CLINICAL PHARMACIST

What You Will Do:

POSITION SUMMARY
Serves as consultant to the medical team in determining the appropriate drug therapy. Monitors drug therapy and suggests alternatives as appropriate. Assists pharmacists in determining drug strengths, dosages, and effects of drug interactions. Conducts drug utilization reviews and prepares drug review criteria for medical staff approval. Provides prescribed medications, drugs, and other pharmaceuticals. Requires Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree and state licensure.
The following job description covers the most significant duties performed, but does not exclude other work assignments not mentioned PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Principal Duties:
1. Providing Clinical, Drug Information and Medication Distribution Support
a. Demonstrates knowledge of and provide staff oversight and development for clinical intervention programs including IV-PO conversion, renal dosage adjustment, pharmacokinetic dosing and therapeutic interchange for appropriate age and weight of patients.
b. Provides training for the staff on appropriate clinical interventions and develops clinical performance evaluation guidelines. Prepare report of staff clinical interventions quarterly in spreadsheet format to the Director.
c. Maintains clinical intervention program. Evaluates data, tracks/trends results and reports findings monthly to the Director and quarterly to the P&T Committee.
d. Responsible for establishing and maintaining antibiotic monitoring guidelines. Initiates intervention and education of medical, nursing, and pharmacy staffs on appropriate antibiotic use.
e. Demonstrates knowledge and skills to recommend appropriate drug treatment of neonatal, adult, pediatric, adolescent and elderly patients.
f. Receives drug information questions from pharmacists, nurses, physicians and hospital staff about medication related issues. Uses the appropriate references in gathering required information. Uses his/her expertise in evaluating the information and responds to the questions completely and in a timely
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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
manner.
g. Maintains current knowledge of electronic and manual drug information resources. Ensures staff have sufficient access to the references. Trains staff pharmacists and students in drug information search and retrieval of both published and electronic references (i.e., Micromedex).
h. Evaluates, selects and maintains subscription and drug information references for pharmacy staff.
i. Conducts bi-weekly department drug usage work rounds or in-services with pharmacy staff. Assigns drug information presentations to pharmacists monthly.
j. Prepares quarterly staff inservice performance report for Director.
k. Maintain liason relationships with medical and nursing staff; provides timely information pertaining to pharmaceutical supplies, drug usage and compatibility, state and federal regulations regarding drug controls, and the Joint Commission standards
l. Individualize medication regimens using sound principles, accounting for pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic variations in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination in order to improve the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients
m. Works with the Director to administer the hospital's medication use evaluation program, which includes assuring appropriate medication use through daily monitoring of laboratory data in inpatients prescribed P&T approved protocol medications; developing educational materials such as drug class reviews, newletters and pocket cards; collaborating with the medical staff to design and conduct outcomes studies.
n. Participates in the preparation of the agenda and associated documents for the P&T Committee, Medication Safety and other committees as assigned. Regularly attend these meetings and others as assigned.
o. Assists the Director in the development and revision of departmental and hospital clinical policies and procedures.
2. Medication Distribution
a. Responsible for entering medication orders accurately from central or decentralized locations.
b. Profiles and dispenses medication after checking appropriateness, (i.e., allergies, therapeutic class duplication, incompatibility and recommended therapeutic dosage range). Notifies physician and nursing staff when problems arise and recommends alternative therapy.
c. Oversees the process of medication preparation, packaging and distribution by technicians for accuracy and safety. Reports variances to the Director or designee and suggests improvements.
d. Contacts physicians and other appropriate health care providers for order clarification and notifies the related persons of any change and/or delay of treatment due to unavailability or other reasons.
e. Ensures aseptic and safe handling techniques are employed and oversees technicians in preparation of parenteral medications.
f. Fulfills goals set by Director on department's criteria indicators in the designated patient care areas such
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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
as reducing length of stay, drug cost/patient/day, medication delivery, tum-around time, etc.
g. Responsible for investigating and documenting adverse drug reactions (ADR) in his/her designated area.
h. Counsels patients during their hospital stay and prior to discharge about their medications and problems expected, as requested by the medical and nursing staffs. Also demonstrates knowledge and skills to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served on the unit by pharmaceutical guidelines.
i. Documents all patient care activities and interventions utilizing the pharmacy system (SPIN) intervention program and report these activities monthly to the appropriate clinical coordinator or Director.
j. Responsible for formulary control and management, and completes written updates for hospital and department staff.
k. Directly supervises the department staff and Buyer for non-formulary medication requests prior to order. Communicates and educates medical staff on formulary items and appropriate substitutions. Total cost of non-formulary medication inventory should not exceed limits established by the Director and P&T Committee. Prepares monthly reports to the Director and quarterly reports to the P&T Committee on non-formulary drug use.
l. Responsible for daily rounding on the Critical Care Unit when staffing levels support.
Customer Service:
1. Greets customers in courteous, friendly, respectful and professional manner at all times, including maintaining eye contact when appropriate.
2. Follows communication protocols to both internal and external customers, including introducing him/herself with job title and experience, asking open ended questions, such as “How may I be of help to you?” using the customer’s name as soon as it is learned.
3. Responds promptly and appropriately to customer questions/concerns/complaints and attempts immediate resolution.
4. Keeps customer’s information confidential, including public places such as elevators or the cafeteria.
5. Provides assistance and offers help immediately, including finding someone else to meet the request, if unable to do so him/herself. Introduce other staff to customers when a hand-off occurs and explain that the person will provide excellent service.
6. Demonstrates commitment to excellent service recovery when a customer’s expectations have not been met.
Commitment to Co-Workers:
1. Offers assistance to colleagues and other departments when needed.
2. Takes responsibility for solving problems regardless of origin; completes assignments, and respects
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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
deadlines.
3. Resolves conflict directly with colleagues and seeks assistance from others if the issue cannot be resolved. Refrains from criticism in public.
4. Mindful and respectful of others’ time and schedules. Attends meetings on time and communicates any absences.
5. Provides co-workers with a status report for continuity of workflow when planning to be out of the office, off the unit, or away from the department
Communication Etiquette:
1. Respectful, courteous and professional in all forms of communication and follows facility’s service communication protocol in all interactions.
2. Refrains from use of personal cell phone in patient care areas and keeps usage to a minimum at all other times while on duty.
3. Does not text or use e-mail during meetings (except for exigent or emergency situations).
4. Limits use of business cell phone during meetings (remain on vibrate and/or calls go to voicemail).
5. Makes every effort to answer telephone calls within three rings, introducing him/herself, department and

