Staff Pharmacist I

Location : CHA Somerville Campus
Work Days : 8 hour shifts, M-F day, with option for cross coverage at CH
Category : Pharmacy
Department : Inpatient Pharmacy Somerville
Job Type : Full time
Work Shift : Various Shifts
Hours/Week : 40.00
Union Name : Non Union

At Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the inpatient pharmacy has the best of both worlds - an innovative academic environment while working in a community hospital setting. The inpatient pharmacy is a dynamic department with cutting edge clinical services and state of the art automation and technology. It includes three inpatient pharmacies, inpatient and ambulatory clinical pharmacy services, four retail / specialty pharmacies, a PACE pharmacy, and a PGY-1 pharmacy residency program. We precept APPE and IPPE students from 5 area colleges of pharmacy. We are an ACPE-accredited provider of continuing pharmacy education. Forty-five of our clinical pharmacists from all areas of operation are credentialed members of the CHA Medical Staff and execute a number of drug therapy management protocols through collaborative practice agreements with supervising physicians. All of the services we provide are performed with a focus on optimizing patient outcomes and safety, increasing patient satisfaction, and contributing to CHA's financial sustainability.

Summary:
Under the general supervision of the Supervisor / Manager, Inpatient Pharmacy Services, and within established organizational and departmental policies and procedures, the Staff Pharmacist dispenses medications and performs clinical functions related to medication use. Essential job functions are focused on customer satisfaction, efficient/effective use of resources, teamwork, innovation and continuous quality improvement

The Somerville Hospital campus services child and adolescent psychiatric patients, and also includes a neurodevelopmental unit (servicing patients with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, motor disorders), urgent care, and endoscopy units. Opportunities exist for cross-coverage at our Cambridge Hospital campus inpatient pharmacy.

Responsibilities:
• 'Verifies in Epic physician-entered orders enters scanned physician orders into the computer system after checking for safety, accuracy, appropriateness and completeness with respect to drug, dose, route, frequency with consideration given to patient-specific data including laboratory values, age, gender, height, weight and BSA.
• Minimizes or prevents drug related problems through targeted, documented interventions.
• Performs direct patient education for a variety of patient populations (e.g. warfarin, CHF, COPD)
• Attends and participates in daily Multidisciplinary Rounds (MDR) on inpatient units. Participates in medical rounds.
• Effectively carries out P&T committee approved pharmacist dosing protocols for specific medications (e.g. warfarin, vancomycin)
• Monitors high-risk and/or other targeted drug therapies to ensure safe and appropriate use.
• Monitors selected aspects of drug therapy on an ongoing basis; intervenes as necessary to optimize drug use.
• Provides information / education to the medical and nursing staffs.
• Prepares controlled substances to be dispensed, completing the appropriate documentation while maintaining a perpetual inventory.
• Performs physical inventory and reconciliation of controlled substances according to policy and regulations. Notifies Manager, Inpatient Pharmacy Services, Director, Inpatient Pharmacy Services, and/or Senior Director of Pharmacy of any unexplained discrepancies.
• Prepares IV admixtures including cancer chemotherapy, using aseptic technique and following the guidelines for safe handling of chemotherapeutic agents in accordance with Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policies and the USP Chapter 797.
• Able to perform all standard Pyxis product (e.g., Connect, C-II Safe, MedStation, Console) functions and maintenance including basic troubleshooting.
• Performs daily oversight of all Technician activities; organizes and directs technicians' work flow, checks / reviews all Technician work according to regulatory requirements. Directly supervises the Technicians, coordinating the daily activities and checking the Technicians' work.
• Participates in the training of pharmacy staff - pharmacists, technicians and students.
• Complies with state and federal drug laws as regulated by the Massachusetts state board of pharmacy (MBOP), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Food and Drug Administration Integrates growth and development needs into the delivery of patient care for the populations served.
• Uses communication methods appropriate for the patient developmental stage.
• Accurately assesses the patient's ability to follow directions for completion of treatment.
• Identifies and manages any special issues, concerns and risks for age specific populations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduate of an accredited college/university with B.S. in Pharmacy or Pharm.D. Degree is required.
Licensure: Must have a current license in good standing from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy.
Work Experience: Minimum of three (3) years experience as a pharmacist is preferred

Please note that the final offer may vary within the listed Pay Range, based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.


In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.