Pharmacist Clinical Specialist

Job Description

The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist is responsible and accountable for the provision of safe, effective, and prompt medication therapy across inpatient and ambulatory settings. The Specialist provides direct patient-centered care and integrated pharmacy services with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other hospital personnel. Pharmacy Clinical Specialists are aligned with interdisciplinary programs and specialty services to optimize medication therapy, improve patient outcomes, and support population health initiatives within their practice area. The Clinical Specialist contributes to clinical and administrative initiatives and provides medication and practice-related education and training to pharmacy learners and other healthcare professionals.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities and time allocation may vary depending on assigned practice setting (inpatient or ambulatory).

Participates in patient care activities:

1. Facilitates pharmaceutical care services within assigned service/care areas to assure drug utilization activities are aligned with patient care needs, evidence-based best practices, and regulatory standards.
2. Completes critical patient monitoring and reviews patient profile/chart to identify, prevent, or mitigate drug-related problems, improper drug or dose selection, sub therapeutic dosage, over dosage, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, failure to receive drugs, nonadherence, cost management, untreated indications, medication use without an indication, and treatment failures.
3. Provides written and/or verbal consultation and documentation related to (but not limited to) approved hospital policies, therapeutic drug monitoring, selection and/or continuation of drug therapy, and determination of therapeutic end points.
4. Tracks and documents all pharmacy related interventions.
5. Provides education and counseling to patients regarding their medications when appropriate.
6. Participates in medical emergencies (where applicable).
7. Collaborates with and provides expert consultation to other health care professionals. Specialist must maintain proficiency in the hospital computer systems, formulary, and department policies and procedures.
8. Participates in drug distribution activities during periods of staffing shortage or as scheduled to maintain continuity of department services.
9. Provides longitudinal medication management for defined patient populations and chronic disease states in ambulatory practice settings, including identification of adherence barriers, cost optimization, and coordination of care where applicable.

Participates in indirect patient care activities:

1. Participates in multidisciplinary committees/teams.
2. Drafts, reviews, and revises medication related policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols.
3. Conducts drug usage evaluations, population health activities, and evaluates assigned pharmacy programs for operational, quality, and financial efficiency.
4. Resolves problems related to drug distribution as identified by other healthcare professionals.
5. Participates in the evaluation of drugs and preparation of monographs for the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee when needed.
6. Maintains and demonstrates competence in clinical problem-solving, judgment, and decision making. Maintains advanced expertise and network of colleagues in specialty practice area.

Participates in educational activities:

1. Establishes a rotation in therapeutic area and precepts pharmacy students and pharmacy residents maintaining proficiency in preceptor roles.
2. Engages in ongoing process of assessment of the pharmacy residency programs and maintains preceptor qualifications as defined by ASHP.
3. Participates in department education through presentation of Pharmacy Grand Rounds, written competencies, and newsletters.
4. Participates in the education of non-pharmacy personnel including physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals.
5. Participates in the didactic education of pharmacy students as available.

Participates in research activities:

1. Demonstrates ongoing participation in research protocol review/development as assigned.
2. Serves as a research preceptor for pharmacy students and residents.
3. Participates in departmental efforts of reviewing Institutional Review Board protocols if needed.

Qualifications

EDUCATION: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree or B.S. in Pharmacy with significant clinical experience required; completion of a pharmacy residency and/or fellowship, or equivalent post-licensure experience as a clinical pharmacist in the applicable practice area is preferred.


YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:


Three years in clinical specialty area preferred.


REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

1. Exceptional teaching, writing and communication skills.
2. Self-motivated with strong organization, time management, and project management skills and ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
3. Demonstrated expertise in specialty area.
4. Strong leadership skills.
5. Knowledge of Excel, Word, Visio, Outlook and PowerPoint and the ability to learn other computer skills.
6. Ability to build strong professional partnerships with doctors, administration, staff and patients.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS:

Licensed or eligible for licensure in the State of Ohio.


For practice sites located within Kentucky or Indiana, licensure or eligibility for licensure in the respective clinic location is an additional requirement.

If not licensed in Ohio or respective location at time of hire, must receive license within 3 months of start date.