Pharmacy Coordinator

Kaweah Health • Visalia, CA

2d • $79 - $118

About The Position

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care. It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do — in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community. A Pharmacy Coordinator is a leadership role designed to provide coordination of work for their respective area of responsibility in order to maximize productivity, fiscal responsibility, quality, and excellent pharmacy outcomes.

Requirements

• License /Certification Required: Current CA Registered Pharmacist license
• Department Specific Requirements If assigned to Medication Safety Coordinator: requires a current Registered Pharmacist license and must obtain California Registered Pharmacist license within six months of hire/transfer.

Nice To Haves

• Education Preferred: Pharm D. degree
• Completion of an ASHP accredited residency program (or equivalent hospital or clinical pharmacy practice experience).
• Experience Preferred: A strong background in clinical pharmacy practice coupled with experience in hospital or outpatient pharmacy management.

Responsibilities

• IF ASSIGNED AS THE MEDICATION SAFETY COORDINATOR: Works collaboratively with Kaweah Health administrators as well as the hospital and medical staff members to design, implement and assure compliance with a health system medication safety program that meets standards of care for medication safety, the Joint Commission Standards, and the federal and state regulatory requirements. Participates in appropriate departmental, medical staff and interdisciplinary committee meetings related to medication use and/or safety (e.g. Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and Quality Council). Prepares and presents reports to the committees as assigned by the Director of Pharmacy. Coordinates the activities of the Medication Safety Quality Focus Team. In conjunction with the Kaweah Health Medication Safety Quality Focus Team, leads the development and implementation of the Kaweah Health Medication Error Reduction Plan (MERP). In conjunction with the Kaweah Health Medication Safety Quality Focus Team, ensures the MERP is modified as warranted to guide improvements in areas where weaknesses or deficiencies are noted in each of the following medication use systems: prescribing, prescription order communication, product labeling, packaging and nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use. Considers current and future technology in the design of the MERP. Participates in the review of adverse drug event (ADE) data, identifies methods to reduce the frequency of preventable ADEs. Works with pharmacy, nursing, medical staff, and/or other healthcare professionals to coordinate and assure appropriate event follow-up. In conjunction with Risk Management and Performance Improvement, investigates medication safety-related issues within the organization including participation in Root Cause Analysis and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis that have a medication component. Assists in the review and development of departmental and interdisciplinary policy and procedures related to medication safety. With appropriate leadership, addresses identified issues of noncompliance and recommends corrective actions. Designs and implements educational programs or other methods (e.g. storyboards, newsletters, staff meetings) to facilitate an understanding of medication safety standards within the organization and system-based causes for medication errors. Identifies best practices for medication safety. Analyzes current practices that may contribute to medication errors and works collaboratively with the leadership of various disciplines to take proactive steps for error prevention. Works collaboratively with the leadership of various disciplines to ensure ongoing operational or technology improvements reflecting the medication safety best practices and/or address actual and potential medication use system vulnerabilities. Utilizes external medication error information from organizations (e.g. Institute of Safe Medication Practices, the United States Pharmacopeia, The Joint Commission and other authoritative sources) to recommend and facilitate medication safety improvements within the organization based on identified risks. Coordinates management of medication recalls. Monitors the medication recall process to validate compliance with policies and procedures. Sets and reviews annual goals with pharmacy management (or designee). Has 24 hour accountability.
• IF ASSIGNED AS THE IT PHARMACIST COORDINATOR: Assists pharmacy management in organizing and directing all IT-pharmacy activities within and outside of the department. Includes both inpatient and outpatient operations. Oversees and directs other IT Pharmacy personnel, and coordinates their work and activities. Ensures safe and efficient pharmacy services and medication management through the use of automation and/or IT systems. Responsible for assuring IT pharmacy staff coverage, and staffing of other pharmacist shifts, when employees are absent or openings exist within the department. Assists pharmacy management and focuses on improving the pharmacy systems and procedures for the purpose of becoming a leader in the pharmacy industry through automation and pharmacy IT systems. Assists pharmacy management in the