Clinical Pharmacist 2

Pharmacy Technician

Position at Norwalk Hospital Association Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State's largest private employer with over 104,000 employees — including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners — who are working to change health care for the better

Summary

Performs all functions needed to ensure proper storage, preparation and dispensing of medications. Interpret and evaluate physician orders for appropriateness and safety. Provides information and recommendations to ensure the safe, timely, accurate and appropriate administration of medications. Actively participates in governance, teaching, education, and monitoring efforts. Participates in patient care rounding. Develops content and delivers in-services to pharmacy and other healthcare professionals. Complies with all state and federal regulations, established peer standards and Hospital policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

1. Medication Processing and Dispensing

a. Reviews, interprets, and verifies medication orders for safety and appropriateness in a timely manner. Conducts patient profile reviews prior to verifying/dispensing. Identifies and resolves basic order entry and prescribing problems. Makes appropriate interventions to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance.

b. Dispenses accurately labeled medications in the appropriate packaging in a timely manner. Understands all drug preparation techniques and can perform or oversee the timely preparation of medications to ensure product and patient safety.

c. Ensures all sterile compounded medications and IV solutions are handled and labeled according to applicable regulatory standards and policies.

d. Understands and complies with required Pharmacy Department documentation in all areas and can do so in a clear concise manner.

e. Understands the purchasing process and assists in inventory control to reduce waste. Can obtain drugs in select emergency situations.

f. Suggests appropriate alternatives to non-formulary medications.

2. Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Information

a. Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and offers reasonable solutions/options

b. Maintains drug knowledge and competency and keeps up to date with current trends and practices in pharmacy.

c. Demonstrates initiative in learning about new disease and drug therapies.

d. Retrieves, analyzes, and communicates drug information from available resources in a professional and timely manner.

e. Demonstrates an understanding of the pharmacotherapy of disease states.

f. Performs daily clinical functions including but not limited to;

i. IV to PO conversions

ii. Antibiotic dosing, stewardship, and monitoring

iii. Renal dosing adjustments

g. Collects and interprets data to design, recommend, implement, monitor, and/or modify patient-specific pharmacotherapy in collaboration with other health care professionals to optimize drug therapy.

h. Regularly participates in patient care rounding.

3. Patient Counseling and Communication

a. Counsels patients as needed about their drug therapy to ensure safe use and maximize patient outcomes.

b. Demonstrates respect for patients and maintains a pleasant and professional attitude.

c. Communicates any patient needs or findings with the medical team.

d. Represents the department in a professional manner at all committee or task force meetings and reports a summary back to department manager and staff.

e. Able to present professionally in a multidisciplinary setting.

f. Communicates clearly, concisely, and courteously, both in person and over the phone, with all hospital staff.

4. Oversee/Check/Monitor Central Pharmacy Workflow

a. Actively take responsibility for overseeing all activities pertinent to drug preparation, dispensing and distribution. Conducts in-process and final checks on the performance of all actions taken by pharmacy technicians.

b. Oversees, prioritizes, and directs daily activities of the Pharmacy Technicians.

c. Maintains and promotes positivity, teamwork, and professional working environment.

d. Demonstrates ability to prioritize workloads, optimize productivity and maintain compliance with all regulations.

e. Recognizes and makes suggestions and recommendations to solve problems, increase productivity, improve department policies and procedures, and to promote cost-saving measures.

5. Project Management and Departmental Goals

a. Develops, initiates, maintains, and completes assigned projects.

b. Understands and actively contributes to departmental goals.

c. Performs clinical and/or regulatory monitoring.

d. Actively participates in governance teams and meetings.

6. Provides Training, Team Teaching, Mentoring, and Precepting of Students, Residents, and New Hires

a. Helps train and develop inexperienced staff in all areas.

b. Provides training, team teaching, mentoring, and precepting of students.

c. Has ownership of teaching rotations.

d. Provides and develops interdisciplinary education materials.

e. Develops content and delivers in-services to pharmacy and other healthcare professionals.

7. Demonstrate ability to work and comply with all pharmacy regulations such as but not limited to USP 797, USP 800, Joint Commission medication management, applicable state law, CMS code of participation and hospital/network policy

a. Demonstrates ability to reference and look up pharmacy regulations.

b. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to work and comply with all pharmacy regulations, specifically USP 797 and 800, Joint Commission medication management, applicable state law, drug laws, and CMS code of participation.

c. Maintains compliance with all hospital and networks policies.

d. Demonstrates ability to accurately document any necessary regulatory documentation.

e. Identifies patterns of non-compliance and report to management as needed.

8. Conduct

a. Is a leader who exemplifies teamwork and accountability.

b. Abides to hospital and network values.

c. Maintains safe and pleasant working conditions and promotes productivity.

d. Follows policies and procedures.

e. Anticipates workflow and accommodates peak periods and effectively utilizes downtime.

f. Maintains a clean and clutter free work area.

9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Skills Experience:

Required: BS of Pharmacy or PharmD.

Minimum 3 years inpatient hospital experience or PGY1 Residency.

Active Pharmacist license in applicable state (NY or CT)

Computer skills, ability to multi-task and work independently.

Working Conditions:

Manual: significant manual skills/motor coord & finger dexterity

Occupational: Some occupational risk

Physical Effort: Sedentary/light effort. May exert up to 10 lbs. force

Physical Environment: Some exposure to dirt, odors, noise, human waste, etc.

Company: Norwalk Hospital Association

Org Unit: 1926

Exempt: No

Salary Range: $59.84 - $111.12 Hourly