal civilian pharmacist?
6
Which degree(s) do you hold?
7
Does your current organization provide you with
opportunities for professional growth/development?
8
How often do you attend a national professional
meeting?
9
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)

10
Consideration of joining Commissioned Corps
within the next few years
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Reasons for joining Commissioned Corps

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

12
Is salary package comparable with pharmacists in
other setting (esp. private sector)?
13
Are you in a position with promotion potential?
14
Are civilian pharmacists valued and respected
healthcare professionals in the federal sector?
15
The level of satisfaction with current position
16
Top three cited factors that would increase job
satisfaction

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

17
Advantages Disadvantagesworking 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)

18
Have you visited the PharmPAC website before?
19
Would you want to participate in PharmPAC
activities/committees?
20
Which section of PharmPAC would you participate?
21
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.

22
Recommendations comments received for
services/activities (contd)

• 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

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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

24
Action Items (contd)

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