Clinical Pharmacist

About this Job:

General Summary of Position

The Night ED/ICU Pharmacist is responsible for the safe, accurate, and timely review, verification, preparation, and dispensing of medications for adult and pediatric emergency and critical care areas during overnight operations. This pharmacist will be based in the ED with a 7 on/7 off schedule.

The pharmacist maintains primary responsibility for assigned ED and ICU coverage while providing cross-coverage and support to other night-shift pharmacists based on patient acuity, workload, emergencies, and departmental needs. This role ensures compliance with hospital policies, applicable state and federal regulations, and patient safety standards while providing comprehensive clinical and operational pharmacy support to the healthcare team.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Administration: Advises clinical staff to ensure that medications are safely and accurately administered. Advises professional staff to assure that the medication is being administered at the proper time in the prescribed dose and by the correct route. Advises the patient and clinical staff regarding any clinically significant adverse reactions or other concerns about administering a medication. Discusses any unresolved significant concerns about the medication with appropriate healthcare providers
• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies procedures quality standards and safety standards. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations
• DISPENSING: Safely prepares medications utilizing proper techniques: employs appropriate precautions when preparing hazardous medications; employs techniques to assure accurate medication preparation; oversees non-licensed staff in the preparation of medications. Labels medications according to hospital policy applicable laws and regulations and standards of practice to ensure safe accurate administration: labels medications for dispensing with at least the drug name strength amount expiration date patient name patient location and directions for use; dispenses medications in a safe manner; dispenses quantities that are minimally sufficient to treat patient's needs safely; dispenses medications in the most ready-to administer form; adds medications to Pyxis as based on patient needs
• DISPENSING: Adheres to all laws regulations and hospital policies regarding the management of recalled discontinued unused expired or returned medications: removes discontinued medications from the unit; inspects returned medications for integrity before returning to stock; segregates outdated or recalled medications from pharmacy stock. Accounts for all unused expired or returned controlled medications according to the law. Ensures that first doses of therapeutically monitored medications (i.e. vancomycin gentamicin etc.) are provided for timely administration to the patient. Clinical note is entered to communicate activities for subsequent monitoring
• INVESTIGATIONAL MEDICATIONS: Follows policies and procedures established for management of investigational medications including storage dispensing labeling distribution and documentation. Reviews and assures understanding of investigational protocol prior to dispensing investigational medications
• MONITORING: Responds appropriately to actual or potential adverse drug events and medication occurrences. Understands and takes appropriate action when an actual or potential adverse drug event and/or medication occurrence is identified. Complies with internal and external reporting requirements for actual and potential adverse drug events and/or medication occurrences using the Medication Occurrence Reporting System USP FDA ISMP etc
• ORDERING: Ensures that medication orders are complete accurate and appropriate to the patient's condition. Verifies that there is a documented diagnosis condition or indication for use for each medication ordered. Reviews all medication orders for appropriateness. This includes but may not be limited to: appropriate drug dose frequency and route; duplicate therapy; potential for allergies or sensitivities; potential for drug food or lab interactions. Investigates all computer alerts and warnings and intervenes as necessary
• Participates in multidisciplinary quality and service improvement teams
• Participates in the evaluation of the hospital's medication management system for risk points and identifies areas to improve safety
• PATIENT INFORMATION: Obtains and maintains patient specific information as appropriate for safe medication management. Gathers and documents information that should include: patient's age sex height and weight; current medications allergies past sensitivities; diagnoses and co morbidities; relevant lab values; pregnancy and lactation status and other information as required by the hospital and/or for safe medication management. Participates in the exchange of information with appropriate healthcare professionals and staff
• Performs other duties as assigned
• SELECTION AND PROCUREMENT: Ensures that medications available for diagnosis or administration are selected listed and procured based on criteria. Demonstrates a working knowledge of the formulary list and the formulary process. Provides product specific information to ensure safe appropriate medication practices. Adheres to policies and procedures regarding the approval and procurement of non-formulary medications. Adheres to policies and procedures that address medication shortages outages emergency and disaster situations. Adheres to approved therapeutic substitution protocols
• STORAGE: Ensures that medications are properly and safely stored throughout the hospital. Stocks or stores only approved medications and adheres to appropriate par levels. Stores medications under conditions necessary to ensure stability. Secures medications in accordance with the hospital's policy and law and regulation. Stores controlled substances in such a manner to prevent diversion in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. Appropriately labels all medications and chemicals used to prepare medications with contents expiration dates and appropriated warnings. Abides by recommendations from regulatory and advisory groups regarding safe medication principles including look alike sound alike and high alert drugs. Maintains medications in the most ready to administer fprm.
• STORAGE: Routinely inspects all medication storage areas according to hospital's poly. Ensures that emergency medications and/or supplies if any are consistently available controlled and secure in the hospital's patient care areas. Ensures that emergency medications are available in unit-dose age-specific and ready-to-administer forms whenever possible. Ensures that emergency medications are stored in sealed or in locked containers in a locked room or under constant supervision. Replaces emergency medications and supplies as soon as possible after their use in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures
• STORAGE: Adheres to the hospital policy that addresses the use of medications brought into the hospital by patients or their families. Determines when such medications can be used or administered as per hospital policy and procedure. Identifies the medication and visually evaluates its integrity as per hospital policy and procedure

Minimal Qualifications
Education

• Bachelor's degree Licensed as a pharmacist in the State of Maryland required
• advanced degree preferred

Experience

• 1-2 years Clinical hospital pharmacy experience with understanding of pharmaceutical care concepts. required

Licenses and Certifications

• Pharmacist license in the State of Maryland. required
• Residency or certification preferred

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills preferred.