Pharmacist

Brief Summary: Responsible for the provision of safe and efficient administration of services in the areas of drug distribution, the clinical monitoring of the effectiveness and toxicity of drug therapy, the provision of drug information to health care professionals and patients, and the documentation of services provided as required by law and pharmacy policies and procedures.

Essential Functions

1. Monitors drug therapy for appropriate use, appropriate routes of administration, contraindications, allergies, drug interactions, proper dosing, stabilities and compatibilities of preparations, therapeutic duplications, and adverse drug reactions.

2. Documents recommendations and clinical interventions regarding drug therapy for purposes of improving patient care.

3. Accurately dispenses and compounds prescriptions, intravenous admixtures, chemotherapy and total parenteral nutrition solutions.

4. Accurately reviews and checks physician orders, patient medication profiles, physician orders entered and filled by pharmacy technicians. Verifies that transcription of orders is correct.

5. Provides current and accurate drug information to health care professionals and patients.

Drug information provided includes new medications, dosage requirements, indications, contraindications, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, side effects, adverse reactions, precautions, and suitable formulary agents for use in specific therapies. Takes medication histories on selected patients and documents appropriately. Patient/family education and response to education is documented appropriately.

6. Accurately issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law and pharmacy policies and procedures. Also monitors controlled substance disposition.

7. Participates in quality improvement, drug use evaluation, safety, environmental, inventory and infection control programs.

8. Participates in inservice educational programs relating to drug use and pharmacy policies and procedures for both hospital professional staff and pharmacy staff. Staff meetings are attended regularly.

9. Supervises nursing station inspections done by pharmacy technicians for proper storage and distribution of medications. Ensures nursing station inspections are completed monthly.

Other Responsibilities

Participates in other programs, committees, and meetings as required by the Director of Pharmacy of administration.

Serves as the pharmacist-in-charge in the absence of the Director of Pharmacy.

Job Relationships

Frequent contacts with physicians, nurses, patients, and other professional personnel. Requires poise and the ability to communicate professional knowledge effectively.

Physical and Mental Requirements: Occasional prolonged standing or walking. Lifting of supplies and equipment is occasionally necessary. A very high degree of accuracy is required. Alertness and the ability to handle a heavy volume of work are expected. Attention to detail over an extended period of time is a usual requirement. Stress and strain occurs frequently in meeting demands of physicians, nurses and patients.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience

1. Education and formal training required: Graduate of an accredited school of Pharmacy. Licensed to practice pharmacy in the State of California.

2. One year of hospital experience is preferred, but not required.

3. Working knowledge of pharmacy computer system and equipment used.

4. Must maintain current CPR certification.

AGE of Population Served

Newborn  Infant/Pediatric  Adolescent  Adult  Geriatric  All  No Patient Care

Scheduling and Availability

THE STAFF PHARMACIST SHARES DUTIES WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY ON A ROTATING SCHEDULE. PHARMACISTS ROTATE WEEKENDS AND HAVE TWO DAYS OFF DURING THE WEEK THEY ARE SCHEDULED FOR WEEKEND DUTY. THE STAFF PHARMACIST ROTATES HOLIDAYS WITH THE MANAGER OF PHARMACY.