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Position Summary

Under limited supervision, provides advanced comprehensive pharmaceutical care for an assigned, specialized patient population. Collaborates with patients, families, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to deliver safe, effective and fiscally responsible patient-centered care. Requires an extensive clinical experience within their disease state specialization as well as pharmacy practice experience including medication safety, formulary management, pathway/guideline development and policy development/implementation. Responsible for development, implementation, and maintenance of clinical pharmacy services at the designated practice area. Participates in drug use and outcome management programs within specialty area to improve pharmacy practice. Instructs and trains pharmacy residents and students; assists in overseeing and directing the clinical services provided by pharmacists. Acts as a mentor to clinical pharmacists.

Primary Responsibilities

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks:

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Clinical Pharmacy Services:

• Participates in direct patient care with assigned team(s)
• Provides clinical pharmaceutical care to optimize drug therapy for patients through the recommendation, implementation, monitoring, and modification of individualized treatment plans in collaboration with the healthcare team
• Develop patient care plans in concert with the healthcare team
• Reviews and monitors medication orders for accuracy and appropriateness. Intervenes with the prescriber as necessary.
• Makes verbal or written recommendations in a clear, succinct and appropriate manner.
• Recommends therapy or alternative approaches based on interpretation of relevant medical literature and clinical experience.
• Considers age, weight and organ function (e.g. renal, hepatic) when evaluating patients and patient's therapies when making recommendations.
• Interprets laboratory and other patient-specific data to develop treatment plans and to monitor response to therapy.
• Effectively searches and integrates data obtained from multiple sources to derive a conclusion or develop a patient care plan.
• Applies pharmacokinetic principles in order to achieve efficacious, safe and economical pharmacotherapeutic regimens.
• Provides concise, applicable and timely responses to drug information requests from health care providers and patients
• Monitors the medication pipeline and anticipates changes in medication therapy and the potential impact it will have on the clinical and financial delivery of patient care.
• Prevents, detects, monitors, documents, and reports adverse drug reactions and medication errors.
• Participates in the management of medical emergencies such as code blue, code stroke and etc
• Ensures a continuum of care by conducting medication history and reviewing/assessing medications at admission, transfer and discharge.
• Counsels patients and/or caregiver as to the proper administration, potential adverse reactions, storage of medications, etc.
• Maintains a well-rounded knowledge of all patient populations and facets of pharmacy practice while concentrating on areas of specialty.
• Responsible for cross coverage of other specialty patient care areas as needed for appropriate levels of clinical support

Drug Use, Outcome and Formulary Management:

• Ensures and enforces compliance with established clinical protocols and guidelines with the multidisciplinary care providers.
• Works with the clinical pharmacy manager in identifying and establishing programs that improve drug therapy outcomes (efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness) and overall quality of patient care.
• Works with the clinical pharmacy manager in implementing and monitoring drug use management programs.
• Participates with clinical pharmacy manager in clinical pathway development and other related managed care initiatives such as disease management programs.
• Participates in the formulary management process including development of drug monographs, treatment protocols, drug use policy, algorithms and guidelines for use.
• Documents pharmaceutical care interventions conscientiously as part of the departmental documentation program.
• Proactively identifies issues and collaborates with medical and nursing staff to establish or modify medication-related policies and procedures, protocols and order sets to support safe and effective medication practices.

Staff Development, Education and Training:

• Develops training and educational programs as needed.
• Provides education to physicians, nurses, pharmacy staff, and other healthcare professionals.
• Serves as a primary preceptor for pharmacy students and residents.
• Attends hospital, medical and pharmacy department conferences and meetings.
• Actively participates as a presenter in departmental staff development programs.
• Orients and trains new personnel in assigned areas.

Scholarly Activities:

• Reads the literature and attends continuing education sessions to stay current, expand knowledge and maintain clinical expertise in specialty area of practice.
• Formulates and conducts departmental projects aimed at addressing the institutional and departmental advancements in clinical and operational practice. Participates in process redesign.
• Conducts and/or participates in research/quality improvement projects. Ability to identify issues, opportunities or problems for investigation.
• Mentors and serves as a residency project research advisor for pharmacy residents

Operational Responsibilities:

• Provides front-line management of service areas such as unit-based practice models
• Oversees, directs and participates in order entry, preparation, dispensing and distribution of medication in compliance with the operational policies and procedures.

Leadership:

• Displays conduct and behaviors that model the mission, vision and values of the pharmacy department.
• Maintains and complies with established department, state, federal and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures and generally accepted pharmacy practice.
• Participates in/leads hospital-wide committees as directed.
• Models sound organizational and teamwork skills to accomplish departmental and institutional goals and objectives.

Customer Service:

• Interacts with internal and external customers of the hospital in a respectful, courteous and tactful manner to foster the delivery of quality patient and employee services.
• Evaluates customer's needs and thereby develops systems and services to improve relations and satisfaction
• Demonstrates commitment to excellent service recovery when a customer's expectations have not been met

Commitment to Co-Workers:

• Offers assistance to colleagues and other departments when needed.
• Takes responsibility for solving problems regardless of origin; completes assignments, and respects deadlines.
• Resolves conflict directly with colleagues and seeks assistance from others if the issue cannot be resolved. Refrains from criticism in public.
• Mindful and respectful of others' time and schedules. Attends meetings on time and communicates any absences.
• 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:

• Respectful, courteous and professional in all forms of communication and follows facility's service communication protocol in all interactions.
• Refrains from use of personal cell phone in patient care areas and keeps usage to a minimum at all other times while on duty.
• Limits use of cell phone during meetings.
• Maintains an appropriate out-of-office email message that is brief, current, and includes name and department and offers the caller options if possible.
• Returns email and voicemail messages promptly but no later than within one business day (24 hours).

Self-Management:

• Reports to work appropriately groomed and in compliance with the Hospital's dress code. Wears identification badge at all times at chest level and facing outwards so identification is clearly visible.
• Complete all assignments within deadlines or negotiates alternative actions and time frames in order to achieve desired outcomes.
• Completes mandatory, annual education and competency requirements.
• Demonstrates responsibility for personal growth, development and professional knowledge and competency.
• Adhere to all UMCAP and department policies and procedures, including Code of Conduct, professional behavior standards and attendance.
• Reviews, signs, and adheres to UMCAP and/or departmental confidentiality statement.