Specialist, Pharmacy - (Ambulatory Care Services)

Overview
The Ambulatory Care Services Pharmacy Specialist provides pharmaceutical Care Services using approved protocols in collaboration with other health professionals. This includes managing drug therapy, providing patient education, and preparing and/or overseeing the preparation and dispensing of medications. The Ambulatory Care Pharmacist promotes high quality, evidence based, and cost-effective pharmaceutical care. The Specialist is also responsible for supervising and coordinating activities of the Pharmacy staff to provide pharmaceutical services in assigned areas. Responsibilities include scheduling; staffing; training; recruitment; retention, discipline and staff satisfaction; safe and cost-effective use of medications.
Responsibilities

• Promotes rational and cost-effective Inpatient and Outpatient drug therapy through close participation in the drug therapy decision-making process with assigned physicians and other medical personnel.
• Provides direction to Pharmacist Residents, Pharmacist Interns, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, and other non-licensed/licensed personnel.
• Conducts patient medication history inquiries upon referral from physicians and other medical personnel
• Given a diagnosis, synthesize a treatment plan, which may include drug therapy and lifestyle modifications, and transition within the continuum of care settings.
• Identifies, resolves, and prevents potential and actual medication-related problems including: untreated indications, improper drug selection, sub therapeutic dosage, overdose, and failure to receive medication, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and medication without indication.
• Under protocol, initiates, adjusts, monitors, and recommends changes in drug therapy based on information obtained through patient interviews, objective monitoring parameters, review of drug profiles and the patient medical record.
• Coordinates and interprets laboratory monitoring of drug therapy, including serum drug levels, electrolytes, and other approved drug-related laboratory testing.
• Provides patient monitoring for the purpose of evaluating and optimizing patient outcomes, drug utilization and patient compliance, detecting and/or minimizing ADR's, eliminating unnecessary drug use and duplication.
• Provides patient education related to the individual's disease state, including predictable actions, side effects, reasons for proper compliance, and any special instruction.
• Assure ongoing performance improvement of the pharmaceutical Care Services provided.
• Provides education to providers and staff via presentations, newsletters, formal utilization reviews, and one-on-one interactions.
• Supervising and coordinating activities of the Pharmacy staff to provide pharmaceutical services in assigned areas, including scheduling; training; recruitment; retention, discipline and staff satisfaction.
• Supervising and coordinating activities with university faculty.
• Performs other duties as required by the Department of Pharmacy Services.

Qualifications
Education:

• Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D) required.

Experience:

• ASHP-accredited Post-Graduate Year 1 Pharmacy Practice residency required.
• ASHP-accredited Post-Graduate Year 2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency preferred.
• Supervisory or management experience preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulations regarding the provision of pharmaceutical services.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of current pharmacological/biopharmaceutical principles, medical terminology, pathologies, disease states, and related information for a medical management plan.
• Understanding of drug utilization review and drug usage evaluation.
• Ability to fully utilize BHMC's electronic medical record systems, equipment, and other healthcare and billing systems relevant to this position.
• Proficiency of word processing software and other related software.
• Participates in departmental quality improvement initiatives and contributes to team or departmental projects directed toward the achievement of improved service efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Ability to multitask and work under pressure.
• Self-directed and motivated.
• Maintains a professional image.

Licenses, Certifications:

• Current New York State Pharmacist License and Registration required.
• Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) certification preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Consistent with that necessary to work in a variety of patient care and office settings.
• Position requires prolonged periods of standing, reaching, walking throughout the working day.
• Position will be required to stoop, bend, lift, and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center.
BHMC is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.