Clinical Pharmacist

Clinical Pharmacist

The clinical pharmacist is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. They are responsible for analyzing real and potential drug-related problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist also applies standards relating to all aspects of the distribution and manages both controlled and non-controlled drugs. The primary function of a clinical pharmacist is to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications, and to be an advocate of rational drug therapy through the following:

• Assessing the appropriateness of drug therapy.
• Individualizing drug therapy based on patient specific factors.
• Dispensing medication and providing drug information.

A pharmacist in this assignment handles routine medication-related activities in accordance with all applicable local, state, federal and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), rules and regulations. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Reviewing, interpreting, and verifying medication orders for appropriateness.
• Processing and filling medication orders.
• Interacting with and making recommendations to other clinical staff regarding medication therapy which ensures safe and effective care.
• Reviewing the patient's medications, allergies, laboratory results, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems by contacting providers as appropriate.
• Documenting recommendations and interventions.
• Providing refill extensions and partial medication supplies.
• Taking health and medication histories.
• Performing medication reconciliation.
• Providing drug information.
• Assisting in formulary management including therapeutic substitutions, non-formulary reviews and medication usage evaluations.
• Documenting and assessing adverse drug events (ADEs).
• Assisting in medical emergencies.
• Providing oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication preparation and distribution.

Clinical:

• Provides appropriate drug selection based upon the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, monitors for efficacy, side effects and clinical outcome, and advises prescribers as appropriate.
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates both orally and in writing relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient. Monitoring will include prospective review and intervention in:
• Therapeutic appropriateness of a patient's drug regimen.
• Any therapeutic duplication in the patient's drug regimen.
• Appropriateness of the route and method of administration.
• Extent of patient compliance with the prescribed drug regimen.
• Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory, or drug disease interactions.
• Clinical and pharmacokinetic laboratory data to evaluate the efficacy of drug therapy and to anticipate side effects, toxicities, or other adverse effects.
• Physical signs and clinical symptoms relevant to the patient's drug therapy.
• Provides continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy.
• Provides medication counseling to patients.
• Completes medication histories including patient interviews.
• Serves as a drug information resource by providing up-to-date drug information to prescribers, other health care professionals, patients and caregivers.
• Participates in patient care rounds, chart reviews, evaluates pertinent laboratory data, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions, monitors for adverse drug effects, and screens for allergies.

Dispensing:

• Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness, drug selection, dosage, route of administration and the amount, prior to dispensing.
• Ensures all medication orders are entered into the electronic patient medical record.
• Fills all orders in a timely fashion; reviews the patient's allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assesses for clinical relevance.
• Reviews medication profiles and monitors for compliance or potential abuse and resolves or reports any problems encountered.
• Selects, compounds and dispenses a full range of drugs including extemporaneous preparations, special formulations, narcotics, investigational drugs, oncolytic agents, etc., in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Maintains adequate drug stock and inspects drug storage areas.

Additional duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Part Time; Variable hours; The employee is compensated for hours actually worked.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 21M50A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized