Clinical Pharmacist

Pharmacy Operations

Help Pharmacy Operations:

• Responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance with medication management standards set forth by The Joint Commission and Office of Inspector General.
• Evaluates orders written by providers and determines appropriateness and accuracy based on patient medication profiles; inputs information into a computer system; dispenses medication in accordance with dosage form and record keeping requirements for outpatient prescriptions, inpatient unit dose medications, intravenous admixtures, parenteral nutrition, irrigation solutions, chemotherapy agents, investigational study drugs, controlled substances, and compounded prescriptions.
• Performs sterile and non-sterile compounding.
• Enters and/or completes prior authorization drug reviews (PADRs) for nonformulary (NF) or prior authorization - Facility (PAF) medications. Recommends formulary alternatives when possible.
• Maintains accurate working knowledge of community care and self-directed care prescription processing procedures. Is able to review prescriptions received from community providers, appropriately document in electronic health care record, and process authorized prescriptions or forward non-authorized prescriptions to appropriate health care provider.
• Assists in continuous reporting and improvement of medication errors and adverse drug reactions.
• Serves as drug information resource by providing oral and written consultation to providers, nurses, and other health care professionals on basic information regarding drug therapy.
• Evaluates patients ability to understand instructions and provides written and oral counseling on their drug therapy.
• Identifies and resolves pharmacotherapy problems related to patient care. May involve but are not limited to any of the following dispensing activities:
• Completing medication histories including patient interviews.
• Medication reconciliation including updating the medication profile to reflect an accurate, active list of VA and non-VA medications including adding non-VA medications or discontinuing duplicate medications or those the patient reports is no longer taking.
• Extending refills until next scheduled appointment under the provider's name and following policy guidelines.
• Flagging prescriptions for provider clarification.
• Monitoring drug therapy, allergies, labs and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems.
• Assessing drug safety and efficacy including evaluation of physical symptoms.
• Providing pharmacokinetic consultation including vancomycin and aminoglycosides under provider name in accordance with local policy.
• Managing recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication to equal the prescribed dose and schedule.
• Implementing P & T Committee policies including therapeutic interchanges and automatic substitutions to include appropriate patient or provider education.
• Recommending formulary alternatives and completing basic non-formulary consults and medication usage evaluations.
• Processes discharge medication orders and provides discharge medication counseling according to local procedures.

Research and Education

Research and Education:

• Participates in pharmacy studies and research projects.
• Utilizes information from research studies.
• Acts as clinical preceptor or trainer for professional and technical level pharmacy students and residents.
• Keeps abreast of advances in pharmacotherapy and pharmacy practice and integrates these into practice.
• Assists in planning and evaluating education programs in pharmacy services.

Administrative/Supervisory

Administrative/Supervisory:

• Supervises the work of technical staff when the pharmacist is working in an independent duty situation.
• Serves as pharmacist in-charge when applicable.
• Completes 72-hour controlled substance inventory for both inpatient and outpatient.
• Assists with monthly unannounced control substance inspections as needed. Assures accuracy of controlled substance shipments and documents receipt of those shipments.

Work Schedule: 1400-2230 Monday-Friday, Rotating Holidays, limited coverage of PM shift

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 00000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized