Clinical Staff Pharmacist (Outpatient)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Memphis, TN

51d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Staff Pharmacist (Outpatient) is located in Pharmacy Service, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN. This position provides support to Inpatient, Outpatient and Telephone Care Pharmacy. The VAMC in Memphis is part of the VA MidSouth Healthcare Network, VISN 9, which includes facilities in Lexington and Louisville, KY, Nashville and Mountain Home, TN. The Clinical Staff Pharmacist (Outpatient), as a representative of the Pharmacy Service, for critical and acute care sections of inpatient beds and for ambulatory care areas. This position covers direct and indirect patient care, appropriate, safe and economical medication use and provides pharmaceutical care services, including monitoring, quality assurance/ improvement, staff/patient education and consultation. The Clinical Staff Pharmacist (Outpatient) serves a multi-functional role and is specially prepared by pharmacy education and experience to have an advanced knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics. This position functions primarily in the patient care areas of Pharmacy Service.

Responsibilities

Filling prescriptions by selecting the correct drug and dosage form, reducing the drug from bulk to the quantity prescribed, compounding when necessary, and packaging and labeling.
Dispensing of drugs, especially controlled substances, investigational and cytotoxic drugs, to assure that legal and agency regulations and instructions are followed, that proper and complete recordkeeping is maintained.
Reviews the patient medication profile prior to dispensing drugs and medications.
Facilitates special formulations, and extemporaneous compounding of routine and special parenteral medications requiring complex preparation and/or dosing.
Prevents and identifies drug-induced problems that may be affecting the patient, takes appropriate steps to manage these problems and/or communicates these findings to his/her primary provider.
Counsels patients and family members concerning medication directions for use, side effects, precautions, and the need to strictly follow the regimen.
Monitors patient medication profiles and ensures information is correct and up to date.
Provides consultation to physicians, nurses, and other health professionals on medication management issues.
Makes recommendations in the selection of formulary alternative and/or therapeutic interchange medications.
Conducts drug usage evaluations, and patient drug therapy monitoring in accordance with VAMC Memphis and Pharmacy Service policy and Joint Commission standards.
Applies pharmacokinetics, using rate order equations as appropriate to equilibrate serum levels.
Assists in the orientation and training of new pharmacy employees, students, residents and volunteers.
Functions as a consultant to the medical staff on pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology via effective written and oral communication.
Performs in service training to medical, nursing, and other disciplines as scheduled.
Checks, guides, and advises lower-grade co-workers.
Verifies and/or corrects medication orders entered in the computer system.
Coordinates and resolves problems associated with medication distribution.
Analyzes data and completes reports, including ward inspections and chart reviews, according to established policy.
On a rotating basis, is delegated authority to act as pharmacist team leader or pharmacist in charge of the assigned practice area and/or as a subspecialty Pharmacy Program(s) Coordinator which may include State Nursing Home, Fee Basis Pharmacy, Chemotherapy/IV Therapy, Patient Education, Staff Development, FIRM Pharmacy, Controlled Substances Systems, Satellite pharmacy areas (e.g. MICU, SICU) etc.
Participates in the DUE/MUE process by assisting in; determination of problem areas, criteria development, analysis and follow-up recommendations for improved drug therapy as deemed appropriate; e.g., education, review, software/programming enhancements, etc.
Other duties as assigned.