Pharmacist (Clinical Specialist)

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

A Clinical Pharmacy Specialist is responsible for planning, implementing and operating the medicine drug monitoring and utilization programs. He/she is the internal medicine expert in all areas related to medications utilized in general medicine patient care areas and functions as a consultant to other health care professionals. The incumbent functions at the highest level of clinical practice, works independently under their scope of practice as defined by the individual medical center to directly care for patients. Duties include, but not limited to:

• Communicates orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decision.
• Maintains expert understanding of regulatory and quality standards for their program area.
• Solves problems, coordinates and organizes responsibilities to maximize outcomes in by formulary management.
• Maintains expert knowledge of a specialized area of clinical pharmacy practice or specialty area of pharmacy.
• Develops, upgrades, and disseminates acceptable criteria for the use of non-formulary medications and other high-cost medications and products to ensure cost-effective therapy without compromising the overall quality of patient care.
• Utilizes specialized knowledge of drug therapies to critically review non-formulary drug requests according to criteria for use for appropriateness, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Utilizes evidence-based decision making.
• Conducts prospective/retrospective drug use evaluations of high-use, high cost, or high-risk drugs. Prepares and reports data, makes recommendations for corrective action, and develops education programs/interventions that would alter suboptimal prescribing or work patterns per established processes.
• Assists with managing drug shortages, conversions, and recalls affecting inpatient, outpatient, and CMOP Pharmacy.

Clinical Practice:

• Maintains advanced skill in monitoring and assessing the outcome of drug therapies, including physical assessment and interpretation of laboratory and other diagnostic parameter.
• Evaluates orders for appropriateness and drug interactions, allergies and adverse reactions, and duplicate therapy.
• Accountable for medication reconciliation according to facility policy.
• Demonstrates competence in differentiating individual patient pharmaceutical care needs based on patient age from adult (18-64) through geriatric (65+ ).
• Verifies accuracy and appropriateness of medication orders and prescriptions during order finishing.
• Consults with medical center staff when there are questions concerning therapeutic or policy matters regarding outpatient prescriptions.
• Assures the accuracy of drug dispensing of medications based upon Veteran's history and medication profile review, good clinical practice, and other pertinent factors. This includes (but is not limited to) data entry into the computer, screening orders for drug-drug and drug-food interactions, dosing errors, allergies, incompatibilities, contraindications, and formulary availability.

Clinical Education and Scholarly Activities:

• Serves as a preceptor and shares responsibility for training, guidance and evaluation of Ambulatory Care Students when applicable.
• Serves as a preceptor/trainer for visiting healthcare professionals or students who want to broaden their knowledge and skills and/or establish their own clinical practice in the designated practice area.
• Assumes an active role in staff development of peers and provides educational opportunities to nursing, medical staff and to other ancillary services.
• Presents at local, state, regional or national meetings.

Administrative Support and Customer Service:

• Serves as a resource between Pharmacy Service and all health care providers.
• Provides leadership on facility committees when requested.
• Ensures that VA, hospital, and service policies are followed.
• Maintains excellent working relationship with department and organization staff.
• Provides prompt and personal attention to each patient.
• Responds to request for assistance from patients, families, and staff in a friendly and cooperative manner.

Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Standard Time

Functional Statement #: PD02154F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required