Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides an extensive range of Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) services to patients in the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). Works as a member of an assigned PACT team and monitors patients for a variety of disease states including diabetes, hypertension, etc. as designated under the individual's scope of practice. Designs, implements, assesses, monitors, and documents therapeutic plans using the most effective, least toxic, and most economical medications. Offers additional interventions to maximize patient care outcomes, taking into consideration choice of therapy, safety, efficacy, and cost.
• Works as an active member of the interprofessional team.
• Performs activities such as physical assessment, ordering appropriate tests/consults, making referrals, etc., in an effort to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies and documents drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues per facility procedures. Takes specific corrective action per protocol or as permitted by approved scope of practice.
• Documents and ensures timely completion of alerts, encounters, notes, clinical interventions, consults, etc. in patient record and/or other data collection tools per local policy.
• Identifies areas in which improvements in clinical services can be made and completes at least one project a year (e.g., quality/performance improvement, implementation of new service, enhancement of existing service, etc.).
• Provides clinical pharmacy consultations and drug information to professional staff on the pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of pharmaceutical products.
• Recognizes suicide risk factors and understands facility policies regarding suicide prevention, support systems, and referral resources.
• Reviews, evaluates, adjudicates, and documents requests for non-formulary and restricted drugs for appropriateness and compliance with established criteria, where applicable, per facility/department policy.
• Promotes and monitors compliance with established drug therapy policies.
• Actively participates in Hospital Emergency Response drills and is knowledgeable for Pharmacy Emergency Preparedness procedures.
• Works with managers to assist in managing recalls and medication shortage situations by substituting alternate dosage strengths and instructions of the same medication.
• Responsible for maintaining his/her professional competency by keeping abreast of current medical and pharmaceutical literature, new drugs and therapies, and applies this knowledge in his/her daily duties, while maintaining current licensure.
• Designs, conducts, and participates in studies, audits, and evaluations under the auspices of committees responsible for formulation and review of drug use policies and quality assurance committees.
• Actively identifies and contributes to the development of a new ambulatory care pharmacy service or to the enhancement of an existing service.
• Establishes and maintains good work flow patterns to ensure efficient clinic management.
• Assists in the operations of the other areas of the pharmacy service including distribution and clinical work in other areas (e.g. medication order review and verification, relief help in other clinics or pharmacies), as needed.
• Participates in various medical center councils, committees, performance improvement teams. Provides sound arguments that influence clinical and management decision. Attends and/or participates in Pharmacy Service and sections meetings.
• Responsible for complying with all applicable Federal, VHA, and local regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to controlled substance accountability and drug accountability for pharmacy.
• Effectively instructs patients and family members in the appropriate use of medications and medical devices and documents comprehension. Able to adjust communication and tracking methods based on age and developmental considerations. Refers patients to educational programs provided at the medical center by multidisciplinary teams as applicable.
• Precepts and evaluates pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and other relevant trainees, which may include projects, rotations, presentations, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm; tour may be adjusted to meet medical center and patient care needs.

Functional Statement #: 000000