Clinical Pharmacist I at Mass. Eye and Ear (MEE) in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Director of Pharmacy or designee performs all duties necessary to provide for the effective daily operation of the Pharmacy Department. Adheres to state and federal laws and regulations which govern the practice of pharmacy. Responsible for verification, preparation, compounding, and dispensing of medications for patients. Adheres to established institutional and departmental policies and procedures. Supervises the activities of pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns/co-ops, and volunteers in assigned work areas. Optimizes drug therapy for patients through identification and resolution of drug related problems.



ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:



1. Interprets and evaluates all physician's medication orders for clinical appropriateness, cost effectiveness, and scheduling. Clarifies orders as necessary and rectifies drug related problems with ordering providers.


2. Performs accurate and timely computerized order verification of physician orders.


3. Accurately compounds, labels, and dispenses medications for both inpatients and outpatients.


4. Properly maintains all legally required records, including those related to compounding, controlled substances, and outpatient prescription dispensing.


5. Accurately compounds both sterile and non-sterile compounded preparations, utilizes appropriate techniques and completes all required documentation.


6. Participates in quality assurance activities, including controlled substance auditing and ADS override reports.


7. Accurately handles and oversees distribution of controlled substances, including receipt, ADS refills, returns, weekly and biennial inventories, and quality assurance audits. Strictly adheres to established policies and procedures pertaining to controlled substances.


8. Dispenses outpatient pharmacy prescriptions, provides appropriate patient counseling, and participates in the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool.


9. Provides direction and guidance to pharmacy technician, student, intern, and volunteer staff in following policy and procedure, taking accountability and ownership of job responsibilities, and promoting professional behavior and attitudes.


10. Directly supervises pharmacy technicians, interns, and volunteers in proper packaging, labeling and distribution of sterile and non-sterile medications.


11. Controls the disposition of all medication including controlled substance, investigational, and hazardous medications as required by state and federal regulations and departmental policies and procedures.


12. Assists in training and orientation of new employees and students.


13. Provides support for research studies, including dispensing investigational drug product to study coordinators. Maintains knowledge of commonly encountered investigational protocols.


14. Oversees institution-wide drug distribution.


15. Responds to and participates in both adult and pediatric STAT call and Code Blue situations.


16. Provides assistance to technical staff when necessary.


17. Effectively troubleshoots system problems (including systems downtime) and implements short-term solutions as required based on professional judgment.


18. Adheres to all safety procedures established by the hospital and the department.


19. Adheres to all departmental and institutional policies and procedures


20. Provides outstanding customer service to patients and employees.


21. Performs all other responsibilities as assigned in a complete and timely fashion.



Clinical Performance:


1. Responds to drug information and poison information requests and completes appropriate documentation as required.


2. Documents all clinical interventions in the electronic health record.


3. Maintains updated knowledge of sterile and non-sterile compounding as detailed in relevant USP Chapters and state and federal regulations.


4. Maintains detailed and updated knowledge including therapeutic treatment options of commonly encountered ophthalmic and ENT related diseases states


5. Interacts directly with patients to assess medical and medication history.


6. Provides clinically appropriate patient counseling.


7. Effectively communicates with medical and nursing staff when addressing patient care needs.



Education



1. Attends and participates in departmental staff meetings, weekly huddles, management rounds, development and continuing education activities.


2. Participates in quality improvement committees, programs, and student presentations.


3. Completes a minimum of 20 CE credits annually. Including a minimum of 5 hours related to sterile compounding and 2 hours related to pharmacy law.


4. Maintain professional expertise through membership and participation in professional organizations.



Regulatory Compliance



1. Complies with all State and Federal rules, regulations and laws which govern the practice of pharmacy.


2. Charges and credits all medications appropriately, as per departmental and institutional policies.


3. Completes annual MEE regulatory compliance training


4. Awareness and application of Joint Commission Medication Management standards



Qualifications

Call Responsibilities:


1. Required to take weekly call on a rotating basis with other Clinical Pharmacists.


2. Call duty will be assigned during times when the Main Campus Pharmacy is closed. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:


a. Answering advanced clinical questions that cannot be answered by contracted order entry pharmacists


b. Report to the hospital to compound sterile preparations that may be ordered by authorized providers during off-hours


c. Triage temperature excursions that may occur for refrigeration or freezer units that contain medications


d. Coordinate the borrowing of urgently needed, non-formulary medication



EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:


1. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) plus 2 years of hospital experience or post-graduate residency (preferred)


or


Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) plus 5 years of hospital experience


2. Current Massachusetts Pharmacy Registration



WORKING CONDITIONS:



1. Works within the Pharmacy Department primarily but will routinely visit patient care and surgical areas


2. May be exposed to infectious diseases, carcinogenic, mutagenic and sensitizing medications and chemicals


3. Works under constant time constraints and deadlines.



PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:


1. Standing or walking 70% of the time. Lifting and carrying heavy supplies about 5% of job duties.


2. May be required to lift approximately 35 lbs



EEO Statement

Massachusetts Eye and Ear is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment or discrimination. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, sex, pregnancy or conditions related to pregnancy, national origin/ancestry, citizenship, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, training, and career development programs.