Clinical Pharmacist-Medication Use Policy

Description

The Clinical Pharmacist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for identifying, preventing, and/or resolving medication related problems; for providing authoritative information to other health care professionals, patients, and the public; and for assuring that the informational, clinical, and drug distribution components of pharmacy services function as an integrated system to provide patient centered care to the patients and staff of Northwestern Medicine.

The mission of the Department of Pharmacy is to deliver the safest, highest quality, most effective and efficient patient care while developing the best people, advancing research, and integrating pharmacy services to successfully coordinate care across the Northwestern Medicine enterprise.

The vision of the Department of Pharmacy is to be recognized as a national leader in advancing the pharmacy enterprise through excellence, innovation, education and research.

Operational

• Provides formulary management oversight and supports the Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Committees and Subcommittees
• Prepares and/or oversees the preparation of evidence-based monographs and class reviews for P&T Committees
• Coordinates and/or participates in Medication Use Evaluations
• Participates in the development of clinical guidelines, policies, and protocols to optimize medication utilization
• Educates health care professionals using multiple communication methods, such as newsletters, emails, and the online formulary
• Performs evidence-based scientific evaluation of medical literature
• Precepts and provides experiential training to pharmacy students and residents

Quality Excellence

• Improves patient care outcomes through formulary management, medication use policy development, and P&T Committee initiatives
• Identifies high cost, high volume, and/or high-risk drugs to monitor appropriate use and develop organizational approaches and strategies to optimize medication use
• Performs routine audits and/or reviews to evaluate formulary compliance and quantify impact of institutional decisions, guidelines, and initiatives
• Coordinates and/or participates in other identified quality initiatives, based on the needs of the department or organization
• Supports the planning, designing, implementing, evaluating, and maintaining medication use processes for improvement initiatives as it relates to formulary management and optimization of medication use

Clinical Pharmacist

• Interprets medication orders to ensure safety and proper use of medications and is alert to compatibilities, incompatibilities, medication duplication, medication allergies, and potential medication administration errors. Coordinates the solving of medication related problems between pharmacy, nursing, and prescribers, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment.
• Monitors medication therapy for significant drug-drug, drug-diet, or drug-laboratory test interactions. Intervenes in circumstances of significant interactions, therapeutic duplications, and other occasions where pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic expertise is warranted.
• Evaluates and documents that the medication(s) selected are appropriate for achieving the desired therapeutic outcome. Communicates potential problems and likely solutions to the prescriber.
• Acts as a consultant in the areas of pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions to physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Participates in all therapeutic drug monitoring or intervention programs; adjusting therapy as indicated by patient condition and laboratory results.
• Processes all medication order information into the Electronic Health Record to ensure accuracy of records regarding past, current and future dispensing and charging.
• Maintains a comprehensive pharmacy patient profile. The profile should include age, maturation, weight, allergies, diagnosis, estimated and actual pharmacokinetic parameters, and pertinent information which may…