development of short term and long term goals associated with IT pharmacy services. Assists pharmacy management in the development of budgets associated with automation or IT pharmacy services as it pertains to systems and pharmacy automation. Reviews, analyzes, refines and evaluates existing programs. Identifies and assesses needs; sets priorities. Represents pharmacy at meetings or in discussions to assure systems implemented are safe for patients. Assists pharmacy management in assuring compliance with all standards required by all regulating agencies including Medicare, medical, state board, Joint Commission, OSHA, and DEA, through computer or automated systems where feasible. Recommends enhancements to present system; designs/creates new functions. Serves as a liaison between Pharmacy and Information Systems and external vendors to achieve desired results. Provides and creates computer generated documents and reports. Maintains and updates files. Is knowledgeable in standard operating systems. Reviews, evaluates, and monitors automated pharmacy billing practices i.e. Pharmacy Drug Master and HIS Charge Description Files. Has 24 hour accountability. Supports Clinical Applications: Participates in decisions impacting computer support. Develops short and long-range priorities in conjunction with pharmacy department. Evaluates programs and ensures legal standards are met. Provides and maintains documentation of systems. Develops/maintains user standards of practice. Documents user problems and errors. Continually reviews systems; ensures programs are accurate and running properly. Develops methods and procedures to assure proper information for dosing and patient monitoring are present and available in automated systems. Develops/maintains audit criteria. Develops/maintains backup systems/procedures. Trains Pharmacy staff and caregivers such as residents, nurses, physicians and students in use of Pharmacy IT systems. Provides feedback to systems developers. Demonstrates systems to peers and other professionals from outside organizations. Serves as resource for physician order entry, bedside system, and interfaces. Assists in developing and implementing clinical pathways. Identifies enhancements for clinical applications. Actively participates in decisions impacting computer support.
• IF ASSIGNED AS THE INPATIENT PHARMACY CLINICAL COORDINATOR/RESIDENCY PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Coordinates the efforts of the clinical services including assisting in the establishment of new clinical services in addition to monitoring and optimizing the performance of existing services. Assists with development and maintenance of clinical policy and procedures. Monitors and supervises clinical workflow and the performance of all Pharmacy staff on duty to ensure optimal clinical workflow and service. Available as a resource for staff to guide and/or support day-to-day issue resolution. Assists Department leadership in monitoring and ensuring ongoing compliance and alignment with regulations and practice standards. Supports the regulatory and accreditation survey process by ensuring ongoing survey readiness, participating in survey activities and assisting and/or facilitating additional department efforts to achieve desired outcomes. Establishes clinical service indicators and assesses clinical service performance; works collaboratively with others to implement improvements where indicated. Assigns projects and maintains project/activity lists for clinical pharmacists or clinical pharmacy teams. Helps to prioritize workload to successfully accomplish department goals and objectives. Actively contributes to the achievement of departmental objectives by coordinating, completing and/or assisting others to implement identified tactics that meet the objective. Participates, attends and/or facilitates various department and hospital committees as assigned. Communicates and coordinates with the appropriate Pharmacy leader on personnel matters and supports the coaching of team members to improved performance. Contributes to evaluating personnel performance focusing on clinical effectiveness. Facilitates staff and management team communication. Establishes and administers clinical training and competency assessment for new and existing staff. Assesses the clinical competency of pharmacists at defined intervals and remediates staff whose clinical practice does not meet standards. Establishes and adjusts the pharmacist work schedule to meet staffing needs; assures coverage and staffing of shifts when employees are absent or openings exist. Coordinates the rotations and schedules of pharmacy students and residents and assures effective integration with work schedule and preceptor availability. Works independently but in accordance with and under supervision of the Residency Program Director to ensure development, maintenance and quality improvement of the residency program and its' overall educational outcome goals. Meets the basic qualifications of residency preceptor. Performs the role of the RPD in their absence as needed. Oversees and coordinates all activities of pharmacy residents, students, or extern/intern pharmacists and assures work meets standards and criteria of department or university or state board pharmacy standards. Performs all the duties of a pharmacist and rotates through shift coverage as required. Has 24 hour accountability. Sets and reviews annual goals with pharmacy management and is successful in achieving them.