title (if appropriate). Asks permission before placing the caller on hold or using the speakerphone. If caller is transferred, gives the caller the extension number of the person he or she is being transferred to. Offers further assistance to the caller upon completing the conversation.
6. Maintains an appropriate voicemail message and when away from the office has an out-of-office email message that is brief, current, and includes name and department and offers the caller options if possible.
7. Returns email and voicemail messages promptly but no later than within one business day (24 hours).
8. Always mindful of voice and language in public

What You Need to Be Successful:

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Licensure/Certification/Registration
Required: Current Maryland license in good standing as a Pharmacist.
Preferred:
Other:
Life Support Certification: (Check all that apply)
Basic Life Support – Health Care Provider (BLS-HCP) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
Education/Knowledge (see attached explanation sheet)
Attained Level: Expert
Preferred: Completion of Pharmacy residency program
Completed Course Work/Program: Pharm. D. degree required and ASHP-accredited residency in hospital pharmacy practice is desirable. Additional training or certification (i.e., specialized residency and/or board certification in an are of practice) is also desirable.
Applicable Experience
Experience (years): Required: 1 - 3 years Preferred: Not applicable
Experience (describe required & preferred): Minimum of 2 years experience as a pharmacist in a hospital with clinical pharmacy responsibilities. Completion of Postgraduate year 1 Pharmacy residency program is equivalent to 3 years of work experience.
Technical/Clinical Skills
Microsoft Office Suite Skill Level (see attached explanation sheet)
Word: Not applicable Excel: Not applicable
PowerPoint: Not applicable Access: Not applicable
Working knowledge of ICD-9 (Medical Coding)
Basic knowledge and working experience with Medical Terminology
Standard Office Equipment (list):
Medical Equipment (list):
Other: User

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.