Navajo Preference Employment Act

In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act. Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is in the Inpatient Pharmacy Department of Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation in Tuba City, AZ. The Night Shift Inpatient Operations Pharmacist will work under the supervision of the Inpatient Pharmacy Manager and is responsible for the night shift operations of the Inpatient pharmacy including, but not limited to managing day-to-day staffing and workflow, assigning daily duties, maintaining Inpatient pharmacy compliance standards, and act as liaison between staff and supervisor. In addition to the operations duties, he/she will provide a comprehensive pharmacy and medication management service to patients and ensures a consistent level of service in accordance to TCRHCC policies as a front-line pharmacist. Direct patient care and services are provided to pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric, oncology, and obstetric patients. Incumbent serves as a dedicated front-line pharmacist providing pharmacy services while coordinating day-to-day operations in Inpatient pharmacy and providing technical and administrative guidance to professional and non-professional employees i.e. Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians/Trainees, Pharmacy Aides, and Pharmacy Billers. This position is assigned to the night shift, but the Pharmacist may be assigned a shift to cover staffing deficits. Incumbent has the opportunity for career advancement through tier levels as determined by pharmacy experience and involvement.

Qualifications

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from a school recognized by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education, OR
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (BS-Pharm) degree (with 3 years of experience) from a school recognized by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education

Certification:

Inpatient Operations Pharmacist I/II:

• Must have a current valid and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State or Territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia
• Must have and maintain a current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification with the American Heart Association
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification from the American Heart Association
• Inpatient Operations Pharmacist II: USP 797/800 Sterile Compounding Certification

Experience:

Inpatient Operations Pharmacist I:

• 1-year experience in an inpatient setting
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical/hospital/clinical practice and service.

Inpatient Operations Pharmacist II:

• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience as a Registered Pharmacist
• Achieved Board Certification in an ASHP approved Specialty (Cardiology Pharmacy, Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy, Critical Care Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy, or Emergency Medicine).

Other Skills and Abilities (Pharmacist I/II):

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers. All employment references must address and indicate success in the following areas:

• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints and no prior records of substance abuse
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate duties
• Maintains a positive professional attitude and demonstrates good interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of current dispensing practices and drug compounding, correct labeling, drug regulations and therapeutic incompatibilities.
• Knowledge of computers and drug prescription software
• Knowledge of non-sterile compounding procedures
• Knowledge of drug-drug, drug-disease state, and drug-allergy incompatibilities
• Knowledge of pharmacology, therapeutics of common disease states and treatment modalities, pathophysiology, and pharmacokinetics
• Completion of and above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical:

Work involves prolonged bending, twisting, maintaining balance, reaching, frequent sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, crouching, and occasional driving and climbing. Must have ability of moderate lifting up to 100 pounds continuously and occasionally over 100 pounds in the performance of assigned duties. Must also be able to push and pull continually up to 34 pounds and occasionally over 100 pounds. May work nights, weekends, and holidays. Must have ability of prolonged far, near and color vision, depth perception, seeing fine details, hearing normal speech, hearing overhead pages and telephone use. Must have ability of hand manipulation of simple and firm grasping, fine manipulation, and use of keyboards.

Mental:

Must carry out daily duties and project assignments in an independent manner utilizing knowledge and experience of the section time limits, procedures, and objectives to establish individual work priorities. The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking/writing, so others will understand. Must be able to cope with high levels of stress, make decisions under high pressure, cope with anger/fear/hostility of others in a calm way, manage altercations, concentrate, handle a high degree of flexibility, handle multiple priorities in stressful situation, demonstrate high degree of patience, adapt to shift work, work in areas that are close and crowded and frequently work alone.

Environmental:

May continuously be exposed to infectious diseases, chemical agents, dust, fumes, gases, extremes in temperature or humidity, hazardous of moving equipment, loud noises and occasional unprotected heights. Must accept a flexible schedule to meet unit needs.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Review inpatient medical records for safety, appropriateness, and effectiveness of drug therapy with regard patient-specific factors (i.e., age, organ function, disease state). Consult with Medical Staff when concerns arise and collaborates with nursing staff to evaluate medication use.