• IF ASSIGNED AS THE OUTPATIENT PHARMACY COORDINATOR: Assists outpatient pharmacy manager in organizing and directing pharmacy operations and personnel for outpatient pharmacy services: Kaweah Health Home Infusion Pharmacy, Kaweah Health Employee Pharmacy, Kaweah Health Retail Pharmacy, and Clinical Pharmacy Services. Works with outpatient pharmacy manager to evaluate areas of opportunity for improvement with current operations as well as help determine areas for future opportunities and implementation of programs for these specific service lines, which may include coordination of marketing. Responsible for assuring coverage or covering shifts when employees are absent or an opening exists, as appropriate. Provides or coordinates training and education to pharmacists and technicians regarding pharmaceutical care and pharmacoeconomics. Supports the organization's pharmacoeconomic efforts with regard to pharmaceutical spending. Reviews the use of targeted medications for compliance with current pharmacoeconomic programs. Assures formularies are best for the populations we serve and both clinically and fiscally responsible. Works with pharmacy, nursing, and physicians to evaluate all pharmacy systems to assure the best patient care possible. Develops new procedures and policies and continually evaluates existing procedures for ways of improving processes to optimize quality patient care. Assures compliance with all standards required by all regulatory agencies including Medicare, MediCal, State, Joint Commission, OSHA, DEA, and State Board of Pharmacy for all outpatient pharmacy service areas. Oversees actions, performance, and productivity of pharmacists and technicians or other staff in specific pharmacy outpatient areas to assure meeting job description functions, vision, and direction of the pharmacy department. Works with staff in the development and implementation of treatment guidelines, protocols, formulary changes, and critical pathways as approved by appropriate committees. Attends and participates in various hospital or outpatient specific committees as appropriate. Assists the outpatient pharmacy manager in human resource related issues, which can include but not limited to, activities such as: payroll, monitoring sick leave, vacation, leaves of absence. Works with ISS and oversees maintenance of pharmacy related computer systems. Maintains and assures computers are updated in a timely manner in regards to standard orders, formulary additions, or changes, pricing issues, contract updates. If pharmacist or technician or other position is absent or the position is not occupied, will support responsibilities of that position, as appropriate. Develops and participates in QI studies. Uses the results to suggest changes in practice. Incorporates best practice where feasible. Focuses on improving the pharmacy systems and procedures for the purpose of becoming a leader in the pharmacy industry. Assists the outpatient pharmacy manager in developing the budget, allocation of funds and monitoring appropriate use of budget dollars. Assists outpatient manager in maintaining records for pharmacy licenses, staff licenses, certifications and competencies as appropriate. Enhances professional growth and maintains awareness of current industry trends, legislation, or research which could impact the department and the Kaweah Health. Has 24 hour accountability. Pharmacist in charge for areas when needed and appropriate. Serves as the PGY2 Residency Program Director (RPD) at the institution. Responsibilities to include: Meets the standard of qualifications for RPD as defined by ASHP accreditation standards. Coordinates the resident candidate application, interview, and selection process in conjunction with the rules of the Resident Matching Program. Provides accepted residents with a letter outlining their acceptance and terms and conditions of the appointment. Identifies or provides sufficient professional and technical pharmacy staff to supervise and precept residents. Ensures program compliance with ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies and coordinate accreditation visits. Awards those completing the program with a certificate of residency as outlined in the ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies. Creates a structure and environment that will support the achievement of the program's educational goals and objectives. Performs an initial assessment and orientation of the resident and customize training to support completion of the program goals. Coordinates all assessments of the resident's performance including: Utilization of PharmAcademic by preceptors and residents. Evaluates all resident presentations and projects. Coordinates all resident activities and schedules; ensure compliance with ASHP defined duty hours. Coordinates meetings and activities of the Residency Advisory Committee and ensure all policy and procedures are in place to support the program. Performs an appropriate quality assessment of the residency program at least annually to ensure the program produces practitioner's aligned with its purpose statement and evaluates quality of preceptors.
