Pharmacy Specialist - Specialty Pharmacy Infusion

University of Arkansas•Little Rock, AR

About The Position

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has a unique combination of education, research, and clinical programs that encourages and supports teamwork and diversity. We champion being a collaborative health care organization, focused on improving patient care and the lives of Arkansans. UAMS offers amazing benefits and perks ( available for benefits eligible positions only ): Health: Medical, Dental and Vision plans available for qualifying staff and family Holiday, Vacation and Sick Leave Education discount for staff and dependents (undergraduate only) Retirement: Up to 10% matched contribution from UAMS Basic Life Insurance up to $50,000 Career Training and Educational Opportunities Merchant Discounts Concierge prescription delivery on the main campus when using UAMS pharmacy The Pharmacy Specialists are responsible and accountable for the provision of safe, effective, and prompt medication therapy. Pharmacy Specialists work under minimal supervision to provide direct patient-centered care and integrated pharmacy operational services that optimize the patient care experience and drive organizational performance. The Pharmacy Specialist provides expertise to the department expertise not routinely available in the pharmacy staff. The abilities these individuals have may include a broad background in specific clinical areas, or the individual may have expertise in specific pharmacy management areas (such as formulary management, information systems, drug utilization evaluation, infusion, or investigational drugs). The position will be responsible for the development and implementation of ambulatory care clinical pharmacy infusion services and initiatives that optimize the patient care experience and drive organizational performance across the Outpatient Specialty care clinics to support infusion medication management, therapy optimization, and operational aspects of pharmacy care delivery in targeted practice areas. This position will provide consultative assistance to physicians, nurses, and other staff of the relevant team and provide pharmaceutical care to patients in these clinics.

Requirements

Graduate of an ACPE-accredited College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy or BS Pharmacy Degree
PGY1 residency training OR 3 years of applicable experience
AR licensure or eligible for licensure

Nice To Haves

PharmD
5 years of previous ambulatory, clinical, or infusion care experience
Experience coordinating outpatient infusion therapy

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a clinical pharmacy practice to optimize safe, effective, and affordable medication therapy.
Review infusion treatment plans for appropriateness and proper dosing based on the documented diagnosis and the objective information found in the patient’s chart, as well as current guidelines.
Pharmacokinetic drug monitoring and dose adjustment.
Coordinate pre-infusion medications, labs, and vaccinations, assisting with logistics of clinic-administered vs pharmacy-administered vaccines per payor requirements.
Participate in protocol and order set development, formulary management, drug utilization reviews, and cost-savings initiatives.
Coordinate care with the Prior Authorization and Financial Assistance teams to ensure timely and affordable authorization and start of infusion therapy, including both treatment and therapy plans. Acquiring authorization is not the responsibility of CPS; care coordination occurs when necessary.
Support the use of formulary medications and suggest formulary alternatives, where appropriate, or document clinical need for nonformulary and/or off-label usage.
Assist with formulary addition requests for P&T and ERX builds.
Ensure compliance with necessary infusion REMS requirements.
Apply and make necessary modifications to outpatient treatment and therapy plans on a patient-specific basis.
Assist with writing appeal letters and letters of medical necessity as needed for medication authorization purposes.
Assist with implementing health-system pharmacy initiatives (e.g., dose rounding, biosimilar use, etc).
Participate in the transition of care from outpatient infusion to Specialty Pharmacy oral/self-injectable medications.
Provide education and counseling to professionals and patients as needed.
Collaborate with the other clinical pharmacy specialists in Outpatient Specialty clinics daily, and serve as the liaison between the outpatient infusion services in these clinics and applicable UAMS pharmacies.
Precept pharmacy students and residents.
Meet key performance indicator standards for patient volume and level of care.
Other duties as assigned.