Pharmacy Clinical Specialist (S) - Surgery & Critical Care

Boston Medical Center•Boston, MA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Clinical Manager, the Pharmacy Clinical Specialist ensures optimum patient outcomes related to medication use by preventing or resolving drug-related issues and optimizing patient drug therapy. This role provides drug information to patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The specialist is integrally involved in the education of pharmacists, residents, and students, serving as a resource and drug expert in a specific specialty area. The position also encourages increasing knowledge through research and writing activities. The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist may coordinate the acquisition, distribution, and control of drug therapy for patients. Key responsibilities include direct patient care, training and education of healthcare providers, contributing to formulary management, and participating in quality improvement projects. Direct patient care involves optimizing pharmacotherapy, ensuring medication safety, and promoting effective transitions of care. The specialist is expected to take an active role in projects supporting the Department of Pharmacy and Boston Medical Center's mission, values, and goals, embodying BMC’s RESPECT standards in all interactions. This position involves rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Requirements

Requires a Doctorate of Pharmacy or Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy with an advanced degree, and a PGY1 pharmacy residency or at least three years of equivalent work experience.
Work requires a valid license to practice pharmacy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MA pharmacist licensure must be complete and verified by the date of hire.
Strong clinical knowledge pertinent to the specific practice area.
Effective project management.
Knowledge and application of biostatistics and improvement science.
Strong interpersonal skills when interacting with patients and colleagues.
Proficient with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and Outlook, and web browsers.
Excellent attention to detail.
Effective verbal and written communication skills; must be proficient in the English.

Nice To Haves

Board of Pharmacy Specialties certification is preferred.
Additional language skills are beneficial.

Responsibilities

Ensures all medications are handled in the manner established by the Formulary Management Committee, applicable accreditation standards, state and federal regulations, and the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy.
Reviews and verifies medication orders, patient charts, and evaluates applicable laboratory data to identify or prevent drug-related problems or toxicity.
Evaluates medication orders for appropriateness, including dose, route, frequency, clinical indication, organ function, drug interactions, therapeutic duplication, allergy history, and recommends formulary drugs or cost-effective alternatives.
Works closely with central pharmacy staff to ensure accurate and timely acquisition, distribution, and control of all medications, including investigational drugs.
Collaborates with the Pharmacy Purchasing team on special medication needs.
Adheres to all protocols and policies related to controlled substances.
Supervises the activities of supportive personnel, including student interns and technicians.
Uses designated pharmacy automation and/or barcoding systems to document checking of any medication or sterile product prior to dispensing.
Rotates through different clinical shifts with a specific core practice area.
Makes recommendations to optimize pharmacotherapy within the context of a multidisciplinary team.
Provides effective transition of care needs, including medication reconciliation, discharge counseling, facilitating medication to bedside, and completing post-discharge telephone calls.
Prevents patient harm by promoting the safe use of medications.
Identifies and reports medication-related events.
Performs daily targeted interventions to decrease the risk of readmission, optimize therapy, and improve medication safety.
Serves as a pharmacy liaison to BMC staff, ensuring connectivity between clinical and distributive services.
Documents all patient care activities.
Serves as a preceptor for residents and students.
Assists in the orientation and training of new pharmacists, residents, interns, and technicians as assigned.
Provides timely and accurate drug information, training, and education to patients and healthcare providers.
Collaborates on resident projects.
Participates in formulary management activities (e.g., monograph preparation, medication use evaluations).
Enacts drug shortage action plans.
Follows departmental policies and procedures to promote cost-effective medication use.
Identifies opportunities for improvement in patient care or the medication use process.
Takes an active role in the development and implementation of quality improvement projects.
May serve on hospital multidisciplinary committees as assigned.
Maintains own professional and specialized competency through continuing education.
Conforms to Boston Medical Center’s standards of conduct to provide the best possible customer service and patient care experience.
Conducts interpersonal relationships with patients, visitors, physicians, and fellow employees in a courteous and customer-friendly manner.
Takes corrective action to improve performance in problem areas.
Maintains all designated hospital information confidential at all times.
Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
Utilizes hospital’s behavioral standards as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.
Responsible for the creation and maintenance of a healthy work environment.
Engaged in the department, including managing up, owning team decisions, and communicating and supporting departmental and/or organizational initiatives.
Holds self and others to the highest ethical standards, and acts with honor above all.
Performs other duties as needed.