Federal Civilian Federal Civilian Pharmacists SurveyPharmacists Survey

October 7, 2004October 7, 2004

Presented ByPresented By

PharmPAC Civilian PharmPAC Civilian Pharmacists Pharmacists

SubcommitteeSubcommittee

SurveySurvey Purpose: To assess the needs of Civil Purpose: To assess the needs of Civil

Service Pharmacists in IHS, NIH & Service Pharmacists in IHS, NIH & FDAFDA

The number of pharmacists surveyed: The number of pharmacists surveyed: 187 pharmacists from 14 states 187 pharmacists from 14 states

Survey Tool: SurveyMonkey.comSurvey Tool: SurveyMonkey.com Response Rate: 63 % ( 2 reminders)Response Rate: 63 % ( 2 reminders) Date completed: June 25 , 2004Date completed: June 25 , 2004

Civilian Subcommittee Civilian Subcommittee MembersMembers

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

Which HHS agency do you Which HHS agency do you work for?work for?

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I H S NIH FDA

How long have you been How long have you been practicing as a federal civilian practicing as a federal civilian

pharmacist?pharmacist?

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Which degree(s) do you Which degree(s) do you hold?hold?

B.S.53%

PharmD27%

M.S.9%

M.P.H.4%

Other7%

Does your current Does your current organization provide you organization provide you

with opportunities for with opportunities for professional professional

growth/development?growth/development?

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Yes No

How often do you attend a How often do you attend a national professional national professional

meeting?meeting?

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If answered “rarely” or “never”, If answered “rarely” or “never”, please cite your reasons for not please cite your reasons for not

attending a professional meetingattending a professional meeting

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

Consideration of joining Consideration of joining Commissioned Corps within Commissioned Corps within

the next few yearsthe next few years

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Yes No

May

be

Reasons for joining Reasons for joining Commissioned CorpsCommissioned Corps

Benefits: sign-on bonus, Benefits: sign-on bonus, retirement, higher salary (7)retirement, higher salary (7)

Job growth and mobility (6)Job growth and mobility (6) Impact on public health (1)Impact on public health (1)

Is salary package comparable Is salary package comparable with pharmacists in other with pharmacists in other

setting (esp. private sector)?setting (esp. private sector)?

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Are you in a position with Are you in a position with promotion potential?promotion potential?

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100

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Yes No

Are civilian pharmacists Are civilian pharmacists valued and respected valued and respected

healthcare professionals in the healthcare professionals in the federal sector?federal sector?

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2030

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6070

8090

100

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Yes No

The level of satisfaction The level of satisfaction with current positionwith current position

Very satisfied24%

Somewhat satisfied

32%

Satisfied23%

Very dissatisfied

4%Somewhat dissatisfied

17%

Top three cited factors that Top three cited factors that would would

increase job satisfactionincrease job satisfaction Adequate compensation, Adequate compensation,

award, special payaward, special pay Opportunities, promotion Opportunities, promotion

potential potential Recognition, respect Recognition, respect

Advantages & Advantages & DisadvantagesDisadvantages

working as a federal civilian working as a federal civilian pharmacist vs. working in the pharmacist vs. working in the

private sectorprivate sector Advantages (98 responses):Advantages (98 responses): Flexible schedule/good working hours Flexible schedule/good working hours

(33)(33) Professional satisfaction (26)Professional satisfaction (26) Job security (24)Job security (24) Benefits (20)Benefits (20)

Disadvantages (84 responses):Disadvantages (84 responses): Lower salary (44)Lower salary (44) Bureaucracy, no advancement, poor Bureaucracy, no advancement, poor

benefits, workload (4 responses each)benefits, workload (4 responses each)

Have you visited the Have you visited the PharmPAC website before?PharmPAC website before?

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80

100

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Yes No

Would you want to Would you want to participate in PharmPAC participate in PharmPAC

activities/committees?activities/committees?

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Yes No

Which section of PharmPAC Which section of PharmPAC

would you participate?would you participate?

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Recru

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unicat

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Caree

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Recommendations & Recommendations & comments received for comments received for

services/activitiesservices/activities Pay parityPay parity

There is a national shortage of RPh and yet There is a national shortage of RPh and yet specialty/retention pay for civilian pharmacists specialty/retention pay for civilian pharmacists in the federal government does not exist.in the federal government does not exist.

Reduction of pay discrepancy between two Reduction of pay discrepancy between two groups (federal vs. private sector).groups (federal vs. private sector).

Assistance from PharmPAC with pay Assistance from PharmPAC with pay parity/retention pay for civilians that are parity/retention pay for civilians that are currently enjoyed by physicians and Comm. Corp currently enjoyed by physicians and Comm. Corp pharmacists.pharmacists.

Special pay for pharmacist in federal agencies to Special pay for pharmacist in federal agencies to make it more comparable to the current market make it more comparable to the current market in order to attract more top talent RPh for both in order to attract more top talent RPh for both sides.sides.

Recommendations & Recommendations & comments received for comments received for

services/activitiesservices/activities (cont’d) (cont’d) RecruitmentRecruitment

Update the classification system from Update the classification system from the standards set in 1968 ( GS- 12, 13 the standards set in 1968 ( GS- 12, 13 levels for non-supervisory positions)levels for non-supervisory positions)

Career development/administrationCareer development/administration Develop career ladder for civilians Develop career ladder for civilians

based on individual meritsbased on individual merits Communicate career opportunities to Communicate career opportunities to

all pharmacists in the governmentall pharmacists in the government Need for an objective evaluation and Need for an objective evaluation and

promotion system for civilianspromotion system for civilians

Action ItemsAction Items

Seek guidance from PharmPAC on Seek guidance from PharmPAC on issues of salary, promotion and issues of salary, promotion and educational opportunitieseducational opportunities

Recruit civilian pharmacists Recruit civilian pharmacists representatives into four sections of representatives into four sections of PharmPACPharmPAC

Have civilian pharmacist Have civilian pharmacist representation in national meetings representation in national meetings along with the Commission Corps along with the Commission Corps pharmacistspharmacists

Action Items (cont’d)Action Items (cont’d)

Examine Title 42Examine Title 42 Streamline GS scale across HHS Streamline GS scale across HHS

agency according to agency according to pharmacist’s rolepharmacist’s role

Seek advice on future needs of Seek advice on future needs of civilian federal pharmacists from civilian federal pharmacists from an independent consultant groupan independent consultant group