Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Infectious Diseases (Full-time, Days)

About the role

This Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Infectious Diseases serves as the subject matter expert for antimicrobial stewardship and infectious diseases pharmacotherapy for Lancaster General Health. This clinical pharmacy specialist collaborates closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing, microbiology, infection prevention, and pharmacy teams to optimize antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, reduce resistance, and promote medication safety. The specialist provides direct patient care through prospective clinical review and consultation, develops evidence-based treatment guidelines and order sets, supports formulary management, and leads quality improvement initiatives related to infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Participates in rounds with assigned medical, surgical or critical care team
• Provides verbal and written consultations concerning drug therapy evaluations as requested
• Actively participates in Care Management Teams
• Documents drug use patterns, detects and evaluates adverse drug effects, evaluates drug efficacy, therapeutic goals and indications
• Reviews for contraindications, precautions, patient's current health status, and reviews drug profiles and medical records for drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state potentials
• Provides individualized patient education regarding drug therapy as requested or identified need
• Evaluates appropriate laboratory tests necessary to monitor and support the patient's drug therapy program
• Documents assessment, observations, impressions, recommendations, plan, significant findings, interventions and services rendered as appropriate
• Coordinates activities with pharmacy staff to affect smooth exchange of activities and ideas regarding new and ongoing programs
• Provides accurate, unbiased, timely and cost-effective drug information to medical, pharmacy, nursing and other allied health professionals
• Serves as a resource and mentor for Pharmacists and Clinical Pharmacists
• Identifies drug therapy strategies that improve patient outcomes and reduce costs
• Utilizes assessment skills in the management of medically complex elderly to monitor responses to drug therapy
• Provides information to patients, either directly as a consultation or in preparation of patient teaching aides or computer-generated warning or supplemental information
• Conducts drug utilization reviews to assure the quality of drug use; determines if criteria for drug use is met in patient cases being reviewed
• Educates health care professionals and patients in the safe and effective use of medication through patient care rounds, staff development education programs, and interdisciplinary education programs
• Supports and assists interdepartmental projects as requested (e.g., MUE, P&T monographs, newsletter articles, performance improvement activities)
• Provides drug information to prescribers and other health care professionals; contributes articles to hospital and pharmacy newsletters; assures pertinent drug information is maintained in the pharmacy
• Develops criteria and makes recommendations to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee on appropriate use of medications and inclusion in the hospital formulary
• Interprets and evaluates all medication orders and assures safe and effective medication, dose, route and scheduled administration with clarification as deemed necessary
• Reviews physician orders and suggests alternate therapies as appropriate, documenting through clinical intervention documentation
• Prepares and dispenses medications in accordance with professional practice guidelines, state pharmacy laws, regulatory standards, and departmental policies and procedures
• Advises physicians, nurses and patients regarding contents, therapeutic action, utilization and possible adverse reactions or interactions of medication
• Responds to drug information and poison information requests as required
• Performs computer order entry functions and rotates to all work areas as assigned
• Actively participates in medication safety programs by identifying opportunities to improve safety, reporting errors and adverse drug events, and implementing system-based changes
• Monitors prescriptions to prevent adverse reactions, allergies and drug interactions; counsels physicians, patients and nurses accordingly; participates in drug interaction notification
• Serves as a role model of customer service by responding constructively to the needs of hospital staff using a respectful communication style consistent with professional collaboration
• Controls the disposition of narcotics, other controlled substances, and dangerous drugs as required by state and federal regulations
• Serves as a training resource for new employees and assists in evaluating their progress; may assist in preparing work schedules, setting work priorities and making work assignments as directed
• Mentors pharmacy students in applicable educational experiential training programs
• Inspects and verifies all non-formulary drugs that a patient brings to the institution intended for use by physician order
• Performs monthly nursing unit inspections, maintains workload records and collects quality assurance data

Qualifications

• Pharm.D. and ASHP-accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency required or equivalent experience
• Current licensure or eligible to reciprocate in state of Pennsylvania required
• Equivalent of three (3) years experience as a hospital pharmacist
• Equivalent of one (1) year experience as a clinical pharmacist
• A health care provider in good standing with Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal and state health insurance programs (not excluded from participation)

Preferred Qualifications

• PGY2 Infectious Diseases residency (or equivalent advanced experience)
• BCIDP certification or eligibility strongly preferred
• ASHP-accredited Specialty Residency or equivalent experience preferred
• Board Certification may be preferred dependent upon specialty
• Previous experience as a clinical specialist and/or clinical coordinator

Schedule

Mon - Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm

Pay

Sign on Bonus of up to $15K