Deliver direct patient care and clinical practice, including decentralized and service-based programs

Supervise front-line pharmacy operations pertaining to dose verification, IV production and narcotic management.

Supervise technician practice/activities in conjunction with inpatient pharmacy manager

Perform regular quality checks to ensure regulatory requirements are upheld in daily activities.

Review narcotic discrepancies, review overridden medications and ensure orders are placed, and documentation is complete and escalate issues to nursing and pharmacy leaders in accordance with hospital policies.

Ensure clean room activities are completed by technician. Maintain compounding logs for all compounded products, ensure daily and regular cleanings and temperature checks are performed during assigned shift

Ensure unit-dose packaged medications are labeled appropriately and packaging logs are maintained

Ensure medication doses are labeled appropriate is accordance with regulatory and hospital policy requirements including but not limited to patient name, drug name and strength, dose, expiration/BUD, and appropriate auxiliary labels.

Select, procure, prepare, and dispense only those medications that conform to standards of quality for potency, purity, and effectiveness at the time they are administered or dispensed to patients. Evaluate all prescriptions for appropriateness to the age, weight, and gender of patient.

Demonstrate knowledge of and competency in hazardous medication management.

Review and maintain necessary legal records on controlled substance drugs and other prescription products.

Maintain proficiency in preceptor roles and actively emulate education/mentorship skills

Participate in the management of medical emergencies

Provide discharge medications and counsel patients, nursing staff, their representatives, and/or patient family members on safe and effective use of, including compliance with, prescribed medications.

Participate in pandemic and/or disaster drills that TCRHCC has elected to take, part in and, including responding to actual disaster events.

Develop pharmacological knowledge of hospital staff by participating in clinical programs, training pharmacy staff, students, interns, externs, residents, technicians, and health care professionals.

Maintain pharmacological knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies for continuing education (C.E.) required for specialized pharmacy-based clinics.

Provide decentralized coverage in absence of clinical pharmacy specialist

Provide pharmacological information by answering questions and request of health care professionals, consult with providers on the significance of properties of drugs regarding absorption, metabolism, and excretion in all age groups.

Obtain relevant health history, follows, and adjust the developed treatment plan, and monitor the patient’s outcome to the prescribed treatment plan.

Identify and report any medication errors or adverse drug reactions as per the Medication Error and Adverse Drug Reaction reporting policies.

Identify areas in TCRHCC pharmacy or hospital practice that could be improved to minimize of eliminate patient safety risks and provide more efficient operations.

Serve on various hospital-wide committees as a representative of the Pharmacy department. Work with leadership team to perform Drug Utilization Review Reports and presents the review to the quality assurance committee through the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee, as needed.

Identify quality and performance improvement opportunities and work with leadership to make positive change.

Maintain competence in basic upkeep, management, and utilization of inpatient pharmacy automation and able to navigate, Pyxis, Carousel, Pharmacy Keeper and Sentri 7, Sonicu, MediDose; teach other team members utilization of these equipment and tools.

Perform quality checks of above-mentioned software and coordinates with leadership in keeping records and databases up to date on a regular basis.

Conduct authorized pharmacy clinics for examination, diagnosis, and treatment of specialized clinic patients. Obtain relevant health history, follows, and adjusts the developed treatment plan, and monitor the patient’s outcome to the prescribed treatment plan. (credentialed pharmacist)

Coordinate all operational service-related activities within the inpatient pharmacy

Communicate effectively and appropriately with healthcare providers and caregivers (physicians, nurses, etc.) and assure continuity of pharmaceutical care between shifts and among staff.

Ensure proper PPE is worn at all times while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, if available), and eye or face shield.

Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (See CDC website for most current updates).

Complete task training for all routing cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level or patient, visitor, employee and external customer satisfaction

Perform other duties as assigned.