Pharmacist-Clinical - Pain/Oncology Acute Care

Pharmacist

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

$10,000 Sign On Bonus and Relocation Assistance Available.

Qualifications

License /Certification Required: Current California Registered Pharmacist license

Education Required: Pharm. D. degree

Experience Required: Inpatient: Completed PGY-1 residency or at least two years clinical hospital pharmacist experience or current Kaweah Health Pharmacy Resident. Outpatient: Completed PGY-1 residency or at least two years clinical pharmacist experience or current Kaweah Health Pharmacy Resident.

Preferred: Three years experience.

Department Specific Requirements

Job Responsibilities

Essential INPATIENT AREAS: For patients in the acute care setting, reviews orders for appropriateness, profiles/validates and dispenses medications, supplies or equipment orders accurately and efficiently. Follows federal and state law and approved hospital policies and procedures regarding medication use. Consults with other health care providers and information resources to optimize therapy and maximize safety for medication administration for assigned areas. Uses PYXIS units on the nursing units. Responsible for answering all inquiries from physicians and other staff regarding medication administration issues. Assures compounded medications meet standards for quality when performing or supervising compounding, performing quality reviews of the finished product and completes recordkeeping in accordance with department policy and procedures. Guides, directs, and assists in trainings pharmacy technicians, new pharmacist personnel, interns and/or residents and assumes responsibility for quantity and quality of their work. Provides training professional education in the form of in service training, platform presentation, didactic lecture or hands on learning activities to other healthcare providers, trainees and/or staff when appropriate. As assigned, participates in the transition of care process of targeted patient populations through the provision of services such as medication reconciliation, medication education, and care coordination in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. Monitors and assesses patient's medication and nutritional therapies and maintains their clinical charts with complete and timely documentation; intervening in the patient's care when indicated to optimize pharmacotherapy including management of medication therapies following hospital approved protocols and policies. Offers cost effective and safe alternatives when appropriate. Participates in interprofessional patient care rounds where applicable.

OUTPATIENT AREAS: For patients in the outpatient setting, reviews prescriptions for appropriateness, profiles/validates and dispenses medications, supplies and/or equipment orders accurately and efficiently. Follows federal and state law and approved hospital policies and procedures regarding medication use. Consults with other health care providers and information resources to optimize therapy and maximize safety for medication administration for the patient. Responsible for answering all inquiries from physicians and other staff regarding medication issues. Guides, directs, and assists in trainings pharmacy technicians and new pharmacist personnel, interns and/or residents and assumes responsibility for quantity and quality of their work. Monitors and assesses patient's medication therapies and maintains their medical record with complete and timely documentation as appropriate; intervening in the patient's care when indicated to address potential drug interactions and to optimize pharmacotherapy Provides patient specific dosing and monitoring information to patients and providers. Provides consultation and actively participates in collaborative management of referred patients. Offers cost effective and safe alternatives when appropriate. Provides in-service training to other healthcare providers and staff when appropriate. Sets and reviews annual goals with manager.

Addendum (essential for specific dept) IF ASSIGNED TO HOSPITAL ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR: If assigned to fill outpatient prescriptions, does so in accordance with federal and state law and in accordance with hospital policies Patients shall be counseled upon receipt of prescription on the appropriate use, storage and potential adverse reactions. Responds to Emergency Alerts (e.g. Code Blue, Code White, Code Sepsis, Code Stroke, Cardiac Alert) as assigned as a top priority. Makes up all dilutions, IV's, etc., ordered by the physician or ordered under approved hospital protocols Anticipates patient drug needs and responds accordingly. Fills all narcotic requisitions as presented by the techs after ascertaining correctness of requisition. Maintains all appropriate records demanded by federal and state laws and KH procedures. Conducts monthly nursing station inspections, checking for cleanliness, outdates, orderliness, and unauthorized drugs as required by The Joint Commission and Title 22 and keeps all appropriate records. Organizes and plans monitoring of drugs encompassed by pharmacokinetics following all department procedures. Consults with physician on optimal drug therapy. Monitors patients following department procedures. Prices patient charges the day they accrue under direction of manager.

SPECIALTY AREAS APPLICABLE: EMERGENCY MEDICINE, EMERGENCY MEDICINE MID-SHIFT ONCOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, ANEMIA MANAGEMENT, PAIN MANAGEMENT, CRITICAL CARE, NICU/PEDIATRICS: Serves as the clinical expert in the area of specialty, integrating advanced knowledge and training in the respective specialty area to ensure desired service and patient outcomes are achieved. Participates in the care of and reviews/profiles medication orders for patients being admitted and awaiting an inpatient bed. With assistance from additional pharmacists during times of high census Coordinates with the pharmacist responsible for the inpatient unit any special medication-related needs and/or outstanding follow-up on issues identified during the ED stay (applicable to ED Pharmacist Specialists). Documents clinical interventions on an ongoing basis. Measures the clinical and economic effectiveness of the service provided on an ongoing basis with formal reporting of the data at defined intervals set by management. Participates in the formulary process for related medications within the specialty are by preparing and presenting drug monograph of requested non-formulary medications and/or class reviews and performing medication use evaluations (MUE's). Participates in the development and implementation of policy and procedures, order sets and/or institutional guidelines to promote safe and effective use of medications within the area of specialty. Participates as the pharmacy representative on institutional committees as assigned and as it relates to the specialty area. Works in conjunction with performance improvement, information systems support and key stakeholders to maximize regulatory, quality and safety outcomes in an efficient manner as it pertains to the specialty area.

Formulary Management Pharmacist Specialist, in addition to the hospital addendum also responsible for:

Creates and maintains a closed formulary of medications by working with the medical staff and through the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee to help ensure the medication formulary meets the needs of each clinical specialty area.

Reviews formulary addition or deletion requests and makes formal recommendations to the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee on appropriate suggested changes.

Facilitates the development and implementation of treatment guidelines, protocols, formulary changes and critical pathways as approved by appropriate committees.

Monitors, develops and implements strategies to address medication shortages, including designating appropriate alternatives, identifying strategies for rationing available drug product, establishing use restrictions and implementing evidence-based review procedures in collaboration with key stakeholders. As appropriate, participates in the development and dissemination of medication shortage management communication.

Oversees and/or prepares/presents medication reviews and medication use evaluations.

Performs a periodic review of formulary and non-formulary medication use within the institution and makes formal recommendations to Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

Facilitates the identification, resolution, implementation and communication of cost effective medication use in collaboration with the medical staff and key stakeholders.

As it pertains to formulary management, provides all medication education and training to Pharmacy staff and facilitates medication education and training of nursing and medical staff.

Participates in the development and implementation of policy and procedures to promote safe and effective formulary management.

At defined intervals set by management, formally reports on Formulary Management strategic planning, accomplishments and outcomes.

Compounding Pharmacist Specialist, in addition to the hospital addendum also responsible for (as it pertains to the specialty area):

Oversees the operations of compounded preparations within the inpatient pharmacy and in conjunction with the stakeholders of licensed Kaweah Health pharmacies to ensure quality of compounded preparations and compliance with regulatory and best practices involving compounding.

Participates in the development, implementation, and maintenance of policy and procedures and operational workflows to ensure optimal quality, safety, compliance and operational performance objectives are met.

Develops, implements, maintains and oversees the training, education and competency assessment of pharmacy personnel and other personnel to ensure compounding quality, safety standards and regulatory requirements are met.

Develops, implements, maintains and oversees all aspects of the Compounding Quality Assurance Program; ensuring education and training of staff relative to the program, ensuring required documentation, program administration and reporting at intervals set by practice standards,