Flex Clinical Pharmacist

Position Purpose

A Clinical Pharmacist provides medication preparation, distribution services and is prospectively involved with provision of pharmaceutical care and the promotion of high-quality, cost-effective, patient-focused care for populations across the age continuum (from neonatal to geriatric patients depending on hospital populations served) in conjunction with other members of the healthcare team according to professional standards and statutory requirements.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy
• Doctor of Pharmacy degree or equivalent clinical degree in pharmacy practice is preferred
• Previous related hospital experience or hospital residency strongly preferred

Required Licenses and Certifications

• Registered pharmacist possessing or eligible for a Michigan Pharmacist and Controlled Substance license is required
• Maintenance of minimum hours of State Board of Pharmacy continuing education credits every two years as required by the State of Michigan
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and / or Advanced Life Support (ACLS) certification as required by specific hospital policy

Skills and Abilities

• Interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate drug therapy information to all health team members, patients, and administrators / managers
• Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with patients, physicians, and other healthcare providers
• Broad knowledge of medications compounding and dispensing
• Thorough knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics and therapeutics
• Analytic skills necessary to organize and prioritize multiple job duties
• General understanding of computers, including general operations and data retrieval
• Commitment to adhere to activities that promote the vision and mission of Trinity Health and the Department of Pharmacy and the principles of continuous quality improvement within the organization
• Demonstrated punctual professional demeanor that is willing to work variable hours on a rotating schedule
• Excellent customer service orientation skills necessary in order to deal effectively with various levels of hospital personnel, outside customers and community groups
• Communication skills necessary for clear written and oral communication
• Thorough knowledge of the regulatory, statutory, and professional aspects of pharmacy practice
• Demonstrated working knowledge of pharmacokinetics
• Demonstrated teaching ability

What You Will Do

• Interprets and evaluates medication orders to ensure appropriateness of therapy; including, but not limited to dosage form, dose, and route of administration, schedule, starting time and duration
• Maintains patient medication regimens for possible allergies, drug-drug interactions, nutrient-drug interactions, contraindications, therapeutic duplication and potential adverse drug reactions
• Individualizes medication therapy based on patient variables including, but not limited to, renal function, age, weight, laboratory values and pharmacokinetic parameters
• Manages drug therapy and utilization across the continuum of care through communication with physicians, nurses, other healthcare providers and patients to intervene on orders that are unclear, incomplete, inappropriate, or could cause poor drug outcomes and recommends alternative therapy
• Participates in pharmaceutical care activities such as patient rounds, therapeutic drug monitoring, patient teaching and counseling, admission drug histories, antimicrobial stewardship, pain management and drug information education to healthcare professionals in response to questions or requests for in-service education
• Documents clinical interventions, participates in quality assurance monitors, drug utilization reviews, pharmacoeconomic analysis, and monitors medication therapy outcomes as assigned
• Consults with and advises physicians and other health care professionals in the development of safe, rational and cost-effective patient medication care plans
• Recommends patient specific drug therapy, evaluates therapy regimens and makes recommendations to medical staff to optimize effective drug therapy
• Educates physicians, employees and other allied disciplines about the goals and rationale of the institution's quality of care and cost containment programs related to medication usage and to pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical care
• Directs and monitors pharmacy technicians, interns, and students in preparation, packaging, labeling and distribution of medication
• Directs, monitors and verifies the compounding of injectable medications including epidural infusions, irrigation, small and large volume parenterals, hyper alimentation and cytotoxic agents performed by pharmacy technicians as necessary based on hospital practices
• Compounds and dispenses medications and injectable medications recognizing that compounding and/or dispensing errors may result in significant patient morbidity and mortality
• Adheres to USP 797 / USP 800 Guidelines
• Participates in hospital emergency codes responses
• Provides and prepares emergency medications via emergency carts, cardiac kits and EMS/Ambulance kits as necessary based on hospital practices
• Serves as a preceptor to the pharmacy residents if trained at hospital site