Ambulatory Care Pharmacist

Provides ambulatory pharmaceutical care services using approved protocols in collaboration with other health professional, including managing patient drug therapy, providing patient education, and preparing and/or overseeing the preparation and dispensing of medications. Promotes high quality, evidence-based, cost-effective pharmaceutical care. Performs these duties in the clinical areas assigned.

Essential Responsibilities

Upholds Kaiser Permanentes Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws.

Conducts patient medication history inquiries upon referral from physicians and other medical personnel.

Given a diagnosis, synthesize a treatment plan, which may include drug therapy and lifestyle modifications, and transition within the continuum of care settings.

Identifies, resolves, and prevents potential and actual medication-related problems including: untreated indications, improper drug selection, subtherapeutic dosage, overdose, failure to receive medication, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and medication without indication.

Under protocol, initiates, adjusts, monitors, and recommends changes in drug therapy based on information obtained through patient interviews, objective monitoring parameters, review of drug profiles and the patient medical record.

Coordinates and interprets laboratory monitoring of drug therapy, including serum drug levels, electrolytes, and other approved drug-related laboratory testing.

Provides patient monitoring for the purpose of evaluating and optimizing patient outcomes, drug utilization and patient compliance, detecting and/or minimizing ADRs, eliminating unnecessary drug use and duplication.

Provides patient education related to the individuals disease state, including predictable actions, side effects, reasons for proper compliance, and any special instruction.

• Assure ongoing performance improvement of the pharmaceutical care services provided.
• Provides education to providers and staff via presentations, newsletters, formal utilization reviews, and one-on-one interactions.
• Performs drug utilization review, comprehensive medication review, and/or medication reconciliation.
• Operate pharmacy computer system(s) and other equipment and software.
• Documents information appropriately in the patients medical record and other computer systems according to policies and procedures and regulatory requirements
• Supports a collaborative Labor-Management Partnership environment.
• Performs other duties as required.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

Minimum twelve hundred (1200) hours experience in the last five years working under collaborative drug therapy management protocol including initiating, adjusting, discontinuing, and refilling medication in patients with chronic disease states OR successful completion of an ASHP Accredited PGY-1 residency.

A qualified candidate should have at least ONE of the following credentials or experience: Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) OR, Have completed PGY2 in oncology practice OR, a candidate that has completed 1000 hours over last three (3) years in area of sterile compounding oncology pharmacy with direct clinical protocol management; on condition of achieving BCOP within three (3) years of employment OR, a candidate that has successfully completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Residency (within three (3) years), with an oncology pharmacy rotation during the residency year and condition of achieving BCOP within three (3) years of employment

Education

• Degree in Pharmacy meeting minimum mandatory educational requirements for licensure.
• License, Certification, Registration
• Pharmacist License (California) required at hire
• National Provider Identifier required at hire
• Basic Life Support within 3 months of hire

Additional Requirements

Passage of a standardized competency assessment with the exception of current Ambulatory Care Pharmacists.

Knowledge Required

Comprehensive knowledge of current pharmacological/biopharmaceutical principles, medical terminology, pathologies, disease state management, age appropriate therapy, and other information as it pertains to medical or pharmaceutical care management plan.

Knowledge of Federal/State laws/regulations regarding delivery of pharmacy services and the scope of practice of a pharmacist.

Demonstrated work experience performing aseptic techniques & preparation of sterile IV products & hazardous agents, as required.

• Knowledge of sources of current drug information and medical literature. Skill/Abilities Required:
• Demonstrated ability to extract pertinent information from patient/other sources for a medical management plan.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and evaluate.
• Effective verbal/written communication skills at appropriate level.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary patient care team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate of Pharmacy, Pharm.D.
• PGY-2 clinical pharmacy specialty residency or fellowship
• Board certification in relevant practice area
• Advanced Practice Pharmacist License