Pharmacist

Job Details

JOB TITLE

Pharmacist

REPORTS TO

Reports to Managing Pharmacist

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises the pharmacological duties of Pharmacy Technicians

FLSA

Non-Exempt 

OTHER CONTACTS

NOTCH personnel at all locations, patients, family members, staff from various provider offices, hospital personnel, and vendors

JOB SUMMARY

To ensure appropriate, reliable, and consistent pharmacological patient care through the distribution, control, and delivery, of pharmaceuticals in a manner consistent with professional standards and local, state, and federal law.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Dispenses prescribed medications, drugs, and other pharmaceuticals to customers for treatment of short or long term illness or injury.
• Where an apparent conflict of information or a contra-indication exists for a particular patient, the pharmacist collects, organizes, and evaluates relevant information from doctors and patients concerning a patient’s current need for medication.
• Reviews prescriptions, dispensing order, issued by a physician or other authorized prescriber to ensure accuracy and review the drug history of the patient when available.  Telephones the physician if synergistic, antagonistic and/or cumulative effects, such as possible duplications and incompatibilities are apparent.
• Request and monitor the receipt of supplemental documentation required for DMEPOS items to be covered by Medicare.
• Documents the results of discussions with doctors and patients, identifying current and potential medication treatment.
• Provides medication counseling to patients regarding appropriate drug or pharmaceutical use.  Answers questions and provides information on drug interactions, side effects, and dosage and storage of pharmaceuticals.  Communicates clearly with patients to ensure proper health care.
• Provides or coordinates the provision of appropriate information related to the setup, features, routine use, troubleshooting, cleaning, and maintenance of any DMEPOS items provided.
• Advise beneficiaries and caregivers about appropriate safety considerations.
• Provide relevant information and/or instructions about infection control issues related to the use of equipment/items.
• Tailor training and instruction materials and approaches to the needs, abilities, learning preferences, language, and readiness to learn of individual beneficiaries/caregivers and ensure such training is commensurate with the risks, complexity and manufacturer’s instructions and/or specifications for items.
• Compounds medications, using standard formulas and processes, such as weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, when drugs are not commercially available.
• Prepares, dispenses, packages, and labels medications, as prescribed by physician, including intravenous (IV) admixtures.
• Assure that the automated pharmacy dispensing system is in good working order and accurately dispenses the correct strength, dosage form, and quantity of the drug prescribed while maintaining appropriate record keeping and security safeguards.
• Implement an ongoing quality assurance program that monitors performance of the automated pharmacy dispensing system, which is evidenced by written policies and procedures adopted by the pharmacy.
• Process prescriptions thru pharmacy operating system to bill Medicare and third party payers.  Monitor computer system edits to ensure that all information provided supports compliance with Medicare and third party payer policies.
• Enters data, such as patient names, prescribed medications, and medications costs to maintain pharmacy files, patient charge systems, and inventory.
• Ensure that all policies and procedures are in computerized form or if written shall be collected in a format such as a three-ring binder that can easily be accessed, updated and revised as necessary.
• Establish policies and procedures for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of prescription information an patient health care information, or verifying the existence thereof and ensuring that all employees of the pharmacy read, sign and comply with the established policies and procedures.
• Keep apprised of current CMS, DEA, Board of Pharmacy rules and regulations by monitoring trade publications, newsletters, subscribing to Listserves and participation in continuing education opportunities.
• Monitors and instructs pharmacological duties of Pharmacy Technicians.
• Responsible for required record keeping of drugs and devices that are destroyed, surrendered to the Board, or returned to the wholesaler or manufacturer for disposal.
• Make, file and maintain necessary records to be compliant with local, state, and federal laws.
• Completes and documents inspections of all assigned medication storage areas on assigned month.
• Responsible for enforcing security standards for the prescription area.
• Implements a procedure for drug recalls which may include, when appropriate, contacting patients whom the recalled drug product(s) have been dispensed. Identifies and replaces outdated and unusable drugs and addresses medication security issues.
• Maintains current pharmacist licensure in the State of Vermont.
• Participates in training, in staff meetings, and on committees as required.
• Trains, mentors and supervises students and clinical support staff as appropriate.
• Responsible for proper closing of the drug outlet; or if a foreclosure or bankruptcy, the official in charge shall obtain the services of a pharmacist to serve as acting pharmacy-manager.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Possesses in depth knowledge of pharmaceutical care processes, including drug preparation and distribution practices
• Possesses in depth knowledge of all DMEPOS items supplied by the pharmacy
• Understands local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing the pharmaceutical  care process, including drug preparation and distribution practices
• Knowledge of CMS DMEPOS Policies, Procedures, and Quality Standards
• Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision
• Ability to supervise the work of others
• Ability to prioritize, make critical decisions, and respond quickly to emergency requests
• Ability to handle frequent interruptions and adapt to changes in workload and work schedule
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment
• Ability to meet the pharmaceutical needs of patients
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Computer skills

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science Degree from an ACPE accredited school of pharmacy

EXPERIENCE

Two years clinical pharmacist experience in a health system preferred

CERTIFICATE/LICENSE

State of Vermont Licensed Pharmacist

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and stand for extended periods of time. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and / or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer and printer, copier, calculator, telephone, and facsimile machine

NOTE

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.  All applicants made a conditional offer of employment must cooperate fully with background investigations.  All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Reviewed with employee by:

Manager’s Name:________________________________________Date:_______________

Received and accepted by:

Employee’s Name:_______________________________________Date:_______________

NOTCH is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.