Clinical Pharmacist

Reports to the Pharmacy Services Supervisor or designee. Assists in the development, implementation and maintenance of pharmacy services that promote and provide pharmaceutical care. Participates directly in clinically oriented services within the individual's assigned scope of practice. Demonstrates a commitment to provide an excellent customer service experience.

MISSION, VALUES and SERVICE GOALS

• MISSION: We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.
• VALUES: Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.
• SERVICE GOALS: Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Verifies medication orders upon physician request according to established policies, procedures and protocols by:

• Reviewing all orders for completeness, accuracy, compatibility, appropriateness and proper dosing with a review of the patient's profile such that the needs of all patient types are met (i.e., pediatric, neonatal, geriatrics).
• Interpreting medication orders and transcribing accurately to computerized patient medication profiles and maintaining accurate, complete patient medication profiles.
• Completing order clarification when appropriate and following up with a corrected order with appropriate communication type.
• Verifying physician orders, including all IV orders to ensure accuracy and proper prioritization prior to order being dispensed.
• Utilizing the Electronic Medical Record to prioritize order verification and designating orders appropriately for clinical follow up within the clinical surveillance tool.
• Calling prescriber to suggest a formulary substitute when non formulary items are ordered.

Prepares and dispenses medication orders upon physician request according to established policies, procedures and protocols by:

• Filling package forms such as bottles, capsules, and unit-of-use packages with measured amounts of medication and/or verifying the same work performed by department technical staff.
• Manipulating needles, syringes, vials, ampules, etc. using aseptic technique to prepare intravenous admixtures and/or verifying preparation done by department technical staff.
• Using aseptic technique, and following all USP 797 guidelines, compounds all admixtures, piggybacks, TPNs and other specialty solutions when needed according to batch times and following par levels.
• Prepares and checks compound sterile products with proper priority and proper labeling - "Stat" in 30 minutes, "Now" in 60 minutes, and remaining orders according to indicated time or by next route.
• Checks controlled substances pulled from pharmacy narcotic safe to be loaded into unit ADMs on regular routes and stock outs.
• Checks all repackaging, barcoding of medications (zebra), code trays, travel boxes, and other items performed by technicians in a timely manner. Completes any documentation associated with these checks.
• Assists in the maintenance of efficient inventory levels.
• Offers constructive respectful feedback to technicians when errors are found utilizing this as a teaching opportunity.

Participates in drug regimen management and medication stewardship to optimize pharmaceutical care and performs clinical services under collaborative practice agreements or hospital approved pharmacy protocols by:

• Modifying the duration of treatment for current drug therapy.
• Adjusting the strength, dosage form, frequency of administration or route of administration of a drug.
• Discontinuing the use of a drug.
• Adding a drug to the treatment regimen.
• Recommending, ordering and monitoring laboratory tests.
• Reviewing patient medical records and making recommendations for appropriate drug therapy.
• Identifying problems and making recommendations concerning patient compliance, therapeutic response, drug interactions and similar issues.

General Clinical Duties:

• Provides clinical dosing services.
• Reviews patient medical records and recommends appropriate drug therapy.
• Identifies problems and makes recommendations concerning patient compliance, therapeutic response, drug interactions and similar issues.
• Provides in-services to clinical hospital staff as needed.
• Documents clinical notes in Electronic Medical Record with the end result of effective and appropriate communication with the healthcare team.
• Attends clinical meetings and educational in-services.
• Participates in clinical services demonstrating the ability to meet the pharmaceutical needs of all patient types (i.e.: pediatric, geriatric, renally compromised patients).
• Documents clinical interventions.
• Performs patient counseling/teaching as needed.
• Completes antibiotic review.
• Attends interdisciplinary rounds.
• Provides drug information services to clinical hospital staff.
• Attends codes/RATs when onsite.

