Clinical Pharmacist

Primary Function

The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for providing optimal pharmaceutical care on a daily basis. Develops, implements, and maintains systems that promote desirable patient outcomes through the use of safe and cost effective drug therapies.

Major Duties And Responsibilities (categorized By Staffing Area)

Clinical Pharmacist, Central Pharmacy

• Monitors drug therapies, drug-herb interactions, regimens for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, allergies and appropriateness of drug and doses. Interprets medications orders (verbal and written) and transcribes to computerized patient medication profiles. Maintains and reconciles accurate, complete patient medication profiles. Sustains the formulary by minimizing non-formulary procurements, utilizing therapeutic substitution protocols, and promoting rational drug therapy selection.
• Reviews/interprets lab data related to therapeutic drug monitoring. Detects and reports and documents suspected adverse drug reactions. Reviews medications which are renally-excreted and determine whether drug dosages are appropriate based on patients’ renal function. Documents all clinical activities and interventions accurately and completely.
• Provides accurate, adequate and timely drug information to the professional staff. Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners. Suggests appropriate, cost effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff.
• Coordinates and supervises the direct support personnel.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Clinical Pharmacist, Decentralized/Clinical Specialist

• Provides optimal medication therapy for the prevention and treatment of disease by applying evidence-based therapeutic guidelines. Thoroughly reviews and assesses patients’ medication regimen in order to identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems and assist patients in getting the best outcomes from medications. Review includes, but is not limited to, dosing, age-specific considerations, pharmacokinetics, antibiotic management, therapeutic drug monitoring, and core-measure compliance. Makes appropriate recommendations to providers. Documents all clinical activities and interventions accurately and completely. Attends Clinical Rounds when applicable.
• Serves as a primary source of scientifically-valid drug information and advice regarding the safe, appropriate and cost-effective use of medications. Researches and reviews medical literature. Supports graduate medical education by attending cases/didactic activities with the residency staff as assigned. Maintains current knowledge of new developments in drug therapy.
• Interprets and maintains medication orders and transcribes to patient medication profiles.
• Interacts with patients, family, and other healthcare providers as appropriate to assure continuity of services and to achieve desired patient outcomes through safe, timely, cost-effective medication therapy.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Clinical Pharmacist, IV Services/IV Specialist

• Oversees the preparation and storage of sterile preparations for inpatients and outpatients in the Outpatient Infusion Unit. Ensures compounded sterile preparations are prepared accurately and safely in accordance with USP 797 requirements, professional standards of practice, and laws, rules and regulations. Manages the preparation, storage and handling of hazardous materials, including spills.
• Provides optimization of parenteral nutrition in conjunction with nutrition services by daily review of parenteral nutrition orders for appropriateness and safety by monitoring pertinent lab values, osmolarity, and other pertinent parameters. Makes recommendations to prescibers in order to optimize therapy.
• Optimizes chemotherapy regimens by reviewing the regimen for indication, dose, route, preparation, and adjuvant medications including hydration. Monitors concomitant medications for drug interactions with the chemotherapy regimen. Monitors laboratory values as needed to evaluation for toxicity. Oversees accurate and safe preparation of chemotherapy.
• Oversees the dispensing of sterile products from IV services, and directly supervise support staff. Works with the Inventory Manager to ensure proper acquisition/stock points of high-cost items. Generates proper electronic charges to facilitate billing/financial services. Oversees proper cleaning and maintenance of the clean room, anti-room, and laminar flow hoods.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge in pharmacotherapeutics, with a focus on oncology, nutrition, and biologicals. Maintains appropriate references pertaining to preparation of CSPs and chemotherapy, including related policies and procedures. Leads quality improvement processes in IV Services.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Job Qualifications And Specifications

Minimum of a Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy from an ACPE accredited School. Valid RI Pharmacist license.

• Clinical Specialist: as above, plus preferred residency or 5 years of clinical experience. BLS/ACLS/PALS preferred. Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy encouraged. Additional training and competency assessment is required for these duties.
• IV Specialist: as above, plus expertise in USP 797 protocols and procedures, chemotherapy protocols, hazardous drug handling, and parenteral nutrition. Additional training and competency assessment is required for these duties.
  
  

Care New England Health System (CNE) and its member institutions—Butler Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Kent Hospital, VNA of Care New England, Integra, The Providence Center, and Care New England Medical Group, and our Wellness Center—are trusted organizations fueling the latest advances in medical research, attracting the nation’s top specialty-trained doctors, and honing renowned services and innovative programs to engage in the important discussions people need to have about their health.

Americans with Disability Act Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled must be able to perform the essential job-specific functions either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation, to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

EEOC Statement: Care New England is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status

Ethics Statement: Employee conducts himself/herself consistent with the ethical standards of the organization including, but not limited to hospital policy, mission, vision, and values.