Clinical Pharmacist, Inpatient

Pharmacy Technician

Under general supervision of a Pharmacy Supervisor or Pharmacist-in-charge, is responsible for the interpretation, evaluation, preparation and dispensing of medications pursuant to a legitimate order or prescription in keeping with established policies, procedures, and standards of practice and scope of pharmacy services of the respective affiliate. Collaborates with multidisciplinary care providers to monitor, assess, and intervene as needed to ensure safe, appropriate and cost-effective medication use, with consideration of the aging processes and human developmental stages (neonate, child, adolescent, adult, geriatric). Oversees and closely reviews the work of pharmacy technicians and ancillary support personnel. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Is responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.
• Receives patient medication orders or prescriptions as written or ordered by a physician or other licensed independent practitioner. Reviews each order or prescription to determine therapeutic appropriateness of the patient's drug regimen as it relates to the patient's clinical status, concomitant drug therapy and diet, and with consideration of the aging processes and human developmental stages (neonate, child, adolescent, adult, geriatric). Contacts the prescriber, or covering physician, as necessary to initiate appropriate interventions to ensure therapeutic efficacy, minimize potential risks of drug therapy and optimize cost effectiveness.
• Applies pharmacotherapeutic and pharmacokinetic principles to ensure safe and effective use of medications for the patient populations served.
• Accurately reviews and approves / enters medication orders in the computerized pharmacy information system including appropriate product formulation, dosage, frequency and duration of therapy. Ensures relevant patient specific parameters are entered on the medication profile (i.e., diagnosis, known allergies, weight, age, etc.). Reviews and approves all computer entries if delegated to technician staff.
• Dispenses needed medications in the appropriate quantity to ensure the patient receives the correct medication, in the right dosage and dose form, at the proper time.
• Reviews and approves formulations for medications requiring compounding or manipulation prior to dispensing. Checks the final products, as prepared by pharmacy technicians, prior to dispensing medications according to established procedures.
• Participates in the development, implementation and integration of patient-focused medication therapy management and pharmaceutical care services. Monitors drugs and/or therapeutic classes targeted for review and implements corrective strategies to optimize drug use in compliance with established clinical pathways or guidelines.
• Participates in education and training of healthcare practitioners, including pharmacy technicians and students, physicians, nurses, other care providers and patients/customers on matters relevant to medication use.
• Provides accurate and comprehensive information about drugs including drug interactions, potential side effects or adverse reactions, incompatibilities and instructions for administration of medication, to physicians, nurses and other healthcare practitioners. Provides instruction on use of medications to patients upon request. Maintains appropriate documentation and records regarding drug purchasing, storage, preparation, and distribution as required by hospital procedures and/or applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement activities and total quality management initiatives, including the adverse drug reaction, pharmacist clinical intervention, and medication incident reporting programs.
• Maintains professional competence through participation in Pharmacy staff development and skills enhancement programs, ongoing independent study, education-related professional activities, and affiliations.
• Performs all other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor of Science in pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy.
• Maintains current unrestricted licensure as a licensed pharmacist in the State of Rhode Island.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to neonate, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

EXPERIENCE:

• Two to three years progressively more responsible related experience, preferably gained in a similarly diverse and operationally complex health care environment is desired.
• Knowledge of pharmacy information systems, automated dispensing technology and personal computers. Occasional travel between facilities or sites as required.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Extended periods of time spent standing and walking. Requires the visual and manual dexterity to operate a computer.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

• Performs independently within department policies and practices.
• Refers specific complex problems to supervisor where clarification of departmental policies and procedures may be required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• None.