Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Overview

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist shall support patient care responsibilities for specialty pharmacy patients.

The Clinical Pharmacist shall serve as a liaison between the Specialty pharmacy staff and the Assistant Director of Pharmacy. The Clinical Pharmacist shall deliver comprehensive services for patients receiving specialty medications across the spectrum of access, delivery, and innovative clinical care. Be responsible for applying clinical knowledge and expertise of specialty disease state management to provide clinical services including 1) patient assessment, 2) medication review and reconciliation 3) patient education and 4) regular follow up with patients utilizing the DCH Outpatient pharmacy for their specialty medication needs.

Responsibilities

Staffing & Clinical Activities:

Reviews, interprets, clarifies and processes all medication orders to ensure safety for patients of all ages using patient profiles and available clinical data.

Ensures the safe and timely delivery of medications to patient care areas.

Utilizes barcode verification and automation software and hardware when executing pharmacist checking and dispensing functions.

Provides clinical pharmacy services including pharmacokinetics, renal dosing, IV to PO interchanges, dosing recommendations, and antibiotic stewardship review as appropriate for assigned coverage areas in central or other areas of general coverage.

Documents clinical interventions.

Supervision & Pharmacy Workflow:

Monitors pharmacy work flow to ensure all daily distributive and clinical functions are accomplished.

Supervises and redirects technical staff to optimize time management, execute timely medication delivery, and to ensure auditing and cleaning responsibilities are completed as defined in established daily workflows.

Provides immediate, direct supervision, as defined by pharmacy leadership, to unlicensed pharmacy students on rotation.

Medication Safety & Compliance

Ensures a safe and appropriate medication use process through medication event reporting.

Performs and documents monthly unit inspections and consults with and advises nursing staff on proper storage and handling of medications including code carts and floor stock.

Has working knowledge of all State and Federal laws and regulations affecting the practice of pharmacy.

Maintains annual continuing education requirements as required by the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy.

Training:

Functions as a preceptor when assigned to train Pharmacists and Pharmacy Residents.

Attends department training opportunities and meetings offered by Pharmacy Leaders and/or Pharmacy Residents.

Demonstrates competence and proficiency on annual DCH competency assessments as developed by the Pharmacy Manager or Team Leaders.

Provides medication information and educational programs to patients, health care staff, and pharmacy staff.

Performance Improvement:

Participates in performance improvement and cost-saving activities as defined by pharmacy leadership.

Monitors the medication use process in assigned staffing areas on a routine basis and reports inconsistencies and makes recommendations to pharmacy leadership to improve mediation safety within the hospital.

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

Must hold a current license to practice pharmacy in the State of Alabama or acquire license in 90 days. Must be an Alabama pharmacy preceptor or become a preceptor within six months. The candidate must have developed an area of personal clinical practice, contributing regularly to patient care, and has exhibited a commitment to maintain a level of practice well beyond that required of staff practitioners.

This position requires a:

• Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Completion of an ASHP Accredited PGY1 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.
• ACLS Certification is preferred. 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.  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.

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.