WOOSTER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Staff Pharmacist - Inpatient Pharmacy, on-call position; shifts and hours vary

MAIN FUNCTION:

Staff pharmacists fill orders for medications, monitor patient medication therapies, provide drug information, and supervise and direct support personnel. In the absence of the Director of Pharmacy and Operations Manager, a staff pharmacist may be required to assume the essential responsibilities and perform the duties of the Director of Pharmacy.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Pharmacy, Operations Manager, and Clinical Manager

MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS:

• B.S. Pharmacy or PharmD. from an ACPE accredited College of Pharmacy.
• Registered with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy.
• Maintains all CEU requirements for licensure.
• Submission to a BCI and FBI criminal background check which shows no previous conviction or has not pleaded guilty to any felony in the U.S.
• No written disciplinary action within the last 12 months.

PREFERRED ATTRIBUTES:

• Health system pharmacy experience.
• PGY1 Pharmacy Residency

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Employees in this position may be exposed to blood, body fluids, and/or airborne pathogens and are required to wear barriers.

WORK SCHEDULE:

• Weekdays, weekends, holidays all shifts (1st, 2nd, 3rd) as required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g. preparing intravenous admixtures, use of a computer keyboard); may require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 40 pounds), including boxes, equipment, unit dose cassettes, and IV solutions; stooping or kneeling (e.g. to pick up an item from the floor, to remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file documents in lower file drawers); sitting, walking or standing for long periods of time (4-8 hours) is often necessary; may be required to push heavily laden (up to 250 pounds) carts up inclines and into and out of elevators; must be able to physically operate the equipment used for the job

CRITICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision; work cooperatively with health-system and pharmacy staff; handle frequent interruptions and adapt to changes in workload and work schedule; set priorities, make critical decisions, and respond quickly to emergency requests; exercise sound professional judgement; communicate effectively (orally and in writing); and meet the pharmaceutical care needs of the patient population served by the organization

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS:

Potential for exposure to infectious patients or materials and hazardous and toxic substances (including chemotherapy, cytotoxic drugs, and cleaning solutions); potential for sticks or cuts by needles and other sharp items; potential for musculoskeletal injuries if proper lifting and carrying techniques are not used

• 
  PRINCIPAL DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 
  Prepares and dispenses medication orders per physician request according to established policies, procedures, and protocols

• Interprets medication orders (verbal and written) and transcribes to computerized patient medication profiles accurately; maintains accurate, complete patient medication profiles
• Prepares and dispenses medications, including sterile, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition preparations safely and accurately using appropriate techniques
• Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law

• Ensures safe, appropriate, cost-effective medication therapies for patients according to established policies, procedures, and protocols

• Monitors medication therapy regimens for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, drug-laboratory test interactions, allergies, appropriateness of drug and dose, and therapeutic duplications
• Assists with pharmacokinetics consult service and drug dosing per organizational protocol
• Reviews/interprets culture and susceptibility data for antibiotic appropriateness and recommends changes as needed
• Reads, extracts, and interprets information in patient charts accurately
• Detects and reports suspected adverse drug reactions and medication errors accurately and in a timely manner
• Sustains the formulary by minimizing non-formulary procurements, utilizing therapeutic substitution protocols, and promoting rational medication therapy selection
• Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners; recommends evidence-based medication therapy regimens and monitoring plans; and suggests appropriate, cost-effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff as needed
• Provides accurate, adequate, and timely drug information to the professional staff
• Provides drug information to patients and their families
• Documents all clinical activities and interventions accurately and completely
• Participates in the quality improvement and medication-use review activities of the department; collects data; conducts quality monitors and inspections; and maintains logs, records, and other documentation as assigned
• Participates in the development and presentation of orientation, education, and training programs to the pharmacy, medical, nursing, and other staffs

• 
  Contributes to the quality and effective operation of the department

• Supervises and directs pharmacy support personnel; verifies the daily activities of pharmacy technicians; and participates in the performance appraisal of pharmacy support personnel
• Works independently with minimal supervision; organizes and prioritizes work assignments; and ensures pharmacy services are provided in a timely manner
• Completes and documents inspections of code cart drug trays; identifies and replaces outdated and unusable medications
• Answers the telephone, identifying self and department; directs calls to appropriate personnel; and answers requests at the window
• Keeps pharmacy areas and equipment clean, neat, and well organized
• Performs essential duties of the pharmacy director in his or her absence

• 
  Maintains competence required for current job title/position

• Maintains current pharmacist licensure
• Attends pharmacy staff meetings
• Attends orientation, education, and training programs; reviews literature and other materials pertinent to the practice of pharmacy
• Completes all competence/skills assessment requirements
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and monitor medication use, based on physiological and safety related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served. The knowledge and skills needed to provide such care may be attained through education, training, and/or experience.
  • Evaluates the age appropriate physiological parameters for medication dosing and monitors and recommends therapy and dose adjustments for the following:
    • Neonatal / pediatric patients
    • Adolescent patients
    • Adult patients
    • Geriatric patients

• 
  Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor

• 
  Departmental Standards
• Is punctual and dependable; reports to work as scheduled; fulfills on-call obligations per prearranged schedule; absenteeism and tardiness are within policy guidelines
• Maintains a neat, professional, and well-groomed appearance; observes hospital patient care dress code; and wears identification badge at all times
• Performs work within specified time frames; adapts positively to frequent interruptions and changes in workload and/or work schedule
• Provides courteous, cooperative, and timely services to patients, visitors, and staff members; demonstrates good oral and written communication
• Works cooperatively with all staff members; voices concerns and suggestions to appropriate persons in a positive manner
• Demonstrates sound professional judgment consistent with clinical/academic background
• Maintains strict confidentiality of patient, visitor, and employee information; complies with the HIPAA Privacy Rule standards
• Fosters a team environment by providing orientation and training to new team members; assists coworkers in tasks, as time permits
• Adheres to health-system and departmental policies and procedures; Complies with all requirements to risk management, safety, medication-use safety, security, fire safety, and infection control; and complies with all applicable federal/state/local laws, rules, and regulations

• 
  Organizational Standards
• Performance demonstrates efforts to improve patient satisfaction, lower costs, improve quality, and promote safety
• Understands and meets customers’ needs and expectations; the patient and family members always come first
• Demonstrates the ability to address problems in a group setting using tools and techniques for identification and resolution of problems
• Demonstrates the values and behaviors of the organization

4/95 Revised Dates: 6/99, 3/00, 10/01, 3/02, 9/03, 3/05, 10/09, 4/13, 12/18

Approved by Human Resources: Marlon Taylor