Pharmacist

Highlands Oncology began in 1996 with three physicians and a desire to change the face of oncology care in our community.  Dr. Malcolm Hayward, Dr. Dan Bradford, and Dr. Thad Beck knew that patients do better at home, in the community where they live and work, and where their support system is already in place. In furthering that goal, Highlands has grown with the region from a single location 26 years ago, to 6 locations in Northwest and Northcentral Arkansas today employing more than 700 diverse team members.

As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, so must the services and providers available in the region.  Highlands Oncology is committed to remaining on the cutting edge to ensure our community has access to the very best cancer care.  What we have is something quite unique right here in our own backyard with a caring multidisciplinary team focused on treating patients like family.

Pharmacists execute pharmacy operations in the provision of patient-focused pharmacy services.  As part of the care team, this individual will build effective relationships with other healthcare professionals and departments to ensure excellence in therapy and patient care.  This position has overall responsibility for procuring, storing, accounting for, and distributing oral prescription drugs for the Highlands Oncology Pharmacy.  This position supervises the Pharmacy Technicians utilized in the retail side of the pharmacy operation, and in addition, oversees the safe preparations of infusion drugs.  The Pharmacist reports to the Pharmacy Operations Manager and works closely with the Lead Pharmacist and other Highlands’ Pharmacists.  In the absence of the Lead Pharmacist, the Staff Pharmacist will assume the position of the temporary leader.

Job Duties / Responsibilities:

• Performs all state-mandated pharmacist tasks including compounding, drug therapy reviews, verification, and medication management. Reviews, interprets, and accurately dispenses prescribed medications.
• Counsel patients and answers patient questions to ensure therapy is followed and medication is taken correctly, engaging with prescriber when appropriate.
• Encourages, evaluates, and directs pharmacy staff, setting and reinforcing individual performance expectations in the absence of the Pharmacy Manager.
• Assists with the development of the pharmacy P&L, managing, measuring, and communicating key metrics as required.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable company policies and procedures, federal and state laws and regulations, regulatory requirements, and accreditation agency standards.
• Rely on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals to advance the business and provide exceptional customer experience.
• Apply, in coordination with the other pharmacists, departmental policies and procedures for the safe procurement, storage, distribution and use of oral drugs and biologicals, as well as their disposal.
• Apply, in coordination with the other pharmacists, departmental policies and procedures for the safe handling and preparation of infused drugs.
• Contribute to the development of departmental policies and procedures and actively participate in the pharmacy certification process.
• Assist other Highlands’s personnel with training relating to safe and effective methods of maintaining, administering, and disposing of drugs.
• Review and interpret physician oral pharmaceutical prescription orders, and research therapeutic incompatibilities.
• Actively work to form and maintain a cohesive team with other Highlands’s pharmacists and staff.
• As needed, instruct patients about the drugs they are prescribed, regardless of whether the prescription is filled at Highlands Pharmacy.
• Compound, package, label, and dispense oral pharmaceuticals.
• Maintain efficiency in the dispensing of oral or infusion medications/therapies.
• Understand and enroll, or oversee enrollment of, customers in patient assistance programs for oral medications.
• Participate in the training, organization, and direction of retail pharmacy technician(s).
• Work with payers on pre-authorizations, and follow up on insurance payments, as needed.
• Be a liaison between pharmacy and other departments.
• Provide pharmacological information by answering questions and requests of health care professionals and counseling patients on drug therapies (including such information as correct dosage, possible side effects, and drug interactions).
• Follow up with patients as needed to encourage ongoing, correct use of drug.
• Oversee state and federal compliance and regulatory requirements for pharmacies.
• Maintain state licensure and comply with all continuing education requirements.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Maintain inventory control of pharmacy drugs and oversee inventory control of the infusion/injection drugs housed in the pharmacy area. This includes keeping perpetual inventory in both systems accurate and up to date.
• As primary user of the pharmacy software, the pharmacist will maintain software, train retail pharmacy technicians on its use, in coordination with other pharmacists, research, and present proposals for new software or hardware needs to the administrative team.
• Additional tasks may be requested by supervisor, administration, or physicians.