• IF ASSIGNED AS THE INPATIENT PHARMACY OPERATIONS COORDINATOR: Provides Operational Leadership for the Pharmacy Department including: Coordinates the efforts of pharmacy operations including assisting in the establishment of new operational procedures in addition to monitoring and optimizing the performance of existing operations. Assists with development and maintenance of operational policy and procedures. Monitors and supervises operational workflow and the performance of all Pharmacy staff on duty to ensure optimal operational workflow and service. Available as a resource for staff to guide and/or support day-to-day issue resolution. Assists Department leadership in monitoring and ensuring ongoing compliance and alignment with regulations and practice standards. Supports the regulatory and accreditation survey process by ensuring ongoing survey readiness, participating in survey activities and assisting and/or facilitating additional department efforts to achieve desired outcomes. Establishes operational key performance indicators and assesses operational performance; works collaboratively with others to implement improvements where indicated. Assigns operational projects and maintains project/activity lists for pharmacy team members. Helps to prioritize workload to successfully accomplish department goals and objectives. Actively contributes to the achievement of departmental objectives by coordinating, completing and/or assisting others to implement identified tactics that meet the objective. Participates, attends, and/or facilitates various department and hospital committees as assigned. Communicates and coordinates with the appropriate Pharmacy leader on personnel matters and supports the coaching of team members to improved performance. Contributes to evaluating personnel performance focusing on operational effectiveness. Facilitates staff and management team communication. Establishes and administers operational training and competency assessment for new and existing staff; oversees (in collaboration with pharmacy technician leadership) inpatient technician training and competencies. Assesses the competency of staff at defined intervals and remediates staff whose practice does not meet standards. In the absence of the Inpatient Clinical Coordinator/Residency Program Coordinator, establishes and adjusts the pharmacist work schedule to meet staffing needs; assures coverage and staffing of shifts when employees are absent or openings exist. Ensures pharmacy controlled substances accountability and oversee/support the daily work of controlled substance technician team members. Collaborates with key stakeholders to ensure timely investigation and resolution of identified variances. Performs all the duties of a pharmacist and rotates through shift coverage as required. Has 24 hour accountability. Sets and reviews annual goals with pharmacy management (or designee) and is successful in achieving them.
• WHEN ASSIGNED TO WORK AS AN INPATIENT CLINICAL PHARMACIST: For patients in the acute care setting, reviews orders for appropriateness, profiles/validates and dispenses medications, supplies or equipment accurately and efficiently. Follows federal and state law and approved hospital policy and procedures regarding medication use. Consults with other health care providers and information resources to optimize therapy and maximize safety for medication administration for assigned areas. Responsible for answering all inquiries from physicians and other staff regarding medication use issues. Assures compounded medications meet standards for quality when performing or supervising compounding, performing quality reviews of the finished preparation and completes recordkeeping in accordance with department policy and procedures. Monitors and assesses patient’s medication and nutritional therapies and maintains their clinical charts with complete and timely documentation; intervening in the patient’s care when indicated to optimize pharmacotherapy including management of medication therapies following hospital approved protocols and policies. Offers cost effective and safe alternatives when appropriate. As assigned, participates in transition of care process of targeted patient populations through the provision of services such as medication reconciliation, medication education, and care coordination in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. Participates in interprofessional patient care rounds where applicable. If assigned to fill outpatient prescriptions, does so in accordance with federal and state law and in accordance with hospital policies. Patients shall be counseled upon receipt of prescription on the appropriate use, storage and potential adverse reactions. Responds to Emergency Alerts (e.g. Code Blue, Code White, Code Sepsis, Code Stroke, Cardiac Alert) as assigned as a top priority. Makes up all dilutions, IV’s etc., ordered by the physician or ordered under approved hospital protocols. Anticipates patient drug needs and responds accordingly. Ensures controlled substances dispensing accuracy and recordkeeping in accordance with regulations and Kaweah health procedures. Organizes and plans monitoring of drugs encompassed by pharmacokinetics following all department procedures. Consults with physician on optimal drug therapy. Monitors patients following department procedures and documents accordingly. Additional Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree