Lead Pharmacist

About the role

The Lead Pharmacist ensures optimal medication use to improve patient quality of life in compliance with New York State laws and regulations. Reporting to the Director of Pharmacy, this role implements hospital pharmacy policies, serves as a lead resource for staff, and assists with daily department operations.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills to provide pharmacy care for all age groups (neonates, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, geriatrics).
• Assesses patient data to identify needs and provide appropriate care per department policies.
• Reviews medication orders for appropriateness, accuracy, contraindications, allergies, dose, route, frequency, duplicate therapy, and formulary status.
• Interprets, clarifies, and rectifies physician medication and IV orders, including medication reconciliation.
• Interprets, clarifies, and rectifies prescriptions for inpatient and outpatient dispensing.
• Prepares IV admixtures, including chemotherapy.
• Monitors patients on target drugs and initiates pharmacokinetic dosing protocols.
• Evaluates drug therapy and makes recommendations to clinicians.
• Prescribes drug therapy per collaborative agreements and Medical Executive Committee-approved protocols.
• Dispenses final products for administration and performs patient counseling.
• Identifies, monitors, and reports adverse drug events and medication errors.
• Supervises and trains pharmacy technicians, interns, and externs.
• Participates in developing drug protocols and clinical pathways.
• Performs drug usage evaluations on selected drugs.
• Completes quality assurance auditing for prescriptive authority.
• Utilizes and maximizes automated dispensing machines.
• Maintains and distributes controlled substances and records.
• Purchases medications using current contracts.
• Assists in ensuring 340B Compliance and USP 797 sterile IV room compliance.
• Partners with the Pharmacy Director to manage daily operations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Hospital pharmacy experience or internship.
• Prior experience with EPIC CPOE System preferred.
• Valid license and current registration as a Pharmacist issued by New York State Education Department.
• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy required; Doctorate in Pharmacy or Master’s degree preferred.

Other

May involve exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Requires adherence to universal precautions, use of personal protective equipment, and compliance with infection control policies.