Pharmacist

Westchester Medical Center•Valhalla, NY

10d

About The Position

The Pharmacist prepares and dispenses medications and other pharmaceuticals to fill written prescriptions issued by physicians, dentists, and other qualified prescribers. Services are performed in accordance with approved hospital protocols, accreditation standards, and New York State Department of Health regulations governing medication and controlled-substance dispensing and storage. The pharmacist serves as a health resource within a multidisciplinary care team, advising on pharmacology aspects of patient treatment plans when consulted. Assignments may be in the main hospital pharmacy or a satellite service, including Outpatient, Correctional Health, RTI, Psychiatric Institute, or Oncology. Work is subject to shift assignments and weekend and holiday rotation schedules. The role may supervise pharmacy interns, clerical staff, and other support personnel.

Requirements

One year of experience in which the primary function of the position was as a pharmacist.
Bachelor’s or Doctorate of Pharmacy degree.
Valid New York State pharmacist license and current registration.
Thorough knowledge of modern pharmacology, including its science, practices, and procedures.
Good knowledge of pharmacy operations and protocols in a large tertiary care medical center.
Ability to understand, interpret, and fill written prescriptions and formularies.
Ability to understand the composition and properties of a wide variety of drugs, including their manufacture, uses, pharmacologic actions, and purity and strength testing procedures.
Ability to measure, weigh, and package drugs using accurate computation.
Ability to work well with physicians and other health professionals.
Ability to use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail, and database software in work assignments.
Sound professional judgment and tact.
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

Nice To Haves

Minimum one year of pharmacy residency training completed, or equivalent training or experience, is recommended.

Responsibilities

Review and fill written prescriptions using the unit dose dispensing system, determine required ingredients, and check for overdoses and toxic combinations.
Maintain patient medication profiles and check for drug incompatibilities, allergies, and interactions.
Contact physicians to verify medication orders, including dose, route, name, and frequency.
Advise physicians and other qualified prescribers about new drugs, drug warnings, incompatibilities, and contraindications.
Use an automated pharmaceutical database to retrieve current information and control drug dispensing.
Ensure medications are properly labeled and dated to support identification, directions for use, dosage, and accountability.
Ensure dispensed medications are delivered on time.
Ensure drugs and pharmaceuticals are properly stored, secured, rotated, reordered, and disposed of.
Dispense controlled drugs and maintain inventory records in accordance with protocols, rules, and regulations.
Inspect nursing stations regularly for proper medication storage and security, adequate supplies, and expired medications.
Prepare IV solutions, including hyper alimentation, chemotherapy, and other admixture solutions, using aseptic methods.
Oversee non-licensed support personnel preparing parenteral medications to ensure correct preparation and labeling under New York State Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations.
Monitor patients receiving IV therapy and refer to and update individual records as necessary.
Maintain the pharmacy area and IV additive room in a clean and orderly condition.
Control dispensing, ordering, and recordkeeping for investigational antineoplastic medications according to FDS guidelines.
Instruct patients on the proper use of medications.
Compound sterile and non-sterile preparations and maintain required records.
Prepare written reports and medication reviews as required.
Participate in in-service training for pharmacy interns, students, house staff, and other health professionals as assigned.
Keep current with advances in pharmacology through conferences, seminars, continuing education, and scientific journals.