Clinical Pharmacy Specialist-Emergency Medicine - Pharmacist (Full Time)

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The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine is responsible for working in collaboration with the emergency department health care team within the established guidelines of the Pharmacy Department as assigned.  The Emergency Department Clinical Pharmacist Specialist provides comprehensive pharmaceutical care to Emergency Department patients through integrated drug distribution, clinical services, research and teaching.

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine is expected to understand and support the Mission and Vision of St. Luke’s Hospital.  The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Emergency Medicine is responsible for carrying out the philosophy and objectives as established by the Board of Directors and the Management Team.

Provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care to Emergency Department

• Participate in daily patient care activities.
• Discuss medication order clarifications with the prescriber.
• Document any changes in patient records, and inform others of medication order changes.
• Monitor drug therapy to evaluate appropriateness of use dose, dosage form, regimen, route, therapeutic duplication, and drug interaction.
• Provide pharmacokinetic consultations and other dosing as required.
• Prevent, detect, monitor, document, and report adverse drug reactions and medications errors.
• Participate in the drug therapy management of medical emergencies (i.e. code, trauma, stroke alerts, poisoning etc.).
• Promote the use of the formulary by converting nonformulary orders to formulary when possible, but coordinates procurement of non-formulary drugs when necessary
• Maintain and update a patient profiles with demographics, diagnosis, allergies, and current medications as warranted.
• Reconcile pharmacy and nursing medication records as necessary.
• Facilitate discharge/admission/transfer for Emergency Department patients including preparation and dispensation of outpatient prescriptions as necessary.
• Expedite antibiotic administration by all appropriate mechanisms
• Counsel/triage patients on discharge/transfer medications as necessary
• Optimize pharmacotherapy regimens utilizing current evidence-based recommendations.
• Maintains current hospital pharmacy knowledge, professional expertise and skills necessary to assure the proper interpretation, safe preparation and dispensing of medications for all patients.

Provide operational support in the Emergency Department and Central Pharmacy as determined by departmental need.

• Review medication orders for accuracy and appropriateness.
• Order entry for assigned areas.
• Resolves drug distribution related issues. Resolves automatic dispensing cabinet and sterile product related issues. Covers assigned shifts as determined by departmental need.

Promote and demonstrate rational, cost-effective drug therapy.

• Identify and implement drug therapy where positive pharmacoeconomic impact could be achieved. Develop and conduct target drug programs and medication use evaluations as needed and report results to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee or relevant subcommittees.
• Document clinical consultations and cost avoidance as part of the departmental clinical documentation program.
• Monitor the use of expensive medications to assure there issue consistent with approved criteria (e.g., alteplase, Factor VII, etc.)
• Anticipate changes in drug therapy and report the potential impact it will represent to the overall hospital and drug budget.
• Coordinate the pharmaceutical care of ongoing research in the emergency department.
• Provide in-services for emergency department nursing and medical staff.
• Initiate research investigations aimed at defining the role of emergency medicine pharmacists or optimizing the care of patients in the emergency department.
• Take a leadership role in the teaching programs of the Department of Pharmacy Services and College of Pharmacy as they are related to emergency medicine.
• Facilitate the personnel development in emergency medicine for pharmacists.
• Provide presentations, publications, and other informative activities on emergency medicine and other drug-related topics to the health care community and general public.
• Participate on hospital committees. Participate actively in emergency medicine team meetings and conferences.

General Expectations

• Displays a positive, professional and customer service oriented appearance and attitude.
• Understands and adheres to all safety practices while performing duties to minimize any risk of injury and / or exposure to hazardous material. Performs and/or assists with departmental inspections and, controlled substance verifications and reports, as assigned. Supervises pharmacy technicians in an efficient and effective manner, consistent with applicable laws, regulations and policies as warranted.
• Assists in maintaining adequate stocks of pharmaceuticals and supplies through established inventory management procedures, and cost effective utilization.
• Provides advice and recommendations to inventory staff and communicates unusual usage patterns.
• Attends in-services, on the job training, and participates in continuing education programs to meet licensure requirements, developmental needs and keep abreast of new technologies. Attends at least 75% of required departmental meetings.
• Assists with executing and monitoring professional practices in order to meet necessary standards, recommendations and requirements of voluntary and government agencies (i.e. TJC, Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), State Board of Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)).
• Communicates with department management as necessary when problems or unusual circumstances arise.
• Is able to prioritize work appropriately and assists others as time and workload allows.
• Promotes the development, preparation, implementation and attainment of departmental goals, policies, procedures and projects to enhance the effectiveness of present operations and/or for improved patient care, physician relations, public image, efficiency, and / or cost effectiveness.
• Interacts and communicates effectively with departmental staff, other hospital staff and customers to provide timely service, accurate information and to reduce problems and minimize exceptions.
• Is aware of hospital and department compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse. Brings any questions or concerns regarding compliance to the immediate attention of department or hospital administrative staff.
• Exhibits understanding and knowledge regarding utilization of pharmacy related components of the hospital information systems, automated medication dispensing equipment, outpatient pharmacy equipment/programs, and other equipment/software programs used to prepare, package, barcode, distribute, track and trend medication related processes.
• Purposefully conducts all aspects of the job in an ethical manner in support of the hospital’s commitment to ethical behavior in all areas of personal and professional activity.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Must have successfully graduated from a recognized school or college of pharmacy with either a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy or a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.
• A minimum of two years of relevant hospital pharmacy experience or an ASHP approved, hospital based PGY1 residency required.
• Must maintain a current license to practice pharmacy in the State of Iowa.
• Current ACLS or equivalent certification or completion within 3 months of hire is required.  
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English.    
• Must possess excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.