General Supporting Duties:

• Providing drug information services.
• Assists in the development of departmental policies and procedures.
• Completes medication usage evaluations and formulary monograph reviews.
• Participates in reporting of medication errors and adverse drug reactions.
• Attends meetings, reads minutes, emails and stays current with all communications.
• Shows initiative by leading and completing special projects.
• Assists in the department activities initiated to meet regulatory agency standards.
• Provides direct supervision for technicians, maintaining continuity in workflow and efficiency.
• Participates in the orientation of new staff members.
• Collecting and analyzing data.
• Conducts monthly inspections of assigned areas.
• Records necessary information and files records as appropriate.
• Reviews documentation of medication administration as assigned.
• Accurately processing entries into the hospital computer system.
• Utilizes 340b pricing when applicable.
• Reviews patients for 340B eligibility when applicable 

Assists with medication usage evaluation and adverse drug reaction and medication error evaluations to promote medication safety by:

• Conducting facility specific medication use evaluations as assigned.
• Recommending areas to be studied.
• Preparing or assisting with the preparation of criteria for review.
• Collecting and analyzing data.
• Preparing basic reports and assisting with the preparation of more complex reports.
• Entering medication errors accurately into the health system's tracking system
• Entering adverse drug reactions into the health system's tracking system

Assists with management of pharmaceutical formulary and cost containment by:

• Continuously reviewing drugs of choice and monitoring utilization.
• Making formulary presentations, in coordination with pharmacy leadership, regarding medications and place on formulary.
• Reviewing new medications and, in coordination with pharmacy leadership, and assisting with the development of guidelines for use.
• Tracking and documenting of cost-savings prospectively and retrospectively, as directed by pharmacy leadership.
• Attending and participating in Pharmacy and Therapeutics meetings as needed.

Performs other functions to maintain personal competence and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the department by:

• Initiating and/or coordinating special projects as agreed upon with a supervisor pertaining to pharmaceutical care.
• Completing other job-related duties and projects as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Associate complies with the following organizational requirements:

• Attends and participates in department meetings and is accountable for all information shared.
• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies and department specific education within established timeframes.
• Completes annual employee health requirements within established timeframes.
• Maintains license/certification, registration in good standing throughout fiscal year.
• Direct patient care providers are required to maintain current BCLS (CPR) and other certifications as required by position/department.
• Consistently utilizes appropriate universal precautions, protective equipment, and ergonomic techniques to protect patient and self.
• Adheres to regulatory agency requirements, survey process and compliance.
• Complies with established organization and department policies.
• Available to work overtime in addition to working additional or other shifts and schedules when required.

Education and Experience:

The knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated below are normally acquired through the successful completion of a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, a master's degree or a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college or university.  A license or demonstrated eligibility for licensure, to practice pharmacy in Indiana is required. A minimum of two years of hospital pharmacy experience and/or completion of a pharmacy residency is preferred. Clinical experience or residency training is required if the highest education is a bachelor's degree. BLS and ACLS certifications are required for full time staff; preferred for part time and PRN staff. If needed, training and certification as well as periodic recertification will be provided by Beacon.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of current pharmacy laws and regulations.
• Motivation to provide pharmaceutical care to patients through a collaborative team effort among physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other practitioners responsible for the patient.
• Demonstrates solid data collection skills.
• Demonstrates organization, planning and clinical problem resolution skills.
• Demonstrates good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrates the interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with a tactful, sincere, effective manner with patients, providers and other healthcare professionals and the ability to maintain positive interpersonal relationships with a diverse population, in order to ensure the provision of pharmaceutical services.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior and standards of conduct. 

Working Conditions:

• The ability to work at brisk pace with the ability to control multi-directional problems and questions in an orderly, correct and expedient fashion.
• Must continually change priorities in response to changing patient needs.
• Requires the ability to work in an environment of frequent distractions.
• Works in an office environment and/or patient care area. 
• Potential exposure to potentially hazardous substances.
• Extensive use of keyboarding on computers.

Physical Demands:

• Requires the physical ability and stamina to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Long hours of standing may be involved.
• Some lifting and bending.