Clinical Pharmacist - Ambulatory Care / COPD Population Health Program

Job Description

Job Description

Over the past 30+ years, Rhode Island Primary Care Physician's Corporation (RIPCPC) has grown to become the largest independent provider association of primary and pediatric care in the state, delivering exceptional care to over 200,000 Rhode Islanders. RIPCPC delivers support services that are essential to providing high quality, cost-effective medicine to patients, while also preserving community-based practices. In 2023, RIPCPC joined Akido Labs, becoming a key east coast hub for healthcare innovation within the Akido Care medical network.

Akido Care's fast-growing medical network is known for its ability to integrate innovative technology into the healthcare infrastructure, relieving the frustrations felt by everyone involved in care delivery, from medical providers and their staff, to the patients and their families.

We're building a dynamic, diverse and driven team as we continue to grow and broaden our impact. We are seeking passionate people who care deeply about helping patients and communities. We hope you'll join our team!

The Opportunity

The Clinical Pharmacist provides ambulatory pharmaceutical care services within the Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corporation (RIPCPC) ACO. The pharmacist is embedded within primary care practices and collaborates as part of the interdisciplinary care team to provide evidence-based, patient-centered medication management focused on optimizing medication regimens, improving chronic disease outcomes, and reducing avoidable healthcare utilization.

This position supports a new pharmacist-led COPD population health program focused on high-risk patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including transitions of care management, medication optimization, inhaler education, adherence support, and early exacerbation intervention. In addition to COPD-focused responsibilities, the pharmacist will support broader ambulatory care pharmacy services and organizational quality initiatives based on program needs and operational priorities.

This is a newly funded program being built from the ground up. The pharmacist in this role won't inherit an established workflow — they'll help design it: the collaborative practice agreement scope, the clinical protocols, how high-risk patients are identified and followed, and how outcomes are measured. This is an unusual opportunity to shape a program rather than staff one, with the support of an experienced pharmacy team, nurse care managers, and the Chief Medical Officer.

The Clinical Pharmacist ensures the safe, effective, evidence-based, and cost-conscious use of medications while promoting high-quality patient care. The pharmacist also serves as a medication and drug information resource for patients, providers, and interdisciplinary care team members.

What you'll do

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Functions as the medication expert on the interdisciplinary care team.
• Reconciles and assesses medication regimens for adherence, safety, effectiveness, and optimization of therapy to achieve desired clinical outcomes.
• Provides evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy recommendations in collaboration with providers and care team members.
• Delivers chronic disease state management services with emphasis on COPD guideline-directed therapy, inhaler technique education, adherence monitoring, and mitigation of medication access barriers.
• Identifies and engages high-risk COPD patients through population health and care management platforms, including patients with recent emergency department visits, hospital admissions, or readmissions.
• Conducts transitions of care medication evaluations following acute care encounters and coordinates follow-up care with primary care teams and other providers as appropriate.
• Educates patients on medications, disease states, self-management strategies, and recognition of early COPD exacerbation symptoms to support timely intervention and reduce avoidable acute care utilization.
• Practices within established collaborative practice agreement(s) consistent with services delineated within the agreement.
• Collaborates with providers, patients, payers, and care management teams to ensure high-quality, cost-effective care.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement initiatives and population health programs.
• Contributes to achievement of contractual and organizational quality goals, including but not limited to comprehensive medication reviews, medication adherence outreach, transitions of care initiatives, and gaps in care closure.
• Documents all patient encounters and interventions within the electronic health record and other required platforms while maintaining timely communication with interdisciplinary team members.
• Assists in the collection, tracking, and reporting of program outcomes and quality metrics including utilization, engagement, and clinical outcomes.
• Develops and delivers presentations related to quality metrics, clinical initiatives, and disease state management topics.
• Participates in the development of new pharmacy services, workflows, and best practices supporting ambulatory and population health initiatives.
• Provides coverage and support for additional ambulatory clinical pharmacy services and team initiatives based on departmental needs.

Who you are

Required Qualifications:

• Experience independently managing drug therapy in an ambulatory or primary care setting, including initiating, adjusting, and discontinuing medications in collaboration with providers (e.g., under a collaborative practice agreement or similar delegated authority).
• Comfortable working at the top of your license — confident making independent clinical decisions without requiring physician sign-off at every step.
• Maintains current unrestricted pharmacist licensure in accordance with the Rhode Island Board of Registration in Pharmacy.
• Must have advanced training and experience relevant to chronic disease management meeting one of the following qualifications:
  • Successfully completed certification from the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties or completed an ASHP-accredited residency program in the area of practice.
    • If the residency program is not in the area of practice, the pharmacist shall complete a continuing education certificate program.
  • Holds a PharmD degree and has two (2) years of professional experience.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree and has three (3) years of professional experience.
• Practices pharmacy in accordance with laws, rules, and regulations of the Rhode Island Board of Registration in Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as established departmental policies and procedures.

Preferred Education, Additional Qualifications, and Experience:

• Ambulatory care, population health, or chronic disease management experience preferred.
• Experience managing respiratory disease states including COPD and asthma preferred (e.g., pulmonary or asthma clinic background, inhaler technique education).
• Completion of an ASHP-accredited residency (PGY-1 and/or PGY-2, particularly ambulatory care) preferred.
• Experience working as part of interdisciplinary care teams.
• Experience supporting transitions of care following hospital discharge or ER visits.
• Self-motivated and comfortable helping build and shape a new clinical program.
• Experience utilizing electronic health records, population health platforms, and reporting tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and web-based systems.

Benefits

• Health benefits include medical, dental, vision, and others
• Company paid health reimbursement arrangement (HRA)
• 401K match eligibility at 1 year
• Paid Time Off, paid holidays
• Life insurance

Physical Demands:

• Mostly sedentary work duties require exerting up to thirty pounds of force occasionally and/or small amounts of force frequently. Sedentary work typically involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods. 
• Requires visual acuity and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Workspace may vary depending on provider office setting and assigned practice location.
• Travel between facilities, provider offices, and practice sites is required.

Salary range

$125,000—$135,000 USD

Rhode Island Primary Care Physician's Corporation (RIPCPC) is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage qualified applicants of every background, ability, and life experience to contact us about appropriate employment opportunities.