PHARMACIST

About the Role

The Pharmacist provides clinical support and distribution services in coordination with physicians, nurses, and ancillary personnel to deliver quality and cost-effective drug therapy to patients. This position assumes responsibility for problem-solving, teaching, and systems control, and leads daily activities of technical and student staff.

Responsibilities

• Accurately profile medication orders meeting all Pharmacy policy and procedure requirements.
• Review patient allergy information, duplicate therapy, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, and medication dosage appropriateness.
• Consult with physicians, nursing, and other healthcare professionals to resolve order discrepancies.
• Profile medication orders completely and accurately.
• Accurately dispense unit dose tablets, capsules, liquids, topical, optic, and ophthalmic preparations to ensure timely and appropriate drug therapy.
• Ensure all medications are reviewed for appropriateness prior to dispensing.
• Provide operational responsibility to maintain a productive department workflow and efficient medication order turnover rate.
• Compound or supervise the compounding of extemporaneous medications.
• Accurately check all medications prepared by Pharmacy Technicians or Students prior to dispensing.
• Compound and dispense injectable medications, including aseptically preparing and/or supervising the preparation of injectable medications and chemotherapy solutions according to USP 797 standards.
• Accurately document and maintain necessary records.
• Perform clinical functions such as pharmacokinetic monitoring and dosing, renal dosing of medication, therapeutic interchange, intravenous to oral dosing conversion, Coumadin dosing program (inpatient/outpatient), collaborative care rounding, drug monitoring, and provide drug information to healthcare professionals.
• Accurately document, maintain records, and perform responsibilities for controlled substances to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Perform and maintain accurate Schedule II controlled substances inventory, monitor usage, investigate discrepancies, and dispense controlled substances within the facility.
• Dispense prescriptions and provide service to outpatient customers, maintaining prescription files according to state requirements.
• Work with third-party payors to adjudicate prescription claims and submit narcotic records monthly to the state.
• Dispense medications for bedside delivery programs and counsel patients as necessary.
• Fill prescriptions for hospice patients, including kits and prescription requests.
• Staff the outpatient pharmacy.
• Support Performance Improvement Programs within the department.
• Enter medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and pharmacist interventions into the reporting or pharmacy system.
• Document pharmacokinetic consults.
• Educate co-workers and the public on various drug information topics.
• Present new drug topics and update drug information to co-workers at Pharmacy meetings.
• Present various drug topics to nursing/medical staff as requested.
• Demonstrate cognitive ability to function and concentrate on essential and specialty job functions at a high level.
• Achieve thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing job functions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• PharmD or Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited School of Pharmacy.
• Must complete continuing education as required by the State Board of Pharmacy.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, and sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hospital pharmacy experience.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required with AAI license.
• Authorization to Administer Injectable Medications license from the State of Pennsylvania.

Licenses, Certifications & Clearances

• Current licensure to practice as a Pharmacist in the State of Pennsylvania or obtain within 90 days of hire.
• PA Act 34 Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History Clearance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but serves as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Schedule

Incumbents will be scheduled based on operational need, including rotating shifts, standby, on-call, and potential local travel between Independence Health locations.

Work Environment

When lift requirement exceeds 50 lbs, lift assistance (2-person) and/or transfer device is required.

• Physical Conditions:
  • Extreme Heat: Occasionally
  • Extreme Cold: Rarely
  • Heights: Rarely
  • Confined Spaces: Rarely
  • Extreme Noise (>85dB): Rarely
  • Mechanical Hazards: Occasionally
  • Use of Vibrating Tools: Rarely
  • Operates Vehicle: Rarely
  • Operates Heavy Equipment: Rarely
  • Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices: Occasionally
  • Rotates All Shifts: Frequently
  • 8-Hour Shifts: Frequently
  • 10-12 Hour Shifts: Occasionally
  • On-Call: Occasionally
  • Overtime (+8 hrs/shift; 40 hrs/wk): Occasionally
  • Travel Between Sites: Occasionally
  • Direct Patient Care: Occasionally
  • Respirator Protective Equipment: Rarely
  • Eye Protection: Occasionally
  • Head Protection (hard hat): Rarely
  • Hearing Protection: Rarely
  • Hand Protection: Occasionally
  • Feet, Toe Protection: Rarely
  • Body Protection: Rarely
  • Latex Exposure: Rarely
  • Solvent Exposure: Rarely
  • Paint (direct use) Exposure: Rarely
  • Dust (sanding) Exposure: Rarely
  • Ethylene Oxide Exposure: Rarely
  • Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure: Occasionally
  • Blood/Body Fluid Exposure: Occasionally
  • Chemicals (direct use) Exposure: Occasionally
  • Mist Exposure: Rarely
  • Wax Stripper (direct use) Exposure: Rarely
  • Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure: Rarely
  • Ionizing Radiation Exposure: Rarely
  • Laser Exposure: Rarely
• Physical Demands:
  • Bending (Stooping): Occasionally
  • Sitting: Occasionally
  • Walking: Frequently
  • Climbing Stairs: Rarely
  • Climbing Ladders: Rarely
  • Standing: Frequently
  • Kneeling: Rarely
  • Squatting (Crouching): Occasionally
  • Twisting/Turning: Occasionally
  • Keyboard/Computer Operation: Frequently
  • Gross Grasp: Frequently
  • Fine Finger Manipulation: Frequently
  • Hand/Arm Coordination: Frequently
  • Pushing/Pulling (lbs. of force): Occasionally (10-49 lbs)
  • Carry: Occasionally (10-49 lbs)
  • Transfer/Push/Pull Patients: Rarely
  • Seeing Near with Acuity: Frequently
  • Feeling (Sensation): Occasionally
  • Color Vision: Occasionally
  • Hearing Clearly: Frequently
  • Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead: Rarely
  • Reaching Above Shoulder Level: Occasionally
  • Reaching Forward: Frequently
  • Lifting Floor to Knuckle: Occasionally (10-49 lbs)
  • Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle: Occasionally (10-29 lbs)
  • Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder: Occasionally (10-49 lbs)
  • Lifting Shoulder to Overhead: Occasionally (10-29 lbs)