Clinical Pharmacist

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Position Summary

Provide pharmaceutical care under Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care Pharmacy standards of practice and mission, federal laws, and regulations.

Scope of Work

This position is assigned to the Pharmacy Branch under the supervision and direction of the Chief Supervisory Pharmacist, TON Health Care, or Supervisory Pharmacist. This position will have a primary duty station and is assigned but requires working at any TONHC Pharmacy as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

(Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

Perform outpatient pharmacy functions for the full range of pharmaceuticals provided in the medical facility, including controlled, investigational, and other drugs requiring special handling.

• Processes and verifies orders for new prescriptions and refill requests.
• Verifies and reviews medications prepared by technicians for dispensing and distribution.

Provides medication-related customer service and interacts with other departments to ensure appropriate patient care.

Stay current with prescription drug knowledge for medications dispensed locally and keeps abreast of medication-related safety issues.

Helps to maintain the accuracy of medication drug files and utilizes electronic health record functions to enter notes for appropriate documentation and enter and edit drug allergy information.

Reviews the prescription, patient medication profile, and patient record and utilizes appropriate resources and references to determine appropriateness in dispensing prescribed pharmaceuticals.

Compounds or oversees the compounding of drugs as prescribed; determines formulation to be used, dosage forms, quantities, concentrations, and the number of doses.

Conducts necessary patient education, per established Policies and Procedures, concerning the medication, its administration, signs of reaction, and related matters, counsels' patients on a course of treatment, the likelihood of success, possible adverse consequences, and related issues.

• Manage controlled substance inventory records, medication inventory, and procurement.
• Complete all necessary reports and documentation under Federal and Service Unit policies and procedures.
• Performs periodic inspections of drug storage facilities to ensure correct handling, accountability, etc.
• Participates with physicians in determining a course of treatment for unusually complex or challenging cases; advises on using the various drug and drug therapies to include investigational and limited use items.
• Reviews efficiency of drug regimen; advises on alternatives and cost-effectiveness.
• Report and document medication errors, related incidents, and unusual circumstances.

Perform inpatient pharmacy services and prepare the complete range of sterile products and intravenous additives for the medical facility.

Review physician medication orders, patient medications, and records to prevent or counteract adverse drug reactions or interactions.

• Verifies that prescribed medications are appropriate for indication and appropriately dosed.
• Ensure correct labeling, handling, and storage of all pharmaceutical products.
• Provides guidance and support to lower grade staff, oversees operations to ensure adherence to professional standards, patient safeguards, applicable law and regulation, quality assurance, policies, and procedures.
• Conduct training for professional, non-professional, and prescribing staff on developments in drug therapy.

Assists with the training of pharmacy students, trains personnel in preparation, storage, handling, and administration of drugs and other pharmaceuticals.

Provide specialized services to assist patients with managing diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and other chronic illness.

• Represent the pharmacy department on various committees and at meetings.
• Supports clinical investigations as required.
• Provide pharmacy and drug information services to eligible individuals for TON Health Care services in homes, schools, clinics, job sites, and other community locations.
• May work alternative work schedules to provide continuity of service.
• Contribute to a team effort.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned in keeping with pharmacy initiatives and goals.
• Meet the cultural needs of the tribe, understand cultural diversity.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices, and techniques of clinical pharmacy to provide direct patient services.

• Knowledge of Federal laws and regulations of pharmacy operations.
• Knowledge of the physical-chemical properties and characteristics of substances, the therapeutic action of drugs, and the principles of chemical, biological, pharmacological, and biopharmaceutical science.
• Knowledge in planning, monitoring, and evaluating drug therapy in a clinical setting.
• Knowledge of appropriate resource and reference materials and their use.

Ability to communicate with patients regarding the proper administration, use, actions, precautions, and storage of their medications.

Ability to communicate with other health providers regarding the comprehensive treatment of the patient and educational activities related to patient care and Health Professional Students.

Ability to follow pharmacy primary care acute and chronic care protocols recording all patient's medical record information using the SOAP format.

• Ability to work independently following policies and guidelines.
• Ability to make professional pharmacy decisions that are considered authoritative and subject to only general systemic reviews.
• Ability to supervise support personnel in the accomplishment of individual tasks.
• Ability to distinguish basic colors.

Minimum Qualifications

Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy, Doctoral degree in Pharmacy from an accredited College of Pharmacy and/or board certification and/or completion of residency training preferred.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements

License to practice pharmacy in at least one state or U.S. Territory. A submitted copy of the active, unrestricted license to practice.

Immunization against Measles and Rubella is required, and a recommended annual influenza vaccination.

Upon recommendation for hire, a criminal background and a National FBI fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for employment, including a 39-month driving record.

May require possessing and maintaining a valid driver's license (no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years).

If required, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles.

Based on the department's needs, incumbents may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as employment conditions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to talk or hear. In addition, the incumbent is frequently required to sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stand, and bend. The work involves frequent walking to various locations of the medical facility.

Lifting or moving boxes or medical equipment that weighs over 25 pounds is possible. The incumbent performs in the Pharmacy and clinic area-everyday exposure to infectious and contagious diseases. Incumbents may be required to wear personal protective equipment or clothing to prevent blood and body fluids exposure.

The incumbent works on a regularly assigned schedule, with rotational duties at the TON Sells Indian Hospital, TON San Xavier Health Center, TON Santa Rosa Health Center, TON San Simon Health Center, and inpatient, on-call, nightshift, weekend, and holiday coverage at the Hospital.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.