Advanced Clinical Staff Pharmacist

Under the general direction of the Systems Director Pharmacy, is responsible for all aspects of dispensing, compounding, labeling, storage, patient and staff education, and proper usage of pharmaceutical preparations. Verifies physician orders or provides entry of prescription orders into the electronic medical record. Provides Clinical Pharmacy services per established protocol and policies. Collaborates and contributes to patient’s care plan with documented interventions and notes. Coordinates safe transition of care to or from the hospital with patient, caregivers, other institutions, providers and Pharmacies. Maintains appropriate patient record documentation for clinical and distributive services provided. Adheres to best practices for medication safety that promote safe and effective use of medication within the Organization. Monitors the patients’ drug therapy to ensure that each medication ordered is safe and appropriate for the patient. Responds to clinical codes or emergencies. Responsible for supervision, training and inspection of all work performed by Technicians and Students. Precepts Students or Residents. Exhibits the F.I.R.S.T. values (Friendliness, Innovation, Respect, Service, and Trust).

The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist has demonstrated advanced clinical skills or knowledge through formal education and Board Certification. Specialty Certifications or peer based organization service and recognition for expanded scope of practice is required for some advanced clinical services. The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist has demonstrated proficiency in all clinical assignments and routinely takes clinical assignments involving complex patients or where an advanced credential or certification is required for practice(ED, ICU, CSC, ASP, AC or HF clinics). 

The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist shares and contributes to the body of knowledge through

• Research: as a primary investigator, author of manuscript, residency research preceptor, active member of Research Council, peer reviewer for research presentation or manuscript or formal research mentor
• Educator: speaker/poster presenter at a professional conference, staff in-service or CE program, skills fair module, simulated clinical experiences (mock)training events, modeling, coaching and facilitating learning of residents and/or APPE students through didactic presentations or 1:1 topic discussions. Serves as clinical educator for pharmacists or clinical staff, trains and orients new pharmacists and residents, providing feedback, performance evaluations and determining competency.
• Clinical Effectiveness/Performance Improvement: performance improvement data collection, analysis and reporting, including leading changes to impact outcomes and quality, medication use evaluations, pharmacy clinical or operational roundtable participation, change management projects, sentinel event alert action plans and gap analysis, serves as pharmacy representative on multi-disciplinary teams or medical staff committees to facilitate evidence based practice initiatives, order sets, quality metrics and best practice advocates.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

• The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist has demonstrated advanced clinical skills or knowledge through formal education and advanced practice credentials awarded by Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification (BPS). Specialty Certifications or peer based organization service and recognition for expanded scope of practice is required for some advanced clinical services.
• The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist has demonstrated proficiency in all clinical assignments and routinely takes clinical assignments involving complex patients or where an advanced credential or certification is required for practice(ED, ICU, CSC, ASP, AC or HF clinics). Responds to called clinical codes and alerts.
• The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist maintains ACLS and PALS advanced training credentials.
• The Advanced Clinical Pharmacist shares and contributes to the body of knowledge through

• Research as a primary investigator, author of manuscript, residency research preceptor, active member of Research Council, peer reviewer for research presentation or manuscript or mentor or speaker/poster presenter at a professional conference. 
• Completed medication use evaluation (minimum 1 per year) and serve as direct preceptor for residents or APPE students in the process of medication use evaluation and reporting.
• Active participation on the pharmacy clinical or operational roundtable, leading at least 1 project per year and collaborating on at least 2 other projects per year.
• Participates in performance improvement data collection, analysis and reporting, including leading changes to impact outcomes and quality. 
• Assigned pharmacy representative to at least one multi-disciplinary or medical staff Committee.  In this role they serve as facilitators for evidence based practice initiatives, order sets, quality metrics and best practice policy advocates.
• Educational events (staff inservices, skills fair or continuing education programs) on an annual basis.
• Formal preceptor role with EMRMC PGY1 residents (minimum 6 weeks/year) or voluntary faculty appointment from an accredited college of pharmacy as a preceptor for APPE students (minimum 3 blocks/year). Meets ASHP PGY1 program requirements for Residency preceptors and submits preceptor development plan annually to Residency Program Director (RPD). APPE preceptors meet university and EMH requirements for preceptor development and submit a preceptor development plan annually to RPD.

