Pharmacy Specialist Board Certified Oncology

Responsibilities

• Evaluating and interpreting medical orders and prescriptions for appropriateness in oncology and other therapeutics.
• Reviews current Oncology diagnoses in concert with attending Oncologists and consults on appropriate protocols and medication dosing.
• Recommends, designs and implements Therapy Plans.
• Oversees clinic-based laboratory testing, oncology drug pre-medications and number of treatment cycles.
• Periodically helps dispense and manage medications including chemotherapy and immunotherapy used in the treatment of cancer.
• Makes necessary dosing or Therapy Plan adjustments and works in concert with the attending Oncologist to identify required side effect treatment as needed.
• Provides medication counseling to patients and their caregivers about potential side effects and interactions.
• Collaborates with other healthcare professionals to develop and manage individualized patient medication plans, Therapy Plans and Beacon updates.
• Ensures the safe and effective use of medications by providing medication information and clinical recommendations, USP 797 and 800 requirements and other salient information at the point of care to healthcare team members.
• Conducts research and develops IIR concepts to improve patient care and outcomes in oncology.
• Stays current with the latest developments in cancer treatment and medications via creation and running of an Oncology Journal Club, attends at least one Oncology conference annually (ASCO or others).
• Maintains her/his Board Certification status and licensure.
• Works with the Onvida Pharmacy Research Advisory Board (PRAB) and the Onvida Health Research Steering Committee to review Oncology oriented research.
• Works with the Onvida Pharmacy Writing Group (PWG) to develop scientific papers and Investigator Initiated Research (IIR).
• Participates in patient rounds, Grand Rounds and clinical discussions as an expert in oncology pharmacotherapy.
• Helps ensure compliance with regulations and standards in the preparation and dispensing of oncology medications.
• Participates in Lean Management & A3 problem solving activities in Onvida Health as they relate to Oncology.
• Helps surveil oncology and other medication utilization patterns and work to achieve cost-effective practice trends.
• Serves as the liaison between Pharmacy, nursing and medical providers in coordinating new clinical initiatives.
• Helps develop and implement oncology-focused competencies and education monographs and lectures as needed.
• Works with the Residency Program Director (RPD) to precept PGY1 residents.
• Provides Oncology medication and practice-related education and training.
• Collects, analyzes and summarizes data relative to oncology MUEs.
• Prepares and presents medication monographs for proposed new oncology medications at the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

Strategy & Governance

• Designs, leads, and annually refreshes a comprehensive systemwide Oncology medication safety and quality program aligned to enterprise goals and a just culture.
• Represents Oncology issues on the Medication Safety Committee; prepares and delivers regular reports to the Quality & Patient Safety Council and Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P\&T) Committee relative to Oncology.
• Prioritizes the medication-use system improvement portfolio and ensure resourcing, timelines, and defined outcomes in Oncology.

Event Analysis, Surveillance & Reporting

• Oversees Oncology medication event identification, trending, and root-cause analysis (as required) for medication errors, near misses, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs).
• Applies appropriate data analysis techniques to detect patterns and implement risk-reduction strategies, monitor and report outcomes and leading indicators.

Policy, Education & Culture

• Lead development, review, and implementation of medication-use policies; champion non-punitive learning and just culture.
• Provide organization-wide medication safety education (e.g., CBLs, written guidance, posters, briefings) and manage cross-disciplinary communications on medication safety issues.

Technology, Automation & Clinical Decision Support

• Partner with IT/Health Informatics to optimize Epic Beacon build and Therapy Plan accuracy, clinical decision support (alerts, order sets), BCMA, and smart infusion pump drug libraries; coordinate periodic reviews and updates as they relate to Oncology products.

Quality Improvement & Performance Management

• Uses Lean/Six Sigma and other performance improvement methodologies to design, implement, and monitor safety/quality initiatives; maintain dashboards and Oncology KPIs.
• Provide direction and consultation to clinical teams on study design, measurement, and sustainment plans for Oncology medication-use improvements.

Regulatory, Accreditation & Best Practices

• Ensure adherence to ISMP best practices, DNV medication management standards, and USP / requirements, support survey readiness and Oncology accreditation activities.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Leadership

• Serves as the liaison among Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Staff, Quality & Patient Safety, and executive leadership for safe Oncology medication use.
• Participates in interdisciplinary committees focused on Oncology medication safety, quality improvement, and patient safety.

People Development (as applicable)

• Provides oversight and mentorship for residents, students, analysts, or coordinators assigned to Oncology medication safety or quality projects.

Credentials

• PHARMACIST
• CERTIFIED ONCOLOGY PHARMACIST (BCOP)

Education

• DOCTORATE DEGREE

Other Information

• Minimum Requirements: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Active pharmacist licensure in Arizona (or eligibility and obtained within standard onboarding timelines).
• PGY-1 and PGY-2 Oncology Residency
• Five (5) + years of Oncology hospital pharmacy experience, preferably after being boarded and serving beside Oncologists directly in the clinic.
• Valid Board Certification in Oncology (BCOP) from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS)