Clinical Pharmacist

VA Portland Health Care System is a Complexity Level 1a Facility and provides extensive primary, secondary, tertiary, and qua ternary care in outpatient, inpatient, residential, and community settings. VAPORHCS is a multi‑site medical system that includes a major medical facility in Portland, Oregon, outpatient and residential facilities in Vancouver, Washington, and 10 Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

• The Clinical Pharmacist (CP) serves as a representative of the Pharmacy Service in a variety of positions throughout the Medical Center. The CP is a licensed professional with knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics, involving direct and indirect patient care. The CP is responsible for analyzing existing and potential drug‑related medical problems and implementing corrective action to ensure that patients receive optimal drug therapy.
  
  The CP also applies standards relating to all aspects of distribution and control of scheduled and non‑scheduled drugs. The primary functions of a CP are to assure the safe and appropriate use of medications and advocate for rational drug therapy through the following: evaluation of the appropriateness of drug therapy based on patient specific factors; individualization of drug therapy; evaluating, dispensing, and providing medications;
  
  and responding to drug information inquiries from patients and other health care providers. The practice of a CP also includes quality assurance, staff and patient education, consultation, research, and formulary management.
• Maintains a clinical practice within area of expertise to sustain clinical proficiency, including review of consults, direct patient care, and establishing coverage for clinical services when on leave.
• Evaluates patients and monitors response to drug therapy, making recommendations for changes in drug therapy as needed depending on appropriate laboratory and clinical assessment.
• Educates patients on their drug therapy with respect to compliance and dietary restrictions, heightening awareness of toxicity and interactions with other medications.
• Responsible for the review of medication regimens within area of clinical practice and notifying providers of any findings that might require action, including but not limited to:
  • Misuse of medication, i.e. abuse, overuse, or underuse
  • Inappropriate dose, dose interval, or dosage form
  • Drug and/or pharmacologic duplication
  • Adverse drug‑drug, drug‑lab, drug‑disease, or drug‑food interactions
  • Adverse drug reactions
  • Suboptimal response
  • Suboptimal therapeutic regimen
• Opportunities for deprescribing.
• Formulary vs. non‑formulary alternatives.
• Applies knowledge of normal laboratory values in the evaluation of patient care and recognizes significant abnormalities requiring intervention.
• Recommends alternative drug therapies designed to reduce cost of medications while ensuring optimal therapeutic response.
• Advises providers on aspects of clinical pharmacokinetics as it pertains to the monitoring of serum plasma concentrations and its relationship to patient response. Also, advises providers how to individualize dosing of medications based on interpretation of these serum levels and evidence‑based care.
• Serves as a drug information resource for other health care providers, answering inquiries regarding therapeutics, drug interactions, dosing, side effects, etc.
• Reviews medication regimens to ensure compliance and proper understanding of how and why medications are to be taken as prescribed.
• Applies knowledge of the medical facility treatment areas, TPN, and USP 797 and 800 practices and associated regulations.
• Provides proactive, ongoing communication related to the pharmacy programs under his/she clinical care to professional staff via Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee meetings, Medical Staff meetings, Pharmacy Staff meetings, and individualized meetings, as appropriate.
• Maintains competency in best practice, medication management, and other areas related to the clinical area of practice.
• Supports Chief of Pharmacy and Chief of Staff in aligning VA providers to support organizational stewardship.
• Remains up to date regarding technology, management practices, and clinical practice by reviewing relevant material in reputable journals and resources.
• Provides a framework for continual learning for pharmacy students, residents, and employees of all levels to ensure competence and improve performance.

Work Schedule
: 7 on 7 off 7:00pm‑7:00am

Telework
:
Not Available

Virtual
:
This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives
:
Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):
Not Authorized