Pharmacy Practice Specialist- Clinical Cancer Center Pharmacist

Position Overview

The University of Iowa Healthcare Pharmacy Department is looking for a Clinical Pharmacy Practice Specialist to join our team. This pharmacist position functions as the operational team lead of the clinical cancer center pharmacy in coordination with the pharmacist manager.

It also provides clinical support, education, medication dispensing, and monitoring for patients receiving medications through the Clinical Cancer Center infusion area and oncology clinics, and serves as a liaison to ensure coordination, consistency, and alignment of oncology pharmacy services across UI Health Care locations.

It serves as a role-model/practitioner-educator for Doctor of Pharmacy students and pharmacy residents, and carries out clinical practice responsibilities for the Department of Pharmaceutical Care.

• Position Responsibilities
• Patient Care - Participate in the provision of pharmaceutical care in select clinics:
• Provide medication order review and evaluation, therapeutic drug monitoring and chemotherapy protocol review.
• Provide in-depth patient education on new chemotherapy regimens.

Oversee distribution of patient-specific medications; prepare sterile compounds including hazardous antineoplastic items; dispense take-home medications to patients and their caregivers; consult with patients on appropriate over-the-counter medications; and collect payment using point-of-sale system.

Complete a comprehensive patient assessment including medication history, pertinent physical assessment, and assessment of relevant laboratory values, patient interview, and an evaluation of past medical history for appropriate patients.

Work with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers as a member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Provide follow-up of therapeutic recommendations through telephone calls and return clinic appointments as appropriate.

• Identify, evaluate and prevent adverse drug events through appropriate interventions.
• Communicate therapeutic recommendations to the health care provider verbally.
• Document relevant clinical information in electronic medical record.
• Coordinate medication-planning activities including facilitation of prescription writing, patient education, coordination with family members or home health care providers, etc.
• Collaboratively address financial issues to ensure receipt of needed medications.
• Provide drug information and education to health care professionals.
• Serve as liaison for ambulatory pharmacy staff regarding patient medication therapy.
• Evaluate patient-specific medication regimens to ensure the appropriateness of the following:
• Indication
• Correct dose
• Route of administration
• Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-lab, or drug-disease state interactions
• Efficacy of therapy
• Adherence to therapy
• Dose adjustments for organ dysfunction
• Adverse drug reactions
• Potential drug misuse or abuse
• Use of the most cost-effective therapy
• Availability of medications at UI Health Care (if applicable)

Supervisory Activites

• Supervise pharmacy technicians, students, and support staff on a daily basis.
• Help direct workflow in the cancer center pharmacy on a daily basis.
• Assist in the formulation and administration of performance evaluations.

Residency Training and Student Teaching Programs

Develop goals and objectives for pharmacy residency programs and Doctor of Pharmacy advanced pharmacy practice and introductory pharmacy practice experiences.

• Prepare and administer pharmacy student and / or resident performance evaluations.
• Participate in the formal experiential training and didactic teaching required to conduct the pharmacy residency programs and Doctor of Pharmacy advanced pharmacy practice and introductory pharmacy practice experiences.
• Participate in recruiting activities for pharmacy residency programs.
• Provide daily communication and follow-up to other clinical pharmacists, pharmacy areas, and other health care professionals as needed:
• Provide in-service education to pharmacists as needed.
• Provide in+-service to members of the health care team as needed.
• Assist physicians, nurses, and patients with medication questions, medication access and continuity of care issues.
• Documentation of patient care activities in accreditation compliant manners:
• Clinical services and patient care activities in the electronic medical record.
• Patient assessment and therapeutic plan recommendations.
• Medication errors into standard reporting system.
• Adverse drug reactions into standard reporting system.
• Patient allergies and height/weight information as needed.
• Medication counseling provided to patients.
• Interventions with prescribers and other health care providers.
• Clinic and follow-up telephone encounters.
• Others as required.
• Develop and provide new department clinical service initiatives:
• Be a resource to staff for after-hours issues in oncology clinic patients.

Develop or contribute to the development of protocols related to appropriate prescribing, dispensing and monitoring of specialty medications.

Provide a leadership role in department or interdisciplinary hospital committees involved with drug therapy issues.

Develop or contribute to the development of drug information resources and practice guidelines that are available hospital wide to foster cost effective and rational prescribing.

Design, implement, and coordinate development of the clinical components of the pharmacy or hospital wide information systems.

Participate in the ambulatory clinical on call program

Administration

• Coordinate therapeutic decision-making when there is a paucity of literature or experience for reference.
• Serve as the primary reference source on new drug therapy advances in the specialized area of practice.
• Identify and resolve significant/highly unusual patient drug therapy problems.
• Develop and coordinate completion of clinically oriented departmental goals.

Develop policies, procedures, and clinical reference documents relevant to the clinical applications of new therapies.

Manage and analyze events related to medication errors – including participation in formal multi-disciplinary sentinel event review teams.

• Assist in evaluations assessing the clinical skills of professional staff.
• Interview and evaluate prospective professional pharmacy practitioners.
• Adhere to all department policies and procedures.

Contribute to the department budgetary process by reviewing, designing, implementing, and monitoring budget initiatives that address hospital wide or unit specific issues.

Participate with the implementation and monitoring of new programs developed either by the Department or through another means (e. g., P&T Committee).

Quality Improvement

Provide a leadership role in university committees involved with drug therapy.

Perform quality assurance monitoring of services provided by the Cancer Center Pharmacy. Develop educational programs to certify the clinical competence of pharmacists and improve the technician understanding of medical conditions being treated.

Develop educational programs to certify the clinical competence of pharmacists and improve the technician understanding of medical conditions being treated.

Completion and upkeep of university, department of pharmaceutical care, and specialty pharmacy competencies and CE requirements as assigned.

Other

Conduct research in area of expertise and present/publish results at professional meetings or in professional journals.

• Consistently demonstrate the WECARE values and Service Excellence culture of Iowa Health Care.
• Complete and maintain compliance with all competencies and educational requirements.

• Education Requirements
• Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy Degree
• Eligibility for or current license by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners is required prior to start

Experience Requirements

• Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 pharmacy practice residency OR 2 years’ experience in a complex multi-disciplinary healthcare environment with an oncology focus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Demonstrated excellent customer service skills are required.
• Job-related experience with and/or commitment to service excellence is required.
• Professional Experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

Desired Qualifications

Satisfactory completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY2 residency in Ambulatory Care or Oncology is highly desirable.

• Active board certification in Oncology, is highly desirable.
• Experience in inpatient or outpatient oncology pharmacy is highly desirable.
• Active board certification is desirable.
• Able to work independently, prioritize multiple stakeholders and tasks, manage details and deliver results in an environment with competing demands.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others.

Position and Application Details

• In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
• Resume

Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For additional questions, please contact Eric Hardesty at eric-hardesty@uiowa.edu.