Specialist Pharmacist (Full-Time Day) Lakewood, Nj

Summary of Job Function:
Specialty pharmacies are mandated to dispense specific medications to patients to reduce the cost of filling unnecessary medications, reduce distribution costs, ensure patient safety and adherence, and to comply with risk evaluation and mitigation strategy programs. Traditionally, specialty pharmacies have existed as stand-alone or mail-order operations with no affiliation with the patient's practice-based oncology care team. This separation brings significant logistics barriers to implementing streamlined oncology care, including a lack of shared health records for medical communication and documentation, as well as reduced safety by not involving oncology trained pharmacists.
In an effort to improve this delivery of care model, the pharmacist will work with the internal specialty pharmacy services, patient, and with the patient's oncology care team. The literature has described that the closed-loop collaboration between the oncology practices and an internal specialty pharmacy access program results in positive clinical outcomes as well as both patient and provider satisfaction.
The pharmacist will ensure that the department is in compliance with all applicable policies, laws and regulations.
Job Functions:

• Maintains current patient specific information (patient profiles) in the prescribed format.
• Reviews physician orders at the time of receipt for drug related problems. Compares new orders with current patient specific information. Resolves all drug related problems in conference with the prescribing physician, when necessary.
• Work with insurance, or other third parties, on behalf of the patient and provider, to provide appropriate clinical information to achieve prompt approval of prior authorization or patient assistance for the medication(s) needed
• • Find appropriate funding for patient's medication via various sources, such as foundations and co-pay and free medication assistance programs.
• Suggest alternative to prescribed medication based on patient need and insurance company's formulary when appropriate.
• Draft and provide appeal letters and letters of medical necessity for physician to review and sign (if appropriate).
• Confers with pharmacy colleagues and/or nurses when appropriate to detect, correct or prevent drug related problems.
• Interviews patients when appropriate in order to obtain relevant clinical information.
• Prioritizes the processing of medication orders according to clinical importance and other relevant factors.
• Checks all profile entries for accuracy and completeness.
• Checks all medications shipped to the office prior to dispensing for accuracy and completeness, if applicable.
• Controls and dispenses specialty pharmacy medications as they relate to clinical research under approved IRB-approved investigational protocols. Completes required documentation.
• Serves as a preceptor for clerkship and externship students from Rutgers School of Pharmacy (or other student or resident as assigned).
• Participates in educational programs for medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy staff or community service organizations.
• Assists in the training of new staff as required
• Serves on the Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health committees, as assigned.
• Provides solicited and unsolicited drug information and recommendations to prescribing physicians to assure safe, efficacious and cost-effective drug therapy.
• When appropriate, educates patients regarding medications prescribed and documents these interactions in the EHR.
• Maintains and enhances professional competency through continuing education and other professional growth activities which are consistent with current pharmacy and oncology departmental needs and future goals.
• • General knowledge of current guidelines and therapy for complex disease states such as: Oncology, HIV, and Hepatitis C
• Applies knowledge of growth and development over the life span.
• Applies the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served, i.e. Infant, Adult, Pediatric, Geriatric and Adolescent.
• Assesses data reflective of each patient's information needed in order to identify each patient's age requirements relative to his or her age specific health care needs.
• Understands and adheres to compliance standards, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state and local regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Vary work priorities and activities to accommodate business and patient needs and performs other related duties as assigned

Job Qualifications/Education/Training/Certification/Licensure
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy or Pharm.D.
• Licensed as a Registered Pharmacist in New Jersey.
• Prior oncology pharmacy experience preferred.
• Must be computer literate with proficiency and working knowledge of database and reporting tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.