Pharmacist - Wage

DHRM•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The Division of Pharmacy Services (DPS), part of the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Epidemiology, supports timely delivery of lifesaving medications and helps ensure communities across Virginia have access to essential medications, medical supplies, and personal care products. The wage pharmacist works independently to support uninterrupted service delivery and access to care. The pharmacist enters prescription information into a prescription computer database; fills, compounds, dispenses, and repackages medications; reviews prescriptions and patient drug profiles; addresses drug interactions and compliance concerns; and provides drug information to healthcare professionals, patients, and the public. The role also involves medication billing and reimbursement, inventory control, oversight of pharmacy activities, and support for distribution of bulk clinic pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, and medical supplies. The pharmacist maintains pharmacy security and ensures medication preparation and dispensing comply with applicable policies, procedures, and state and federal regulations. The role participates in pharmacy and program management, collaborative and interdisciplinary care, continuous quality improvement, problem solving, quality assurance, and project management. It also supports reports and assigned projects and serves in a consultative capacity for patients, clinicians, health departments, constituents, and legislators. The position requires a Virginia pharmacist license and willingness to travel minimally. Wage employment is at the will and pleasure of the appointing authority, depends on funding and business need, and is paid only for hours worked. Wage employees are not eligible for the listed benefits provided to salaried employees and are generally limited to an average of 29 hours per week and 1,500 hours per standard measurement period.

Requirements

Must be licensed to practice pharmacy in Virginia.
Experience preparing and running reports and compiling and analyzing data.
Experience with inventory management related to pharmacy operations.
Experience working with patients, clinical personnel, and other pharmacy staff.
Experience facilitating training or informational/educational events related to drug therapies or other pharmacy issues.
Experience dispensing pharmaceutical products as a practicing pharmacist.
Experience adjudicating insurance claims.
Strong customer service, organization, time-management, and oral and written communication skills.
Ability to use computer software, including Microsoft Excel and Word.
Problem-solving and data/information analysis skills.
Willingness to travel minimally.
Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 35 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience with analytical and computer software, including Microsoft Office programs, specifically Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
Experience with project management, including initiating and leading special assigned projects.
Experience managing 340B inventory and ensuring compliance.
Experience working in a public health environment.
Comprehensive knowledge of pharmacy practices, procedures, regulations, laws, drug therapies, and contemporary public health pharmaceutical issues, strategies, and solutions.

Responsibilities

Independently enter prescription information into a prescription computer database; fill, compound, dispense, and repackage prescriptions, including strengths and dosages not commercially available.
Review prescription orders for completeness and patient drug profiles; resolve concerns involving drug interactions and compliance.
Provide drug information and answer questions from healthcare professionals, patients, the public, clinicians, health departments, constituents, and legislators.
Initiate medication billing and third-party reimbursement, including insurance claim adjudication and prior authorization.
Maintain pharmaceutical inventory, compliance, and control in accordance with state procurement policy, applicable laws and regulations, group purchasing organizations, and the HRSA 340B program.
Use packaging solutions such as multidose compliance packaging and maintain the physical security of the pharmacy.
Provide daily oversight of pharmacy activities and ensure medications are prepared and dispensed in compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
Provide oversight and support for distribution of bulk clinic pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, and medical supplies to local health departments and external entities.
Participate in pharmacy and program management activities, including reviewing policies, procedures, protocols, therapeutic guidelines, disease and treatment management, and pharmacy practice standards.
Provide collaborative, interdisciplinary care in a cost-effective, evidence-based manner to improve patient outcomes.
Perform continuous quality improvement, problem solving, quality assurance, and project management.
Assist managers with specialized reports and assigned projects.
Perform other duties as assigned.