Christiana Care Health System Hiring For Clinical Care Transition Pharmacist at Elkton, MD  Full Time

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The Clinical Pharmacist will primarily function as transition of care pharmacist in the inpatient clinical pharmacy section of pharmacy service. The incumbent may also be required to assist with the distributive functions of the pharmacy. Coordinates clinical pharmacy functions for patients transitioning care from inpatient to outpatient care. In collaboration with providers and other allied health professionals, evaluate drug therapy based on acuity/potential for problems, and provide medication-related care for the purpose of achieving outcomes that result in quantifiable impact (e.g. length of stay, patient satisfaction, satisfaction of other health professionals, cost containment)

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Utilizes risk stratification tools to identify targeted high-risk patient population dependent on age, hospitalizations, ED visits, comorbid diagnoses (e.g. COPD, CHF, CKD), polypharmacy and behavioral health diagnosis.
• Concurrently reviews medication usage as part of the overall quality assurance program and specifically focuses on medications continued or prescribed at hospital discharge to reconcile active medications in the medical chart.
• Works independently and effectively to assure appropriate, accurate drug reviews, and interprets prescriptions and/or physician orders for accuracy, eligibility, availability, and cost effectiveness and therapeutic appropriateness; reviews patient medication profiles, contacts physicians and makes authorized changes in orders or prescriptions as required.
• Provides patient-specific therapeutic drug monitoring and communicates relevant findings and/or recommendations to other health care providers in charge of the patient both orally and writing.
• Performs continuous evaluation of prescribed medications to assure optimal drug therapy.
• Processes and fills all orders in a timely fashion; review of the patient’s allergy history, drug-drug, drug-nutrient, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state interactions and assessment for clinical relevance should be performed and dealt with appropriately.
• Documents interventions and recommendations in the EMR via Pharmacy progress notes and consults, demonstrating the ability to communicate orally and in writing to persuade and influence clinical and management decisions. Written documentation of all medication reviews and interactions is required.
• Provides verbal and written medication information to patients or families.
• Maintains basic knowledge of pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the area of practice.
• Analyzes data and completes reports in accordance to established facility policy.
• Provide oversight and guidance for the medication history technicians with collection, communication and documentation of accurate patient medication list on admission and at discharge.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds for assigned patient care unit. Provide verbal and written consultations concerning drug therapy evaluations as requested.
• Review and interpret provider’s medication orders, detect and evaluate adverse drug effects, evaluate drug efficacy, therapeutic goals and indications, review for contraindications/precautions, the patient’s current status of health, and review drug profiles and patient’s medical record for drug-drug, drug-food, drug-laboratory and drug-disease state(s) potentials
• Resolve such problems in consultation with the prescriber and nurse and clarify questioned orders prior to dispensing the first dose.
• Evaluate specific medication therapies consistent with departmental policy, anticoagulation, aminoglycosides and vancomycin
• Appropriately convert/manage medications per P&T approved pharmacist policy; IV to PO and renal dose adjustment
• Provide accurate, unbiased, timely, and cost-effective drug information to medical, pharmacy, nursing and other allied health professionals.
• Monitor drug therapy outcomes for targeted patients within established guidelines.
• Demonstrate skill and knowledge necessary to provide pharmaceutical care to neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.
• Participate in the management and documentation of adverse drug reactions.

Participate in identifying and submitting events via Quantros system and providing follow up assessment.

• Provide individualized patient education/evaluation regarding drug therapy as requested or identified by care team (e.g. warfarin education)
• Support and assist interdepartmental projects as requested (e.g. MUE, P&T monographs, newsletter articles, performance improvement activities, etc.).
• Support assigned unit-based value improvement teams (VIT) and comprehensive unit-based Safety Programs (CUSP).
• Participate in providing educational sessions (i.e., technician training, in services, clinical pearls, staff development education) or materials for patient groups and allied health professionals.
• Verify non-formulary drug orders brought into the institution intended for use by provider conform to system wide policy and labeling standards.
• Verify providers’ medication orders in the Meditech computer database and assure these orders are carried out.
• Participate in the investigation and resolution of missing dose issues on the unit when needed.
• Supervise activities of pharmacy technicians.
• Assure handling of medications throughout the hospital complies with state and federal laws and regulations and hospital policies.
• Precept pharmacy residents and students, as assigned.
• Contribute articles to Focus, the health system newsletter and The Refill, the department’s newsletter which targets nursing staff.
• Participate in investigational drug programs as requested.
• Prepare special medications involving compounding procedures and sterile products using aseptic technique when necessary to assure appropriate and timely dispensing.
• Conform to dress code requirements.
• Conduct interpersonal matters with others in a cooperative and tactful manner.
• Recommend ideas to supervisor for improvement of methods and procedures.
• Remain current on therapeutic strategies with respect to designated assignments.
• Maintain current knowledge of all departmental safety procedures and perform assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices. Report to supervisor in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients, and visitors.
• Support and participate in other clinical duties as required to meet workload demands.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

SCOPE, PURPOSE AND FREQUENCY OF CONTACTS:

Frequent contact with physicians, nursing personnel, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, other hospital personnel, patients, and their families for the purpose of providing pharmaceutical care and drug information.

DIRECTION OF OTHERS:

• Directs technical support personnel.
• Assumes responsibility for pharmacy operation of assigned area.

DIRECTION/SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

• Manager, Inpatient Pharmacy Operations
• Director, Inpatient Pharmacy Operations
• Vice President, Pharmacy Services

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum of two years’ experience working in an acute care or inpatient setting preferred
• Knowledge of current pharmacy principles and practices
• Knowledge of CCHS and departmental policies, procedures, and standards
• Knowledge of federal and state laws governing pharmacy practice
• Knowledge of Joint Commission requirements and standards
• Ability to apply knowledge to age-specific patient situations
• Ability to work within established policies and procedures
• Ability to accomplish established program goals and objectives
• Ability to exercise judgment, tact, and diplomacy
• Ability to handle fast-paced, stressful situations
• Ability to practice principles of customer service
• Ability to maintain CCHS confidentiality standards
• Skill in oral and written communications

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum PharmD required
• ASHP-Accredited Pharmacy Practice Residency or equivalent experience required
• Current licensure (or eligible to reciprocate) in the State of Maryland

EEO Statement: Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

ChristianaCare is committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our patients and caregivers. As we continue to meet the needs of our caregivers and our community through the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment to health and safety requires that we take new steps to ensure a safe environment for medical care for our patients and a workplace that avoids preventable harm for our caregivers. For this reason, vaccination for COVID-19 is required for all caregivers at ChristianaCare and is considered a safety standard that is job-related and consistent with business necessity for all caregivers.