Pharmacy Clinical Specialist- Hematology/Oncology

About the role

The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position at Houston Methodist is responsible for performing advanced clinical pharmacy duties enabling the delivery of optimal pharmacotherapy to patients and facilitating safe, efficacious, and pharmacoeconomically rational use of medications in the population(s) served. This position involves daily reactive and targeted proactive medication regimen reviews for patients within the designated area(s) of responsibility or populations served.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a rotation preceptor for students from affiliated colleges of pharmacy and PGY1 or PGY2 pharmacy residents as well as being a mentor for staff pharmacists supporting clinical skill advancement.
• Processes all orders/requests accurately and efficiently, verifying appropriateness of all drugs in reference to the patient’s diagnosis, allergies, height and weight.
• Provides patient-specific and non-patient specific drug information support regularly.
• Serves as a member on one or more Medical Staff Committees and actively contributes to accomplishing the goals of the committee.
• Collaborates with other health care professionals to manage patient’s drug therapy for maximal effectiveness while minimizing side effects, adverse drug reactions, toxicities, drug interactions, and incompatibilities using established internal and external guidelines.
• Participates in quality management initiatives such as, but not limited to: medication use evaluations, adverse drug reaction and medication error reporting, clinical interventions, medication center reviews, and inventory management documentation and reporting.
• Contributes to the provision of pharmacoeconomically sound medication therapy by upholding HM Formulary standards in area(s) of responsibility and avoiding medication-related complications.
• Presents in-services for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and other staff members in area(s) of responsibility. Develops educational materials and provides educational programs for the pharmacy staff and other hospital personnel.
• Seeks opportunities to expand one’s learning beyond fundamental competencies with a focus on continual development as a Pharmacy Clinical Specialist.
• Contributes to the design, analysis and reporting of quality improvement program findings.
• Participates in research projects to advance organizational quality of care and the pharmacy profession. Submits research and scholarly work for publication, platform presentations, and/or poster presentations.

Qualifications

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section
• One of the following: successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency training program or equivalent experience (i.e., three years of pharmacy experience per residency year); ASHP-accredited post-graduate year two (PGY2) or fellowship preferred
• Three years of clinical practice experience
• Mets HM standards of an ASHP-Qualified Residency Preceptor within one year of employment
• PHRM - Pharmacist - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV Texas Pharmacist License or eligible for Texas Pharmacist License
• PPC- Pharmacist Preceptor Cert - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
• PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA)
• IV Certification - Intravenous certification (Various)
• Board of Pharmacy Specialty certification

Skills and Abilities

Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork and leadership skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers; capable of assuming responsibility for coordinating the activities of a major pharmacy service area

Demonstrates professional and technical competence in the selection, evaluation, utilization, and distribution of drugs and drug information and applies these to all patient groups, neonate to geriatric

Operates at a proficient level with regards to one’s application of the principles of rational drug therapy including but not limited to: application of current evidence-based guidelines, novel and innovative clinical practices

Knowledge of operational pharmacy practice and demonstrated record of experience providing fundamental clinical pharmacy services and demonstrated experience with direct patient care activities and interactions with nursing and medical staff members

Competence in research in an area related to the practice of pharmacy and maintains active credentialing with HM Academic Institute as applicable to primary work assignment (refer to manager for details)