Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist) - Acute Care/ER

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) For Acute Care/ER

This position is located in Pharmacy Service, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) for Acute Care/ER is a licensed pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completed an American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists accredited Clinical Pharmacy Practice Residency, or other equivalent experience. The incumbent is primarily responsible for Acute Care clinical pharmacy activities and consultations in the Emergency Room. The incumbent is responsible for consultation activities and will work with the Interdisciplinary Medical (including but not limited to critical care, emergency medicine, cardiology, and internal medicine) and Surgery Team(s) to assist in medication reconciliation, medication management, and patient education. Additional responsibilities include reviewing pharmacologic modalities used and make patient specific recommendations to improve patient pain and functional status and reduce adverse effects, assist in identifying aberrant behaviors related to pharmacologic therapy, provide education for staff regarding acute care, and assist in therapeutic monitoring of treatment if applicable. The CPS may be assigned clinical cross-coverage duties as needed to meet the needs of the medical center. Clinical Privileges or Scope of Practice documents will be acquired for practice as a provider, as directed by the Chief of Pharmacy Service, and as approved through the Pharmacy Professional Standards Board, the Chief of Staff, and the Medical Center Director.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Identifies, interprets, and resolves prescribing and dispensing issues, including pharmaco-therapeutics and formulary. Documents interventions as necessary.
• Dispenses controlled substances with accuracy according to current policy and procedures for inpatients and outpatients.
• Participates in multidisciplinary team rounds with the healthcare team(s).
• Provides drug information, observations on patient response to therapy, and appropriate recommendations regarding treatment alternatives or additional interventions to maximize patient outcomes taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, formulary, pharmacoeconomics, adverse drug reactions, allergies and disease states. Information and/or changes is communicated to the interdisciplinary team.
• Assist in preparing patients for discharge by evaluating the patients' medications, ordering necessary medications and providing education to the patient and/or caregiver.
• Evaluates patients for beta lactam allergies. Completes beta lactam assessments on these patients as appropriate.
• Provides oral and written consultation with other health care professionals regarding drug therapy selection or management (including drug induced problems) in an accurate, timely and professional manner. Designs a therapeutic regimen or plan, based on patient-specific information that includes establishing a therapeutic endpoint, electing an appropriate drug and related therapy, and establishing an appropriate dosage regimen.
• Designs and/or participates in research studies (including drug utilization evaluations) with providers and/or other research collaborators.
• Supervises and trains pharmacy residents and students in acute care. Evaluates residents and students based on performance, presentations and examinations. Provides in-service presentations on acute care topics to students, residents, and professional healthcare staff. Maintains an organized and structured acute care rotation for pharmacy students and residents.
• Works to develop, upgrade, and disseminate acceptable criteria for use for use of formulary and non-formulary medications and other high cost items directed at employing cost effectiveness without compromising the quality of patient care. Dissemination of information may occur in a setting requiring speaking in front of a large group of providers.
• Participates in self-development activities to maintain and increase professional competence.
• Effectively communicates all appropriate information and significant events through proper channels, when appropriate

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 6:30pm; rotating weekends and holidays.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 50126-F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized