Medication Specialist

Department/Program: Residential Recovery Services

Reports To: Program Director

Schedule:

Sunday-Thursday 7am-3pm.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Bay Cove Human Services’ mission is to partner with people to overcome challenges and realize personal potential. Bay Cove pursues this mission by providing individualized and compassionate services to people facing the challenges associated with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness at more than 175 program sites throughout Greater Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.

Job Summary: The Medication Specialist provides training on, and oversees the implementation of, the program’s medication management system, including procedures to store medications properly, monitor adherence, and promote self-administration practices. The Medication Specialist contributes to Bay Cove’s mission by ensuring residents are provided with person-centered care to optimize safe, effective, and appropriate use of prescription and over-the-counter medications during their recovery journey.

This is a non-exempt position.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Provide initial training and ongoing coaching to employees on medication management policies, procedures, and protocols, and monitor adherence to the system on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure the medication room is clean, organized, and secure and that all medication-related equipment is available and in good working order.
• Upon admission, and following any changes to medications, transcribe medications electronic health record and onto required forms and communicate changes with the team.
• Support residents to connect with their providers to start, continue, or discontinue medications as needed and with the pharmacy to obtain timely refills.
• Observe and document resident medication self-administration, providing person-centered education and support regarding adherence as appropriate.
• Conduct and document the scheduled audit as instructed on the EMO Health Self-Audit for Treatment Programs tool each month, identify trends and opportunities for improvement, and follow up with the Program Director and teammates to carry out follow up improvement actions.
• When counts are off, investigate and review documentation to determine the reason for the discrepancy.
• Maintain accurate records of all medications stored in the med room, in possession of the resident, packed upon discharge, or disposed of, and verify disposal records are up during self-audits.
• Report medication misuse concerns, medication events, and medication errors to the appropriate parties in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with the team to create a medication support plan to address issues of adherence or misuse.
• Facilitate a weekly medication/wellness group for residents focused on setting realistic health goals, learning healthy medication taking skills, and understanding the physical and psychosocial consequences of misuse and non-adherence.
• Carry out all duties of Recovery Specialists when not actively engaged in Medication Management responsibilities, including conducting wellness checks and contact the supervisor on-call as needed.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

All BSAS licensed programs must have at least one staff member designated to serve as coordinator for the following topics. If assigned, both supervisor and employee must initial to acknowledge the assignment:

• Serve as the program’s Access/CLAS Coordinator. Support the team in the evaluation, improvement planning, and implementation of efforts to ensure equitable access to services as required by 105 CMR 164.040(A)(11). Attend CLAS training.
• Serve as the program’s HIV/AIDS/HEP C Coordinator. Oversee resident and staff education, risk assessment, access to counseling and…