Pharmacy Specialist - Oncology

WVU Medicine•Bensley, VA

About The Position

Responsible for providing pharmaceutical care at West Virginia University Hospitals through direct patient care, operational, educational, and administrative activities, while assuming a leadership role in the pharmacy profession. The specialist supports safe and effective medication use in assigned service areas, contributes to patient care and medication safety, and participates in departmental operations, education, quality improvement, and research. The position includes monitoring patient drug therapy; advising providers, patients, and other healthcare disciplines; reviewing and dispensing medication orders; managing drug use control; documenting clinical findings and medication safety events; supervising technicians; and supporting the education and professional development of pharmacy personnel and learners. The specialist also maintains professional competence, completes required competency evaluations and documentation, and completes annual specialty-accreditation education where applicable.

Requirements

Current pharmacist license from the state board where services will be provided; applicable licenses include West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, or Ohio.
Obtain Basic Life Support certification within 60 days of hire.
Time-management skills.
Verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Teamwork skills.
Ability to walk and stand for long periods.
Ability to lift 30 pounds and push 50 pounds.
Dexterity to finger, handle, and reach.

Nice To Haves

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy.
Experience in at least one of the following: completion of a PGY-2 residency in an applicable clinical field; completion of a PGY-1 residency and board certification in an applicable clinical field; completion of a PGY-1 residency and three years of relevant pharmacist experience; or three years of relevant pharmacist experience and board certification in an applicable clinical field.

Responsibilities

Monitor patients’ drug therapy by participating in medical rounds or evaluating medication regimens, medical problems, laboratory data, and special procedures.
Provide leadership and patient care in assigned areas; guide providers and patients on best practices and established care guidelines; and promote safe, effective drug use through clinical involvement.
Assist nursing and other disciplines or departments with admission and discharge planning and medication-related patient education.
Provide drug information and educational programs to medical and nursing staff, other healthcare practitioners, and pharmacy staff.
Maintain professional competence through conferences, continuing education, professional literature, and publication of clinical or practice-related experience or research.
Participate in administrative, quality assurance, performance improvement, and clinical research activities within the department.
Participate in medication use evaluations.
Review each order to verify its accuracy and appropriateness.
Evaluate compliance with established medication safety procedures and suggest improvements based on best practices.
Document medication errors, unsafe conditions, and near misses; promote a sustained focus on medication safety.
Dispense medications from provider orders and ensure compliance with drug-distribution policies and procedures.
Manage drug use control in assigned service areas, identify related problems, and suggest constructive resolutions.
Make decisions concerning pharmaceutical services in assigned service areas.
Detect, report, and help minimize or manage adverse drug reactions and medication errors.
Participate in managing acute and chronic disease states, medical emergencies, and adverse drug reactions.
Communicate relevant findings and recommendations and document them in the clinical information system.
Maintain required records in accordance with legal requirements and hospital policies and procedures.
Supervise technicians performing drug preparation and distribution duties.
Provide objective information on co-worker performance to support performance management.
Participate in orientation and education for pharmacy students, residents, and new department employees.
Take part in educational and scholarly activities related to drug therapy for personal development and the education of other health professionals.
Help plan and implement pharmacy changes and improve productivity through staff meetings and projects.
Complete and submit written assignments, continuing education documentation, and other assigned items on time.
Successfully complete annual clinical competency evaluations.
At facilities with specialty accreditation requirements, complete required annual specialty-accreditation education, which may include computer-based learning, training, in-services, and competency validation.