Clinical Pharmacist - Acute Care Operations

The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, is seeking a full-time Clinical Pharmacist to join our team.  The clinical pharmacist is responsible for all aspects of medication preparation and dispensing throughout the institution. The position will have rotating shifts including weekdays, weekends, and evenings in adult dispensing areas, including Central Pharmacy, IV Admixture Pharmacy, Adult Satellite, and OR satellite. The clinical pharmacist oversees preparation and dispensing of sterile and non-sterile products, to all acute care service areas and ambulatory clinics. In addition, the clinical pharmacist completes order verification and provides therapeutic drug monitoring for select patient populations from the Adult Satellite. The position provides an opportunity to precept pharmacy students on rotations.

Position Responsibilities:

Medication Preparation and Dispensing

1. Oversee pharmacy technicians while staffing in dispensing locations.
2. Serve as a contact for medication distribution questions for pharmacy team members and other healthcare professionals.
3. Safely and accurately verify sterile and non-sterile compounded products following USP <800>, USP <797>, and USP <795> guidelines.
4. Check pre-packaged medications, automated dispensing cabinet batches, floorstock, emergency drug trays, and ambulance kits.
5. Troubleshoot automation utilized in dispensing locations.
6. Identification and assistance in resolution of medication system issues.
7. Assist with inventory control including controlled substances
8. Reporting of medication errors and process improvement suggestionsUa
9. Serve on intra- and interdepartmental committees as needed. 

Provides Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

1. Evaluate medication orders to ensure accuracy and appropriateness
2. Assure pharmacokinetic assessment of drug dosing on appropriate patients
3. Communicate with prescribers on patient medication needs
4. Identify and evaluate adverse drug reactions on patients
5. Provide drug information to other healthcare professionals
6. Confirm/clarify patient drug allergies noted in medical record when needed
7. Complete medication histories on all patients and reconcile home medications against the admission medications
8. Review and reconcile all medications upon patient transfer between clinical services
9. Review daily therapeutic monitoring information for all patients served by the patient care unit (and other patient care units covered by the pharmacist’s health care team)
10. Identify high-risk medication therapy by defined admission criteria and review as appropriate
11. Complete required competency exams as required by department 

Documents Patient Care Activities Performed

1. Document medication error information into standard reporting system
2. Identify, evaluate, and take steps to avoid adverse drug reactions on all patients
3. Update patient allergies and patient-specific height and weight information when needed
4. Review and ensure correct medication histories are entered into the medical record
5. Provide and document medication counseling to patients for targeted populations
6. Document therapeutic drug monitoring assessments and recommendations 

Provides Educational Services

1. University of Iowa Health Care is a teaching institution; therefore, the clinical pharmacist is responsible for the education of students, residents, fellow staff, other healthcare providers, and patients about drugs and their appropriate use.  The clinical pharmacist shall serve as a role model for staff and students.  The educational process crosses professional boundaries, as the clinical pharmacist interacts with and serves as an informational resource for other members of the health care team.  The clinical pharmacist takes great care to instruct all patients about the need for and appropriate use of prescribed medications. Examples of educational services may include:
1. Serving as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents
2. Presenting in-service educational programs to staff nurses, physicians, and other colleagues on the healthcare team
3. Presenting at and/or participating in other educational programs sponsored by the Department of Pharmaceutical Care, the College of Pharmacy, other UIHC or UI departments, and state and national organizations
4. Conducting educational classes for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents
5. Serving as mentor and role model for other pharmacist practitioners within the department 

Other duties as assigned