Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Advanced Heart Failure and Heart Transplant

Opportunity for the position to be a Senior Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, dependent upon qualifications and experience of the candidate.

Job Profile Summary

​This role focuses on providing pharmacy related services in a hospital or retail setting. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Pharmacy Services duties: Delivers pharmaceuticals. Includes professionals who are trained and sometimes licensed to dispense medicine/controlled substances. A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs. The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education. A senior level role that requires advanced knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience. Typically responsible for: managing projects / processes, working independently with limited supervision, coaching and reviewing the work of lower level professionals, resolving difficult and sometimes complex problems.

Job Overview

Clinical Pharmacy Specialists work closely with other health practitioners to improve the health of patients by providing pharmaceutical care to individual patients and by serving as an expert resource to physicians, nurses, and other health professionals and caring for patients of the assigned service areas. Responsible for the optimization of drug therapy, control and analysis of the formulary; and the identification and remediation of drug related problems. Reviews and approves medication orders, monitors drug therapies, and provides drug information. Acts as an ambassador and educator for medication safety and best medication practices and drug therapy research within the organization. Pharmacists supervise and direct support personnel. Provides leadership by facilitating the development, implementation, and maintenance of hospital and departmental systems that promote desirable patient outcomes. Ensures the pharmacy is operated within the limits of State and Federal regulations.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) AND Two (2) years of clinical pharmacy experience in a hospital OR Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy AND Five (5) years of clinical pharmacy experience in a hospital

2. Pharmacist License.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) AND Three (3) years of clinical pharmacy experience in a hospital OR Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy AND Seven (7) years of clinical pharmacy experience in a hospital.

2. PGY1 Pharmacy Residency.

3. PGY2 Residency in a relevant area of practice.

4. Pharmacy Board Certification.

5. Active Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) credential in a related area of practice.

6. Experience in drug utilization review and analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Provides prospective evaluation and monitoring of drug therapy.

2. Coordinates review of policies and procedures related to clinical practice.

3. Participates in the development and implementation of treatment guidelines, protocols and clinical pathways.

4. Participates in the development of departmental drug-specific and population-specific initiatives.

5. Directs and coordinates the clinical activities of the assigned pharmacy service area. Responsible for preparing, compounding and dispensing medications to patients in accordance within state, federal laws.

6. Reviews and accurately interprets physician’s orders checking for appropriateness of orders as to indication, clarity, accuracy of dose, drug allergy, potential drug interactions and duplication (two or more drugs with the same therapeutic action).

7. Detects and reports medication errors and adverse drug reactions in a timely manner.

8. Communicates professionally with Physicians, Nurses and other healthcare professionals regarding medication related issues.

9. Prepares and presents to the appropriate committees evidence-based reviews of drugs requested for formulary addition.

10. Actively participates in hospital multi-disciplinary committees, multi-disciplinary patient rounds on a daily basis.

11. Participates in periodic reviews of therapeutic classes of drugs and present findings to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and others.

12. Represents the pharmacy department at committees, councils and meetings throughout the organization.

13. Performs medication counseling and medication history taking when requires, expertly performs basic patient care services such as blood glucose testing, blood pressure monitoring, peak flow meters, BLS/ACLS (if required by care setting).

14. Actively participates in developing department policies and procedures, maintaining the drug formulary, education of the pharmacy, nursing and medical staffs, and in department quality improvement efforts.

15. Participates in the professional development of clinical pharmacy specialists and clinical pharmacists by serving as a preceptor for pharmacy students, interns, externs, foreign graduates, and pharmacy residents (when applicable). Maintains relationships with local colleges of pharmacy.

16. May present research at state and national professional meetings, seek publication in a refereed journal, or maintain an adjunct faculty appointment at a school of pharmacy.

17. Oversees the preparation, compounding and dispensing of medications to patients and manages support staff (when required).

18. Participates in Pharmacy Quality Programs that relate to: People; Clinical excellence; Operational excellence; Financial performance and growth; Safety and quality; and Research.

19. Recommends appropriate medication doses and adjustments as indicated by patient clinical condition.

20. Identifies, documents, resolves and works to prevent drug therapy problems.

21. Monitors compliance with treatment guidelines, protocols and clinical pathways and present findings to the appropriate committees.

Physical Requirements:

1. Ability to walk and stand 25-75% of the day and to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.

2. Requires sometimes reaching and grasping below, at, and above shoulder level.

3. Requires regularly grasping, typing, and fine manipulation with hands.

4. Works in an area with some discomfort due to dust, dirt, and temperature changes.

5. Possibility of cuts from broken glass and some exposure to hazardous chemicals.

6. Frequently required to speak, hear, communicate and exchange information.

7. Ability to see and read computers displays, read fine print, and/or normal type size print and distinguish letters, numbers and symbols.

8. Ability to work in confined or open environments.

9. Ability to work independently or in a team environment.

Skills & Abilities:

1. Knowledge of clinical best practices and standards for optimizing medication use

2. Superior verbal and written presentation skills.

3. Superior communication skills, including developing and giving presentations, both 1-1 and group.

4. Knowledge of integrated health networks and health plan drug formularies.

5. Maintains skill, knowledge and competency as an expert in pharmaceutical care of the assigned specialty area.

6. Project and resource management skills.

7. Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

8. Ability to understand importance of and respect for the confidentiality of all patient information in accordance with applicable standards and regulations.

9. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team.

10. Comfort with and adaptability to contemporary healthcare workplace technologies including but not limited to electronic medical record(s), software applications, messaging systems, video chat, and team collaboration platforms (e.g. Microsoft Teams, etc.)

11. Ability to work with all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and life experiences.

12. A robust understanding of chronic health condition management and population management.

13. Ability to prioritize and resolve critical issues efficiently and effectively.

14. Detail oriented, with strong organizational skills and multi-tasking abilities.

15. Willingness and ability to learn and utilize new technology and procedures that will continue to develop in their role and throughout the organization.