Clinical Pharmacist

At Mahaska Health a Clinical Pharmacist will be responsible and accountable for the provision of safe, effective, and prompt medication therapy. Through various assignments within the department, the Clinical Pharmacist will provide support of centralized and decentralized medication-use systems as well as deliver optimal medication therapy to patients with a broad range of disease states. The Clinical Pharmacist will proficiently provide direct patient-centered care and integrated pharmacy operational services in a decentralized practice setting with physicians, nurses, and other hospital personnel. In these clinical roles, a Clinical Pharmacist will participate in all necessary aspects of the medication-use system while providing comprehensive and individualized pharmaceutical care to our patients. Pharmaceutical care services include but are not limited to assessing patient needs, incorporating age and disease specific characteristics into drug therapy and patient education, adjusting care according to patient response, and providing clinical interventions to detect, mitigate, and prevent medication adverse events. The Clinical Pharmacist will serve as departmental resources and liaisons to other departments, hospital personnel, or external groups.

Essential job responsibilities include but are not limited to,

• Delivers direct patient care and clinical practice.
• Maintains proficiency in decentralized pharmacy services.
• Works as an active member of a multidisciplinary team and collaborates with healthcare providers within decentralized patient care areas to provide patient-centered care.
• Identifies high-risk patients and implements interventions to improve quality and safety.
• Makes appropriate evidence-based, patient-centered medication recommendations.
• Participates in the management of medical emergencies.
• Provides admission medication reconciliation as appropriate.
• Assists with providing discharge medication review and reconciliation as appropriate.
• Promotes the use of formulary medications by converting non-formulary orders to formulary when possible. Coordinates procurement of non-formulary drugs when necessary.
• Provides pharmaceutical services throughout the health system.
• Maintains proficiency in hospital computer systems and medication ordering systems.
• Provides accurate, safe, timely, and appropriate medication therapy based on patient age and needs.
• 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, untreated indications, medication use without an indication, and treatment failures.
• Communicates effectively and appropriately with healthcare providers and caregivers (physicians, nurses, etc.) and assures continuity of pharmaceutical care.
• Actively participates in stewardship activities.
• Participates in pharmacy operations and medication dispensing.
• Maintains proficiency in and actively engages in central pharmacy operations.
• Facilitates medication procurement, ordering, and dispensing procedures including but not limited to chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, controlled substances, etc. as appropriate.
• Reviews and verifies provider orders for appropriateness, possible therapeutic duplications, contraindications, interactions, and allergies.
• Documents and reports adverse drug reactions and medication errors.
• Ensures proper technique and accurate preparation of all pharmaceutical products, including oral, IV admixtures, and chemotherapeutic agents.
• Reviews and checks all doses of IV admixtures and unit dose medications prepared by technicians.
• Reviews and verifies all Automated Dispensing Machine fills.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable laws, rules and standards set forth by regulatory and accreditation bodies.
• Will comply with all pharmacy policies and procedures.
• Maintain records for controlled substances and remove outdated and damaged drugs from the pharmacy inventory.
• Completes inventory of medication and medical supplies within the pharmacy.
• Accountable for safe and organized medication storage, diversion monitoring, and other key pharmacy inventory activities.
• Oversees pharmacy operations and technician practice / activities.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.

Job Requirements include but are not limited to,

• Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy or PharmD Degree.
• Current registration with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy as a Certified Pharmacist.
• Ability to prioritize workload.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work well with a team and interact with patients, physicians, and other team members.
• Required to be current in BLS (Basic Life Support) by the standards of the American Heart Association.
• Will be required to show proof of having completed Mandatory Reporter course at the time of hire or attend within 6 months of the start date.
• Must adhere to all training requirements as mandated by Federal, State, and Professional licensure and regulatory standards.