Supervisor Pharmacy

About the Role

In conjunction with the Pharmacy Director, coordinates pharmacy services and ensures that the pharmacy provides optimal clinical services on a daily basis. The pharmacy supervisor facilitates the development, implementation, and maintenance of systems that promote desirable patient outcomes through the use of safe, appropriate, cost-effective medication therapies. Provides training and education to pharmacists and other healthcare professionals regarding pharmaceutical care and pharmacoeconomics. Supervises and instructs pharmacists, residents, and pharmacy students. Participates with the Director of Pharmacy in providing guidance to pharmacy staff regarding current Joint Commission, state, and other regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Maintains and protects confidentiality regarding all aspects of patient care.
• Adheres to hospital plan with regard to organizational ethics and patient rights.
• Demonstrates caring behaviors that affect patient/family/staff/physician satisfaction (courtesy, kindness, helpfulness, empathy).
• Assesses drug therapy in terms of:
  • Therapeutic appropriateness based on age, weight, diagnosis, and current medical condition.
  • Interactions, incompatibilities, duplications.
  • Patient safety.
  • Cost-effective therapies.
• Receives, prioritizes, interprets, and completes medication/IV order entry via computer terminal/workstation; uses judgment to recognize problems requiring referral to the Director of Pharmacy.
• Dispenses correct medication, strength, dose form, and is involved in infrequent medication errors requiring use of an Occurrence Report.
• Documents completion of order review by filing complete order under user-specific login/password into scanning software 100% of the time. Links patient orders to correct hospital number 100% of the time.
• Prepares intravenous admixtures and other sterile products under the laminar flow hood utilizing aseptic technique 100% of the time; ensures correct IV fluid/additives match the label, documents expiration dates, and maintains an orderly, clean work surface. Labels preparations 100% of the time in compliance with departmental policies and USP 797 guidelines.
• Fills and/or checks orders filled by Pharmacy Technicians for correct labeling, drug, number, and quality of doses. Ensures medication barcode is intact for hospital staff usability.
• Provides patient/family education regarding medications ordered, precautions, etc., as needed. Uses proper resources to answer questions from medical staff and patients.
• Provides clinical interventions through communication with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals; offers drug information, dosage calculations, and resolves problems regarding medication orders, documenting via EPIC clinical intervention forms.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and continuing education to improve individual, departmental, and organizational performance.
• Conducts/participates in monitors related to the primary aspect of medication use (MUE); documents findings objectively.
• Works with the director/manager/supervisors of other patient care areas to resolve day-to-day problems related to pharmacy services; refers unresolved issues to the Pharmacy Director.
• Maintains effective workflow of the unit, e.g., communicates effectively with pharmacy technicians/students in directing work activities and resolving personnel conflicts.
• Organizes and prioritizes projects, completing each in a timely manner.
• Educates department staff, hospital staff, and medical staff on needed/requested topics; researches and presents effectively.
• Serves as a preceptor or educational resource for new employees and students.
• Prepares admixtures containing cytotoxic drugs within a biological safety cabinet (BSC) as needed; adheres strictly to cytotoxic materials handling guidelines, reports spills per policy, and follows standards for preparation and labeling of IV admixtures/sterile products.
• Maintains correct controlled substance counts in the perpetual inventory log with every transaction. Immediately resolves/investigates discrepancies and refers unresolved issues to the Director of Pharmacy. Evaluates monthly auditing reports for the hospital Diversion Team.
• Stays current with Joint Commission standards and provides guidance to staff regarding these and other regulatory standards.
• Directs routine operations within the pharmacy department.
• Performs all duties as a staff pharmacist when called upon by the Director of Pharmacy.
• Prepares evaluations, conducts interviews, provides counseling and discipline as needed, and completes paperwork relating to personnel issues. Adjusts staffing based on productivity requirements and serves as a resource person to employees.
• Supervises daily operations to ensure employees perform job duties accurately and in a timely manner.

Hospital-Wide Requirements

• Observes department/hospital policies concerning smoking, telephone use, dress code, and other conduct rules.
• Follows established hospital guidelines regarding appropriate access to information.
• Meets hospital-wide and department-specific educational requirements, including annual mandates (e.g., CPR, safety, infection control). Maintains current Employee Health screening status per hospital policy.
• Utilizes hospital/departmental manuals appropriately. Knows the location and use of emergency response equipment and responds to Emergency Preparedness Plans according to hospital policy.
• Attends and participates in at least 75% of required meetings (e.g., departmental or committee meetings) and maintains inter- and intra-departmental communication.
• Demonstrates understanding of and adherence to the Code of Conduct, reflecting the company’s values.
• Maintains a safe and orderly work area, cleans equipment as needed, and ensures equipment is in safe working condition.
• Completes occurrence reports in a timely manner when indicated.
• Complies with and enforces safety and health policies, applying ergonomic principles to reduce job-related injuries.
• Implements policies and procedures to identify and reduce risks of acquiring and transmitting infections.
• Follows appropriate channels of communication and displays effective customer relations skills.
• Identifies self-improvement and department improvement needs, seeking appropriate resources.
• Adjusts personal schedule to meet hospital staffing needs and reports to the department on time.
• Provides proper notification for absence or tardiness and takes corrective action to prevent recurrences.
• Supports and encourages harmonious working relationships, promoting an interdisciplinary team approach.
• Self-motivated, utilizes effective time management, and seeks additional work as time permits.
• Able to act independently and seeks guidance for questionable or uncertain situations.
• Helps ensure the department runs effectively and efficiently, assisting with improvement projects.
• Achieves goals set in the prior year.

Qualifications

• Experience: 3 years of hospital pharmacy experience.
• Education: B.S. or Pharm.D.
• Special Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills; proficiency in word processing/spreadsheet applications, compounding equipment, and pharmacy automation systems.
• Licensure: Licensure as a Registered Pharmacist by the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy.