Staff Pharmacist (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

About the role

This position provides pharmaceutical care in ICE facilities, including dispensing medications, counseling patients, managing inventory, repackaging drugs, answering staff inquiries, supporting formulary management, maintaining records, ensuring compliance, participating in audits, and assisting with emergency care.

Reports to Supervisory Lead Pharmacist. This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Responsibilities

• Reviews individual prescriptions and determines the name of the drug, strength, and dosage of drugs to be dispensed.
• Adjusts prescription instructions and drug quantities to correspond to strengths and dosage forms stocked at the medical clinic.
• Correlates instructions on the prescription with pharmacy policy limitations and notes such on the prescription.
• Typically accurate and concise labels that precisely convey provider's instructions to the patients.
• Fills prescriptions by obtaining the correct drug stock, counting the correct amount of medication, placing the medication in smaller containers, and affixing the prescription label and all appropriate auxiliary labels.
• Counsels patients on the appropriate use of medication(s), utilizing the patient's native language if possible, or medication information handouts in the patient's native language if available.
• Based on the substantive knowledge and familiarity with a wide range of articles stocked in the pharmacy, screens all prescriptions upon receipt concerning availability of drug & dosage prescribed.
• If drug requested is not on formulary, discusses therapeutic options with the provider, suggesting drugs listed in the program formulary where possible.
• If a non-formulary drug is deemed necessary, assists the provider in filling out a non-formulary request form and obtaining approval where necessary.
• Answers routine inquiries from doctors, nurses, & other staff on the availability of specific items, e.g., drugs in stock, new drugs on order, & dosage forms available in the pharmacy.
• Answers questions concerning drug reactions, drug interactions, new drugs, etc.
• Operates tablet and capsule counting machines and labeling machines for the purpose of repackaging drugs.
• Records all prepacking information including lot number, expiration date, manufacturer, current date, and initials.
• Fills all requisitioned items from other areas of the clinic.
• Inspects stock to determine frequency of re-ordering drug items, maintenance of current pricing & proper stock rotation.
• Withdraws outdated drugs, determines proper disposition (destruction or credit returns) & prepares necessary paperwork to initiate proper action.
• Is responsible for general orderliness, cleanliness & maintenance of pharmacy equipment.
• Types narrative & tabular material such as correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, forms & labels.
• Types from clean copy, rough draft or handwritten notes without errors or corrections when required, & in accordance with the established format.
• On a daily basis checks the medicine cabinet & all areas of the clinic where night pharmacy service is available.
• Responsible for refilling any missing pharmacy drug or supply item used during the night or weekend.
• Inspects & logs the temperature of areas where pharmaceuticals are stored.
• Answers telephone & takes messages for the pharmacy in a courteous professional manner and drives a GSA vehicle when necessary.
• Creates & maintains file folders for upcoming Fiscal Year files & other miscellaneous files.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisory staff.

  Qualifications

  • B.S. or Pharm. D. degree from a program that is accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
  • Permanent, full, and unrestricted license from a State Board of Pharmacy to practice pharmacy in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
  • Expertise in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and all management aspects related to the practice of pharmacy in a clinic/infirmary setting.
  • Necessary skills for operating general office technology including Microsoft Office Product.
  • Knowledge of grammar, spelling & punctuation to identify and correct errors to ensure accurate copy.
  • Knowledge of and is competent in understanding and communicating pharmaceutical nomenclature including generic, chemical & trade names, Latin abbreviations, dosage forms, drug strengths, formulations & English-Metric equivalents.
  • Ability to work efficiently, accurately & organized in a fast paced environment.
  • CPR/BLS certification.