Clinical Pharmacist - Inpatient

Clinical Pharmacist - Inpatient Phoenix VAMC

Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center Department of Veterans Affairs offers healthcare services to eligible military veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics across the country. Driven by the mission to fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan", VA strives to serve and honor America's veterans by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship.

The Phoenix VA Health Care System proudly serves Veterans in central Arizona at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center and nine community-based outpatient VA clinics.

Requirements

• Assessing patient's response to drug therapy and planning drug therapy based on physician-established diagnoses.
• Ordering and evaluating laboratory tests necessary to evaluate drug therapy effects and outcomes.
• Initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medications for ongoing therapy of chronic disease states (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, anticoagulant, diabetes, asthma, refill clinics, etc.), in cooperation with the medical staff.
• Monitoring and managing pharmacotherapy requiring periodic adjustment due to specific or changing pharmacokinetic characteristics (e.g., aminoglycosides, phenytoin, antithrombotics).
• Initiating or modifying drug therapy for minor acute conditions such as colds, rashes, and allergies.
• Administering prescription or non-prescription drugs according to established agreements or protocols.
• Assessing metabolic needs and ordering therapeutic enteral or parenteral nutrition products in the inpatient setting.
• Evaluating medical and medication histories for drug-related problems and adjusting drug therapy accordingly.
• Consulting with other healthcare providers (e.g., physicians, dietitians, nurses, physical therapists, etc.) about patient treatment needs or options.
• Conducting and coordinating clinical investigations and research (consistent with other healthcare professionals) approved by a local or regional Investigational Review Board (IRB) and participating in outcome studies generated by the department of pharmacy and approved by the P&T Committee.
• Perform a full range of pharmacist procedures.
• Deliver comprehensive pharmaceutical services within the personnel, supply, and equipment capabilities of the facility.
• Counsel patients regarding appropriate use of medications.
• Review patient profiles at the time of dispensing in order to closely monitor medication therapy.
• Ensure prescription directions for use, dose, medication interactions, therapeutic duplications or overlaps, allergy information, age specific dosage, and other pertinent data are appropriate for individual patients. Intervention with providers shall be made for noted discrepancy of above listed items.
• Compound medications as required.
• Ensure accuracy of all pharmaceutical products prepared or processed by technical staff.
• Work closely with clinical staff in developing patient wellness programs such as smoking cessation programs and asthma classes.
• Provide medication information and medication therapy guidelines to the clinical staff as required.
• Provide medication and healthcare related in service training to clinical staff on new medications on the market; appropriate use of medications; comparison of current medication therapies; and other topics as deemed appropriate by the department head.
• Provide clinical direction to pharmacy personnel.
• Supervise inventory control of all pharmaceuticals in the pharmacy, especially scheduled pharmaceuticals, and ensure pharmacy security. Maintain appropriate records and security of all scheduled controlled substances according to applicable regulations.
• Consult with other specialty practitioners to provide optimal patient pharmaceutical care.
• Ensure that work areas are clean and safe according to applicable regulations.
• Document significant medication interactions, and pharmacy interactions with prescribers. Conduct Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting in accordance with TJC or AAAHC standards as appropriate.
• Facilitate medical staff drug utilization reviews (DURs) as deemed necessary.

Qualifications

• A current, valid, unrestricted license to practice Pharmacy in any one of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• A Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree in Pharmacy from a college of pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).
• Board certification in one or more of the pharmacy specialties recognized by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, or
• Completion of a clinical pharmacy residency or fellowship accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists or American College of Clinical Pharmacy, or
• Documentation of appropriate education, training, and/or CME in the practice of clinical pharmacy.

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