Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Primary Care

Overview

PERFORMANCE PLANNING

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialty serves as a vital clinical leader. This role is responsible for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered pharmacy services for individuals receiving specialty medications—seamlessly managing the entire continuum of medication access, delivery, and innovative clinical care. Utilizing advanced expertise in specialty disease state management, the Specialist provides high-touch clinical services to patients utilizing the DCH Specialty Pharmacy, specifically focusing on:

• Comprehensive Patient Assessment and ongoing reassessments.
• Medication Review and Reconciliation to ensure therapy optimization and safety.
• Patient Education and Counseling to maximize adherence and manage side effects.
• Proactive, Regular Follow-up Care to improve long-term patient health outcomes.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Clinical Practice & Direct Patient Care

• Patient Care Planning & Reassessment: Develops individualized patient care plans and performs therapy management baseline and periodic reassessment for every enrolled patient prior to medication dispensation.
• Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation: Conducts initial care plans and reassessments involving adherence monitoring, medication reconciliation, drug interaction assessment, side effect management, comprehensive medication reviews (CMR), and patient counseling/education.
• Medication Safety & Efficacy: Ensures optimal effectiveness and safety of medications dispensed.
• Clinical & Financial Documentation: Documents patient education, improvements in patient outcomes, and cost-containment efforts in the specialty pharmacy management software.

Provider Support & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Therapy Selection & Access: Supports providers in selecting appropriate specialty medication(s) and writing insurance coverage appeal letters for specialty medication(s).
• Drug Information Services: Responds to patient-specific drug information requests and consistently provides accurate, clear, and timely drug information to healthcare teams and patients.
• Clinical Consulting: Serves as a clinical resource to the healthcare team.

Operations, Supervision, & Management

• Personnel Supervision: Provides functional supervision of technical staff working in their area, including completion of job assignments and assuring adherence to institutional policies and procedures.
• Operational Oversight: Manages time efficiently and oversees daily operations to maintain high productivity of Specialty Pharmacy Services staff.
• Productivity Tracking: Maintains workload statistics and other productivity parameters to promote the success of the specialty pharmacy services.

Quality Management, Accreditation, & Compliance

• Accreditation & Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI): Contributes to accreditation maintenance and renewal along with associated quality improvement and assurance initiatives and metrics.
• Committee Participation: Participates actively in the Quality Management Committee.
• Policy & Protocol Formulation: Assists the System Director of Pharmacy in the development of new policies and procedures, assures timely review/revision of procedures as the program expands, and develops medication protocols to optimize patient drug therapy.
• Performance Reporting: Participates in other assigned performance improvement initiatives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintains a working knowledge of all State and Federal laws and regulations affecting the practice of pharmacy. 

Education, Training, & Professional Development

• Staff & Institutional Education: Develops and presents educational topics and staff development programs; participates in activities to enhance the pharmacy department’s professional and/or clinical services.
• Onboarding & Staff Training: Assists with the training of new employees and ongoing staff education.
• Experiential Training & Mentorship: Maintains a clinical pharmacy rotation for students and residents while supporting and mentoring resident research and other scholarly activities.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.

• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Must hold a current license to practice pharmacy in the State of Alabama or acquire license in 90 days.

This position requires a:

• Bachelor of Science or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Completion of an ASHP Accredited PGY1 or three years’ experience in primary care or Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is required.
• An ASHP Accredited PGY2 or minimum of four years postgraduate experience in direct patient care in a specialty pharmacy environment is preferred.  
• Credentialed as a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialty (BCPS) or Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties or as a Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP) by Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board (SPCB) is preferred.
• Specialty, ambulatory care, and Medication Therapy Management (MTM) experience is preferred.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak and comprehend English.
• Must be patient-centered, flexible, adaptable to change, innovative, and willing to take on tasks/responsibilities with autonomy and creativity as we are a growing program, and the working environment will continue to change. Clear and Concise Communication Skills able to articulate information, both verbally and in writing, in a clear and concise professional and grammatically correct manner
• Consistent Professional Demeanor maintain professional attitude and behavior at all times
• Excellent Interpersonal Skills demonstrate empathy with patients and family members in tone, language, questions and demonstrate patience, caring, sensitivity, empathy, and cultural competency throughout job responsibilities
• Experience precepting and training pharmacy students and residents are preferred. Membership and active participation in professional pharmacy organizations is expected.  Leadership experience is preferred.  Work experience on multidisciplinary teams and participating on Medical Staff Committees is preferred.  Must possess effective communication and supervisory skills. 
• Computer/Technology Competency: Proficient in use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Able to multi-task using multiple computer databases/platforms/applications

WORKING CONDITIONS

WORK CONTEXT

Environmental

• Exposure to contaminants
• Exposure to hazardous conditions
• Close physical proximity
• Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment

Psychological

• Contact with others
• Occasionally deal with unpleasant or angry people
• Daily use of electronic mail
• Engage in face to face discussions
• Frequent use telephone
• Work with group or team

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Physical activities include: Talking, hearing, bending, twisting, walking, kneeling, crouching, stooping, climbing, balancing, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, repetitive motion, standing, and/or using hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls).
• Light work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Possible exposure to disease, infection and hazardous materials.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.

OTHER JOB FACTORS

• Must be pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Must be reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfill obligations.
• Must be able to file and maintain records.
• Must be careful about detail and be thorough in completing work tasks
• Must be willing to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Must be honest and ethical.
• Must be able to accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.