REMS Program Specialist

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Program Specialist

Tennessee Oncology, one of the nation's largest, community-based cancer care specialists, is home to one of the leading clinical trial networks in the country. Established 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee Oncology's mission remains unchanged: To provide access to high-quality cancer care and the expertise of clinical research for all patients, at convenient locations within their community and close to their home. Our growing network of physicians and locations is based on this mission. Tennessee Oncology is committed to advancing both the science of detection and targeted treatments, and to making these advances available to every patient. We believe caring for cancer patients is a privilege.

The Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Program Specialist is a licensed nurse that is responsible for ensuring program compliance and completion of all REMS requirements in addition to patient care management and adherence support for all patients currently receiving designated REMS medications, including those who will be required to receive product from outside pharmacies. Responsibilities will include comprehensive knowledge of REMS requirements from both the physician prescribing and the pharmacy fulfillment perspective.

Essential Functions:

• Successfully pass annual test and maintain REMS counselor certification for required medications
• Implement all requirements for REMS medications and serve as the subject matter expert on REMS process and medication management for both the clinic and pharmacy
• Collaborate with clinic staff to coordinate REMS required patient enrollment, monthly surveys, and any required pregnancy testing at the appropriate intervals prior to medication dispense
• Navigate between multiple systems and ensure required documentation within each including, but not limited to, pharmacy processing system, EMR and manufacturer enrollment portal
• Complete specialty claims processing including, but not limited to, inclusion of prior authorizations, rejections, copay cards, and overrides
• Provide patient care management and/or mitigation of potential side effects, ensuring adherence to prescribed dosing and schedule, and assist in coordinating combination therapy including multiple routes of therapy administration
• Assess adherence, identify opportunities and recommend/incorporate appropriate adherence support strategies including but not limited to calendars, reminders, and/or digital solutions
• Review clinical data and incorporate this data from the EMR and other sources to actively engage through open-ended, probing questions to actively engage and assess patient status to support best treatment outcomes
• Exercise professional clinical judgement in identifying, triaging, and escalating patient issues to a pharmacist and/or physician
• Perform routine audits of all areas required with REMS program
• Participate in annual manufacture audit of REMS program
• Communicate professionally and courteously across a variety of patient and HCP levels both in person and telephonically
• Participate in Quality Assurance (QA) meetings as needed, identify areas of work susceptible to QA improvement and work with pharmacists to initiate Quality Improvement Projects as needed
• Collaborate with management in continuous program development and optimization

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Self-motivated worker who can work independently or with a team
• Ability to prioritize tasks and demonstrate timeliness in completion
• Ability to focus equally on patient care and administrative requirements
• Ability to think critically and independently to solve problems
• Ability to communicate clinical information professionally and concisely
• Proficiency in organizing and completing multi-step processes
• Detailed and results-oriented with excellent customer service skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and establish collaborative relationships with physicians, patients, clinical and administrative staff
• Working knowledge of government and managed care benefit structures
• Promotes highest ethical standards

Education & Experience:

• Valid State of Tennessee or appropriate compact state nursing license required
• Minimum two (2) years LPN experience required
• Two (2) or more years LPN outpatient clinic experience preferred
• Oncology experience preferred
• Telephone triage or other clinical interaction preferred
• Specialty Pharmacy or medication therapy management program experience preferred
• TN State Pharmacy Technician license active and in good standing or obtained within 90 days of hire if not previously licensed in TN