Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

About the Role

Join our Shields team as an Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, providing integrated support to patients and physicians through a "hands-on" approach to improve the quality of patient care. This role focuses on developing personalized relationships with patients and prescribers in assigned clinics to improve medication adherence and promote evidence-based care, with expansion into Gastroenterology (GI) disease states. The Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacist (ACP) will advance quality pharmacotherapy care by ensuring the provision of safe, efficacious, and cost-effective drug therapy for GI populations, collaborating closely with the onsite team to maximize clinical services.

Responsibilities

• Provide medication therapy management for individuals with GI disease states, including medication reconciliation, dose optimization, and medication adherence counseling.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary care team to develop individualized care plans aligned with evidence-based guidelines and best practices for GI management.
• Monitor and evaluate medication regimens to ensure clinical criteria are met, including therapeutic goals, adverse effects, and drug interactions.
• Identify opportunities for drug therapy optimization and provide recommendations for medication cost savings initiatives.
• Evaluate and monitor the appropriateness of infusion and injectable specialty therapies for gastrointestinal disorders, including biologic and advanced therapies used in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Assess treatment response, adherence, safety, laboratory monitoring, site-of-care considerations, and opportunities for therapy optimization in collaboration with the gastroenterology care team.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, including clinical outcome studies, REMS compliance/reporting, and ACP-related process improvement projects.
• Optimize resources and workflows by handling complex prior authorizations/appeals, providing clinical justification for medication approval, including supporting literature and rationale.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers, including assigned clinic physicians, specialists, and onsite clinic pharmacists, to ensure seamless medication management and coordination of care.
• Support occasional peer-to-peer requests upon demand.
• Perform clinical assessments and educational counseling at the drug level for all patients within high-priority clinics on qualified targeted medication(s).
• Ensure all clinical criteria comply with guidance from the FDA, clinical guidelines, and appropriate evidence-based literature.
• Assist with workflow optimization initiatives, identifying areas for improvement and implementing strategies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and quality of care.
• Collaborate with other departments and stakeholders to identify operational changes and recommend strategies that enhance productivity, quality, and standards of excellence.
• Advocate for and promote patient safety and medication literacy through patient education and counseling.
• Protect the organization's value by keeping information confidential.
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Attend and participate in team meetings, conferences, and other professional development activities to stay abreast of current clinical practices and emerging trends in GI.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager of Clinical Services.

Requirements

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and licensed pharmacist in Michigan.
• 3+ years' experience as a clinical pharmacist; completion of PGY1/PGY2 residency is preferred.
• Experience in specialty pharmacy required; prior experience in GI strongly preferred.
• Commitment to obtaining any additional required licensure within a mutually agreed-upon timeframe.

Skills

• Strong clinical knowledge and validated expertise with a focus on GI care and other disease states.
• Ability or willingness to serve as a subject matter expert in GI among pharmacy peers and hospital or health system partners.
• Ability to identify barriers to medication adherence and implement and monitor plans to improve adherence.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to motivate and coach patients to achieve better outcomes.
• Deep knowledge of pharmacology developments and FDA health regulations.
• Ability to analyze information, exercise good judgment, and manage processes with a focus on legal compliance, productivity, and quality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database/reporting tools.
• Solid computer skills, including navigating web-based platforms and data entry; skills will be evaluated through a pre-employment assessment.

Traits

• Organized, high-integrity, detail-oriented, dependable, and quality-focused.
• Empathetic, good listener, and strong communicator.
• Energetic, highly motivated, and a team player with strong personal and communication skills.
• Discretion and confidentiality essential, as the position deals with highly sensitive and private data.

Location: Onsite in Kalamazoo, MI