PHARMACIST INPATIENT - ICU

Pharmacist Inpatient - Icu

Pharmacists consult with and educate physicians, other health professionals, and patients and their families about drug usage, drug dosage, and drug substitution. Pharmacists focus on the cost effective and safe usage of drugs in inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory settings and on improving the quality of care given to patients. Compound and dispense medications and pharmaceutical supplies on written order from a physician. Participate in Continuous Improvement (CQI program at the UNM Hospitals). Ensure adherence to UNM Hospitals and departmental policies, procedures and guidelines. Patient care assignments may include neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed responsibilities:

• PROFESSIONALISM - Maintain professional environment in communications, duties, tasks, interactions and customer service
• PRESCRIPTIONS/ORDERS - Weigh, measure and mix ingredients; compound and prepare medication emulsions, liquids, powders, and ointments using graduates, balance, mortars, pestles and funnels
• PRESCRIPTIONS/ORDERS - Fill prescriptions or orders from bulk stock; fill bottles, capsules and other package forms with measured amounts of medication according to prescription; type prescription or order information for identification and use of medication; attach label to container following dispensing format
• PRESCRIPTIONS/ORDERS - Maintain inventory records on narcotics and other controlled substances; maintain records on prescriptions or orders filled
• PRESCRIPTIONS/ORDERS - Ensure timely and accurate filling and delivery of physician's prescriptions or orders
• PRESCRIPTIONS/ORDERS - Prepare and dispense doses of medications as required to meet patient needs
• ADDITIVES - Mix and dispense additives for IV, IM and irrigating solutions
• FORMULARY - Review non-formulary drug requests and recommend formulary alternatives when possible
• PATIENT CARE - Enter physician prescriptions and orders into pharmacy computer system; review physician prescription or orders for completeness and appropriateness; perform prospective review of patient profile, check for drug-drug, drug-food, drug-disease, drug supplement interactions, patient allergies, appropriate dose, admixture incompatibilities, drug dose, route schedule, etc
• DRUG THERAPY - Collaborate with other healthcare professionals in the selection and individualization of drug therapy for patients
• DRUG THERAPY - Confer with medical personnel to correct problems with physician prescription or orders; recommend changes in therapy with goal of enhancing patient care, increase patient safety and decrease costs; encourage adherence to formulary, IV to PO recommendations, clinical practice guidelines, and antibiotic selections
• INFORMATION - Provide concise, complete, applicable and timely responses to drug information requests from healthcare professionals and patients
• PATIENT CARE - Perform total parenteral nutrition monitoring and participation on the UNMH Nutrition Support Team, Renal drug dosing, IV to PO conversion, Anticoagulation therapy monitoring, antibiotic selection, Pharmacokinetic monitoring and other monitoring duties as assigned
• PATIENT CARE - Participate in medication usage evaluations (MUE) and preparation of clinical practice guidelines
• PATIENT CARE - Perform Pharmacy audits on a regular basis as required by department policy
• DOCUMENTATION - Document patient information and recommendations regarding drug therapy regimens in patient charts when appropriate. Document clinical interventions in pharmacy departments clinical documentation software
• CLINICAL PROGRAMS - Participate and document participation in departmental programs such as therapeutic drug monitoring, formulary auto substitution, IV to PO conversions and renal dosing
• COMMITTEES - Attend meetings and represent department or Hospitals within Hospitals related committees or the community, as assigned
• GUIDELINES - Participate in the development of clinical practice guidelines and implementation of clinical order sets
• COUNSELING - Provide counseling to patients in outpatient setting and at discharge from the hospital
• PROCESS IMPROVEMENT - Follow up on problems identified by pharmacy staff in their prescription or order coordination process; recommend process changes as needed
• QUALITY IMPROVEMENT - Develop, execute, and participate in quality improvement programs that enable the department to continue to improve pharmaceutical care to the patients
• SUPERVISION - Organize and guide the daily operational duties of the support personnel and co-workers to provide best possible workflow; perform Charge Pharmacist duties when assigned
• EDUCATION - Participate in the education of the UNMH Healthcare professionals; train and educate residents, students and technicians
• LIAISON - Act as a liaison to nursing units and clinics
• COMMUNICATION - Facilitate interdepartmental communication and problem identification and resolution; provide communication between work areas and shifts to provide continuity of patient care
• SELF-DEVELOPMENT - Participate in a program of self-development that will allow the pharmacist to develop a high level of clinical or technical expertise specific to the particular area of practice
• OTHER - Perform other duties as assigned
• PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols
• PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
• PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
• PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
• PATIENT SAFETY 5 - Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"