Overview

JOB SUMMARY

At Houston Methodist, the Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position is responsible for performing advanced clinical pharmacy duties enabling the delivery of optimal pharmacotherapy to patients and facilitating safe, efficacious, and pharmacoeconomically rational use of medications in the population(s) served. This involves daily reactive and targeted proactive medication regimen reviews for patients within the designated area(s) of responsibility or populations served. The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist supports the delivery of pharmacy managed protocols, formulary processes and medication reconciliation activities while providing education to fellow pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff. Additional duties include precepting pharmacy students and pharmacy residents on clinical patient care rotations within areas of responsibility and contributing to fulfilling the organization’s mission to provide innovative, personalized, cost-effective pharmaceutical care in a culture dedicated to quality and safety.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
• INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
• COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
• RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
• EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.
• Focuses on patient/customer safety
• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards
• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)
• Intentionally rounds with patients/customers to ensure their needs are being met
• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job
• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles
• Actively supports the organization vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 20%

SERVICE - 20%

QUALITY/SAFETY - 40%

FINANCE - 10%

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 10%

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Qualifications

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

o Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

o Must have one of the following:

o Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency training program or equivalent experience (i.e., three years of pharmacy experience per residency year) required; ASHP-accredited post-graduate year two (PGY2) or fellowship preferred

o Three years of clinical practice experience

o Meets HM standards of an ASHP-Qualified Residency Preceptor within one year of employment

License/Certification

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

o Texas Pharmacist License or eligible for Texas Pharmacist License; must obtain licensure within 90 days of employment

o American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 90 days of employment

o American Heart Association Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification within 90 days of employment for pharmacists regularly assigned to respond to code blue events (See manager for details and tracking certification information)

o American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) within 90 days of employment for pharmacists regularly assigned to respond to code blue events (See manager for details and tracking certification information)

o Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification and training within 90 days of employment as determined by entity need (See manager for details and tracking certification information)

o Texas Pharmacist Preceptor Certification within 90 days of employment

o Sterile Compounding and Aseptic Technique (SCAT) and horizontal and/or vertical use Certification within 90 days of employment (*If verifying and/or preparing any sterile product- See manager for details and tracking certification information)

o Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute Certificate within 90 days of employment (See manager for details and tracking information)

o Board of Pharmacy Specialist (BPS) Certification preferred

KSA/ Supplemental Data

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

o Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

o Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

o Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

o Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork and leadership skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers; capable of assuming responsibility for coordinating the activities of a major pharmacy service area

o Demonstrates professional and technical competence in the selection, evaluation, utilization, and distribution of drugs and drug information and applies these to all patient groups, neonate to geriatric

o Operates at a proficient level with regards to one’s application of the principles of rational drug therapy including but not limited to: application of current evidence-based guidelines, novel and innovative clinical practices

o Knowledge of operational pharmacy practice and demonstrated record of experience providing fundamental clinical pharmacy services and demonstrated experience with direct patient care activities and interactions with nursing and medical staff members

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Attire Yes/No

Uniform No

Scrubs Yes

Business professional Yes

Other (dept approved) No

On-Call* Yes, as required by entity/department for operational need

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Event, etc) regardless of selection above.

Travel**

May require travel within Yes

Houston Metropolitan area

May require travel outside Yes

of Houston Metropolitan area

**Travel specifications may vary by department.

Please note any other special considerations to this job: Rotating evening and weekends may be required. All pharmacy staff are required to be trained on the risks and safe handling of hazardous drugs; and confirm in writing an understanding of the potential reproductive risks associated with handling hazardous drugs.

Company Profile

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research. In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas. These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.