Clinical Staff Pharmacist - McLean

The clinical staff pharmacist is responsible for all aspects of assessing, verifying, dispensing, labeling, storing, recording, and using pharmaceutical preparations for patients throughout McLean Hospital. The team member ensures optimal clinical care in the acute and residential/partial psychiatric setting, which includes aspects of general medicine, through assessment of patient‑specific factors and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Clinical staff pharmacists are responsible for appropriate supervision, training, and verification of all work performed by pharmacy technicians and interns.

Clinical staff pharmacists also partake in clinical initiatives/services, inventory management, educational activities, hospital/department committees, and continuous quality improvement as assigned. The clinical staff pharmacist provides exemplary customer service to patients and staff while completing tasks efficiently and accurately.

Education:

BS and/or Pharm

D from an accredited College of Pharmacy. Residency experience preferred. Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy or Psychiatry preferred.

License:

Current unrestricted pharmacy licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Experience:

Previous hospital pharmacy experience preferred.

Work schedule:

Evening shift, 32 hr

Dispensing functions

• Utilizes computerized order entry system and patient medical record to timely and accurately receive, interpret, review, and process medication orders/prescriptions.
• Precisely enters medication orders for residential/partial programs.
• Accurately prepares, labels, and dispenses medications based on medication orders or prescriptions according to Pharmacy Department Policies and Procedures and applicable laws.
• Supervises technicians in preparation of medications and verifies accuracy of all prepared orders including hospital prepared unit dosed medications.
• Prioritizes work to prepare dispenses in order of importance.
• Fills and/or verifies requisitions from inpatient and residential units in a timely, accurate manner.
• Fills and/or verifies code carts and emergency kits in a timely, accurate manner.
• Ensures dispensed, circulating, and stocked medication is in-date and intact.
• Utilizes automated dispensing cabinets and technician runs to distribute medication.
• Reviews physicians' medication orders with regard to patient specific factors as indicated by department policies, good pharmacy practice, and Joint Commission standards.
• Provides medication recommendations to providers as needed.
• Reports errors, near misses, and pharmacist interventions according to Pharmacy Department Policies and Procedures.
• Suggests process improvement to Pharmacy Department administration when necessary.
• Fills and dispensed investigational product for research studies when necessary.
• Fulfils need for after-hours dispensing when on-call.
• Maintains records as required by law to document drug transactions within the Pharmacy and throughout the hospital.
• Ensures completeness of daily logs, including refrigerator temperature.
• Holds hand-off discussion with on-coming shift as necessary.
• Practices pharmacy in accordance with federal and state law.
• Alerts Pharmacy Department administration of any problems with system software or hardware or medication distribution as they arise.
• Other tasks as assigned by Pharmacy Supervisor or Director of Pharmacy.

Clinical functions

• Utilizes patient specific information when interpreting, reviewing, and approving medication orders to assess safety and efficacy, including, but not limited to:
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Diagnoses
  • Allergies
  • Sensitivities
  • Current medications
  • Height and weight (when necessary)
  • Pregnancy and lactation information (when necessary)
  • Laboratory results (when necessary)
• Ensures appropriateness of drug dose, frequency, and duration for each medication ordered prior to approving. Clarifies any ambiguities with prescriber.
• Serves as a hospital resource for drug information and utilizes appropriate reference materials when necessary.
• Responds to drug information requests with accurate information in a timely manner.
• Assists in reviewing and revising the drug formulary, along with guidelines for drug use.
• Participates in educating nurses, patients, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns, and other pharmacists as needed.
• Participates as needed in hospital committees, such as Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Continuous Quality Improvement Committee, Infection Control Committee, Fall Prevention Committee, etc.
• Collects and assesses medication usage data.
• Participates in the Department's clinical initiatives and programs.
• Monitors the tracking of clozapine patients and reporting of blood work levels to the Clozapine Registry according to Pharmacy Department Policy.
• Adheres to McLean Hospital formulary whenever possible and provides recommendations for therapeutic interchange as necessary.
• Collaborates with other healthcare disciplines to develop optimal treatment plans for patients.
• Serves as a respectable pharmacy…