Clinical Pharmacist - ICU

Job Summary

Provides clinical pharmacy services for patients in the ICU's, assists with development of programs to provide pharmaceutical care; assists with educational skills development of the pharmacy staff; provides consultative services to the medical staff regarding pharmacotherapy. Reports to the Clinical Manager.

Job Requirements

Minimum Education

Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completion of pharmacy residency training is required; two years of ICU clinical or hospital pharmacy experience may substitute for the clinical pharmacy residency program. Eligibility for licensure as a Pharmacist by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy. Must possess or be willing to complete and maintain all necessary requirements to be a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency preceptor. Board certification, such as BCCCP, is preferred -- if not board-certified, candidate will be expected to make progress towards board certification upon hire. Candidates with PGY-2 specialty residency training will also be preferentially considered

Minimum Work Experience

To provide pharmaceutical care in order to optimize patient outcomes. To collaborate with others to improve systems of care. To disseminate knowledge related to pharmaceutical care. The Pharmacotherapist will be involved in direct patient care activities such as drug therapy selection and modification, hospital- and state-approved collaborative drug therapy management programs and directives, patient education, staff education, and other disease specific initiatives. This qualified individual will serve as the pharmacy liaison to relevant physician and nursing leaders by representing the department on multidisciplinary initiatives. The Pharmacotherapist is responsible for precepting PGY-1 pharmacy residents through learning experiences such as clinical rotations, presentations, projects, and medication-use evaluations. The Pharmacotherapist will also be expected to rotate week-long "Pharmacotherapist On-Call" duties with peers. Engagement with local schools of pharmacy through assistant/adjunct professorial roles and precepting of Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences is encouraged.

Required Skills

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required, either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider.

Required Licenses
Licensed as a pharmacist in Mississippi, and controlled substance license.

Organizational Expectations

Provides a positive and professional representation of the organization. Promotes culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention. Maintains hospital standards for a clean and quiet patient environment to maintain a positive patient care experience. Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice. Adheres to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations. Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities. Maintains compliance with organization’s policies, as well as established practices, protocols, and procedures of the position, department, and applicable professional standards. Complies with organizational and regulatory policies for handling confidential patient information. Demonstrates excellent customer service through his/her attitude and actions, consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization. Adheres to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and TJC standards and/or standards from other accrediting bodies.

Essential Functions

Assists with development and implementation of clinical pharmacy services. Provides clinical pharmacy services for patients. Assists with the development and implementation of treatment guidelines, protocols, formulary changes, and critical pathways as approved by appropriate committees. Assists with the identification, resolution, implementation, and communication of cost-effective medication use issues. Supports the pharmacy's pharmacoeconomic efforts. Reviews the use of targeted medications for compliance with current pharmacoeconomic programs. Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners. Suggests appropriate, cost-effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff as needed. Monitors drug therapy regimens for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, adverse drug reactions, and appropriateness of drug and dose. Provides accurate, adequate, and timely drug information to the professional staff. Participates in training and education of pharmacists regarding pharmaceutical care. Prepares and presents drug reviews, DUE criteria, adverse drug reaction reports, and pharmacy interventions summary to the P & T Committee. Reads and evaluates the medical literature for studies supporting the pharmaceutical care and pharmacoeconomic programs. Participates in community education programs. Essential Functions - Operation of Department. Reviews documentation of clinical recommendations made by staff pharmacists and provides any follow-up necessary. Prepares reports on clinical activities as directed. Participates in the quality improvement activities of the department. Establishes productive, collaborative relationships with staff members and within the community. Performs staff pharmacist duties as directed.

Functional Demands

Prolonged periods of standing, walking, or sitting while on duty. Lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 10-15 pounds with or without assistance. Visual and auditory acuity and manual dexterity essential to performing designated duties required. Ability to perform effectively in a stressful and fast paced environment. Ability to pass all required health and other screening tests. Physical conditions are clean, neat and well lit. Maybe subjected to unpleasant sights and odors, stressful situations and hazardous or infectious agents where judgment as to precautions need to be taken is essential. Climate control an ambient temperature variances may be experienced. Exposure to limited amounts of hazardous chemicals or substances and infectious disease processes are a possibility. Hours of duty may be irregular or unexpectedly extended due to emergency circumstances. Direct contact with blood or other body fluids to which universal precautions apply. Personal protective equipment is made available and must be worn.