Full-Time Staff Pharmacist

Under the direction of the Pharmacy Director, Staff pharmacists fill orders for parenteral and enteral medications, monitor patient drug therapies, and provide drug information. Staff pharmacists supervise and direct support personnel. In the absence of the pharmacy manager, a staff pharmacist may be required to assume the essential responsibilities and perform the duties of the pharmacy manager

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Interprets medication orders (verbal and written) and transcribes to computerized patient medication profiles accurately. Maintains accurate, complete patient medication profiles.
• Compounds and dispenses pharmaceuticals, including sterile, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition preparations accurately.
• Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law.
• Monitors drug therapy regimens for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, drug-laboratory test interactions, allergies, appropriateness of drug and dose, and therapeutic duplications.
• Assists with pharmacokinetics consult service and drug dosing per organizational protocol.
• Reviews/interprets culture and susceptibility data for antibiotic appropriateness and recommends changes, as needed.
• Reads, extracts, and interprets information in patient charts accurately
• Detects and reports suspected adverse drug reactions and medication errors accurately and in a timely manner.
• Sustains the formulary by minimizing nonformulary procurements, utilizing therapeutic substitution protocols, and promoting rational drug therapy selection.
• Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners. Suggests appropriate, cost-effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff, as needed.
• Provides accurate, adequate, and timely drug information to the professional staff.
• Provides drug information to patients and their families.
• Documents all clinical activities and interventions accurately and completely.
• Participates in the quality improvement and medication use review activities of the department. Collects data; conducts quality monitors and inspections; and maintains logs, records, and other documentation as assigned
• Participates in the development and presentation of orientation, education, and training programs to the pharmacy, medical, nursing, and other staffs.
• Supervises and directs pharmacy support personnel. Verifies the daily activities of pharmacy technicians. Participates in the performance appraisal of pharmacy support personnel
• Works independently with minimal supervision. Organizes and prioritizes work assignments. Ensures pharmacy services are provided in a timely manner.
• Completes and documents inspections of all assigned medication storage areas at least monthly. Identifies and replaces outdated and unusable drugs.
• Answers the telephone, identifying self and department. Directs calls to appropriate personnel. Answers requests at the window.
• Keeps pharmacy areas and equipment clean, neat, and well-organized
• Performs essential duties of the pharmacy director in his/her absence
• Maintains current pharmacist licensure
• Attends pharmacy staff meetings.
• Attends orientation, education, and training programs. Reviews literature and other materials pertinent to the practice of pharmacy
• Completes all competence/skills assessment requirements as assigned by Director.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Completes all competence/skills assessment requirements as assigned by Director.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor

Compliance Responsibilities

• Understands and adheres to Loretto Hospital’s compliance standards as they appear in the Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state and Hospital regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.

Job Requirements

• Education: Graduate of an ACPE- accredited School of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD.) degree. B.S. Pharm considered with extensive training or experienc
• Licenses: Currently licensed to practice pharmacy in the state of Illinois.
• Experience: Health system experience preferred, but not required.
• Work Schedule: Minimum of 40 hours per week, rotating shifts; includes evenings, weekends, and holidays and on-call as necessary.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Job Duties” are essential job functions.

Critical Demands

Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision. Ability to work cooperatively with health-system and pharmacy staff. Ability to handle frequent interrup­tions and adapt to changes in workload and work schedule.

Ability to set priorities, make critical decisions, and responds quickly to emergency requests. Ability to exercise sound professional judgment. Ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing). Ability to meet the pharmaceutical care needs of adult, geriatric, psychiatric, and oncology patients.

Physical Demands

Repetitive use of hands and fingers (e. g., preparing IV admixtures, use of a computer keyboard).

May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 40 lb.), including boxes, equipment, unit dose-cassettes, and IV solutions and stooping or kneeling (e. g., to pick up items from the floor, to remove and replace items on lower shelves, and to file doc­uments in lower file drawers).

Sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time (4–8 hours) are often necessary. Must be able to physically operate the equipment used for the job.