A Clinical Pharmacist provides medications to patients and educates patients and physicians on the proper use of medications. Works in a clinical setting, directly with physicians and other health professionals, often granted patient care privileges and responsibility of assisting in patient care management. Usually requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Under the direction of the Director of Pharmacy Operations, performs clinical and professional pharmaceutical work in the compounding and dispensing of drugs. Serves patients by preparing medications, giving pharmacological information to multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and monitoring patient drug therapies.
Responsibilities and Essential Duties:
Prepares medications by reviewing and interpreting physician orders; detecting therapeutic incompatibilities. Dispenses medications by compounding, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals. Controls medications by monitoring drug therapies; advising interventions. Completes pharmacy operational requirements by organizing and directing technicians' workflow, verifying their preparation and labeling of pharmaceuticals, verifying order entries, charges, and inspections. Provides pharmacological information by answering questions and requests of health care professionals; counseling patients on drug therapies. Counsel and advise patients on public health matters, treatment of minor ailments, and adverse side effects of medicines and potential interactions with other medications or treatments. Develops staff's pharmacological knowledge by participating in clinical programs; training pharmacy staff, students, interns, externs, residents, and health care professionals. Complies with state and federal drug laws as regulated by the state board of pharmacy, the drug enforcement administration, and the food and drug administration by monitoring nursing unit inspections; maintaining records for controlled substances; removing outdated and damaged drugs from the pharmacy inventory; supervising the work results of support personnel; maintaining current registration; studying existing and new legislation; anticipating legislation; advising management on needed actions. Protects patients and technicians by adhering to infection-control protocols. Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations. Maintains pharmacological knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, participating in professional societies. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Checks incoming shipments and arranges for their storage. Maintains narcotic inventory and other records such as inventory, prescriptions, and quality assurance. Maintain necessary controls with respect to audited controlled drugs/alcohol; prepare controlled drug requests. Work in conjunction with outside medical providers regarding prescriptions and counsel. Is available to other personnel, patients, and staff to answer questions and dispense drug information. Performs related work as required.
Patient Satisfaction:
Assist patients, family members, or other clients with concern and empathy; respect their confidentiality and privacy; and communicate with them in a courteous and respectful manner. Answer and refer telephone calls or other inquires to ensure accurate and timely communications are facilitated. Identify yourself in a pleasant and positive manner. Take responsibility for helping the caller.
Teamwork:
Assist in the orientation/training of new Team Members. Consistently work in a positive and cooperative manner with fellow Team Members. Assist other Team Members in the performance of their assignments. Seek out opportunities to help rather than waiting to be asked. Consider the impact of your actions on Team Members throughout the Organization. Recognize the need for variations in staffing and volunteer to fill open shifts when possible. Take direction and initiate actions (cross/additional training) that will allow the assumption of cross-functional duties to ensure seamless patient care. Demonstrate flexibility to perform duties wherever volume deems it necessary within the organization.
Problem Solving:
Demonstrate sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding questionable findings or concerns. Investigate and follow through on unusual orders or requests for service or information. Follow proper reporting procedures for actual or potential accidents and/or incidents so follow-up and/or prevention can occur. Record/report the need for service maintenance or repair of equipment and remove any faulty equipment from service. Consistently evaluate work and determine if further steps are needed to meet patient expectations. Take the initiative to do or redo inadequate or incomplete work, even if it is not yours. Ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Productivity/ Efficiency:
Consistently demonstrate the ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary. Minimize non-productive time and fill slow periods with activities that will enable you to prepare to meet the System's future needs (education, organizing, housekeeping, assisting others). Organize job functions and work areas to be able to complete varied assignments within established time frames effectively. Consistently demonstrate the ability to take the initiative to make decisions/choices without direct supervision. Adherence to
Departmental Policies:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures and the ability to reference them from appropriate books and manuals. Comply with CCWV's infection control policies and procedures, including the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, to ensure a safe working environment for self and others.
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The incumbent will be exposed to viruses, disease, and infection from patients and specimens in the working environment. The incumbent will be required to work at any CCWV facility and be responsible for their own transportation. The incumbent will be required to travel on occasion.
Education/Training/Experience:
Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from an accredited college of pharmacy. Current registration to practice pharmacy in the state. One (1) year of previous pharmacy experience is preferred.
