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

3. 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)

4. 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

11. 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 (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

23. 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 (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