• Advanced Clinical Pharmacists orient and train new pharmacists or residents and assess competency, provide constructive feedback and perform performance evaluations.
• Advanced Clinical Pharmacists are knowledgeable of Joint Commission medication management standards and facilitate survey readiness within and external to the pharmacy department.
• Advanced Clinical Pharmacists are knowledgeable of all EMH policies and procedures and are actively engaged in advancing medication management and medication safety initiatives.  They are competent to conduct drug safety assessments such as drug diversion investigations, sentinel event alert gap analysis, mock Joint Commission surveys, prospective FMEA and retrospective root cause analysis of medication events. They are knowledgeable of EMH procedures for creation, approval, revision and tracking of new order sets, protocols and policies.
• Advanced Clinical Pharmacists are contributors to the profession of pharmacy and pursue active participation as members and leaders in pharmacy organizations, colleges of pharmacy and community health organizations.
• Advanced Clinical Pharmacists are responsible for meeting all of the clinical staff pharmacist duties including:
• Provides medication order entry or order verification of computerized physician order entry. Clarifies orders which are unclear, contain unapproved abbreviations, illegible, ambiguous or which seem inappropriate for the patient.
• Contributes to development of evidence based order sets and protocols which promote quality care outcomes and patient safety. Adheres to departmental, Organizational and patient care policy and procedures. Promotes and adopts best practices into professional practice.
• Compounds, labels and dispenses medications per authorizing order from licensed independent provider or approved medical staff standing order or protocol. Demonstrates competency in admixture of non-sterile, sterile, parenteral and hazardous products. Appropriately manages hazardous waste.
• Delivers medications to the nursing stations and other departments as required. This position is authorized to gain entry into medication rooms and have access to medications within the scope of their essential job description.
• Monitors use of medications to ensure optimal quality of patient care. Screens for interactions, suboptimal therapy, dosage adjustments, contraindications. Completes documentation of Clinical Pharmacy interventions in the patient medical record and communicates care plan or recommendations to physician or referring provider.
• Evaluates and reports adverse events, medication occurrences, patient or Associate safety concerns or drug diversion. Provides peer feedback to peers or direct reports related to errors or safety concerns. Reports concerns to supervisor or Director timely.
• Maintains compliance with Joint Commission, national and state legislative regulations related to medication management: prescribing, procurement, storage, dispensing, administration, monitoring of adverse effects or medication occurrences, patient and associate education on medications, transport, and waste of medications.
• Administers medications based on authorizing order from licensed independent provider or established protocol within scope of practice as defined by state regulations.
• Participates in Organizational and departmental quality initiatives and performance improvement projects which impact patient safety and clinical outcomes. Completes medication use evaluation studies or data collection as assigned. Serves on appointed patient care, patient safety goal and/or quality improvement teams.
• Provides appropriate supervision and directs utilization of resources efficiently. Adheres to established inventory control and ordering processes, billing procedures and staffing metrics. Complies with inventory and eligibility components of the 340b program.
• Supervises Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Interns to ensure safe and efficient operations. Models and coaches professional and clinical attributes as they perform assigned Clinical Staff Pharmacist responsibilities to Pharmacy Students and Residents.
• Performs medication reconciliation upon admission, transfer and discharge to promote safe continuity of care. Demonstrates willingness to coordinate continuity of care and work on clinical and transition projects with other EMRMC Associates to effectively provide safe transition of care.
• Contributes to operational effectiveness of the Pharmacy by adhering to established formulary and administering therapeutic substitutions as permitted by protocol.
• Provides Clinical Pharmacy consults for appropriate dosing, monitoring and drug selection per approved Organizational protocols, order sets or collaborative practice agreements that are within the defined scope of practice. Interprets and adjusts medication regimens based on interpretation of clinical data and patient clinical condition to effectively and safely manage patient’s medical conditions within scope of practice or protocol.
• Contributes to the efficient communications of the department. Models professional behavior and communication with customers and coworkers to resolve conflict. Provides performance related feedback to direct reports, peers, supervisors, Students or Residents in a professional manner.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional accountability and growth to maintain and expand knowledge and skills. Maintains commitment to technical and professional growth and competency.
• Contributes to the effective operations of the Organization by demonstrating dependability in job performance.
• Contributes to the achievement of the mission and philosophy of the Organization. Adheres to established Pharmacy Team expectations for success. Supports departmental and Organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrates a commitment to incorporating the core concepts of patient family centered care into practice (Dignity, respect, information sharing and participation).
• Promotes safe medication use by adherence to patient safety initiatives and processes.
• Considers the age of the patient served, applies knowledge of growth and development and age specific techniques through the life span (neonates/infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients) in planning and implementing care.
• Demonstrates a commitment to incorporating the core concepts of patient family centered care into practice (dignity, respect, information sharing, and participation).
• Performs medication reconciliation upon admission, transfer or discharge to assure safe medication use and continuity of care.
• Demonstrates a commitment to the development and implementation of shared governance across the Organization.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Must have advanced clinical competencies, certifications or credentials to be proficient in all Inpatient assignments (ED, ICU, CSC) or where specialty skills training is required (ASP, Amb Care).  PGY1 Residency training or three (3) years’ experience as a Clinical Pharmacist in an acute care hospital setting is required. Community based faculty appointment with a College of Pharmacy for precepting Pharmacy Students OR EMRMC Residency preceptor status is required.