Clinical Pharmacist

At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we welcome diversity; we encourage, uplift, and are honored to serve people who have been historically underrepresented and underserved. Our mission is to provide high-quality, culturally appropriate healthcare to low-income residents of Washington and Yamhill Counties, with a special emphasis on seasonal and migrant farm workers and others with barriers to receiving healthcare. We strive to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we employ and serve.

If you are unsure whether you meet all of the required qualifications for this role but are interested and passionate about this potential position, we encourage you to apply.

Starting Salary: $141,146/yr + DOE
Schedule: Monday-Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm

Job Summary: The Clinical Pharmacist collaborates with primary care providers and staff to improve the health of Virginia Garcia patients. This position provides collaborative drug therapy management services, assists medical personnel and patients with drug information and identification, develops and sustains productive patient relationships, makes patient needs a primary focus, evaluates and resolves potential drug therapy problems identified through any and all available sources, interviews patients to obtain information regarding drug use, drug allergies/sensitivities and documents the information in the patient’s medical record or pharmacy information system. The individual in this role will deliver quality pharmacy services, including dispensing, providing clinical information to providers, prescription verification, patient counseling, and adherence to state and federal pharmacy laws. The Clinical Pharmacist confers with medical personnel regarding care and treatment of patient related clinical diagnosis, drug combinations and dosage forms, and other factors that might influence the course of treatment and the activity of the drugs, including drug identification, suggesting changes in drug therapy and/or use as appropriate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) services in their designated Virginia Garcia clinics.
• Upon referral, assess the patient, adjust medications, screen for drug interactions and adverse effects, provide disease/medication education, and explore opportunities to simplify and/or decrease the cost of the medication regimen according to the CDTM guidelines.
• Provide services in compliance with Virginia Garcia policy, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, and the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners rule for CDTM.
• Provide patient education one-on-one during a clinic visits, at group visits, or as part of disease-specific initiatives.
• Provide medical staff education which may include teaching or training nurses, medical assistants, and medical team members as appropriate.
• Provide education to medical providers in both written and verbal format.
• Act as a drug therapy resource to providers and other members of the health care team.
• Assist in leading/managing multidisciplinary teams focused on outcomes research and disease management projects.
• Participate in the creation and/or review of protocols involving medication use at the center.
• Staff the outpatient pharmacy as needed and be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the pharmacy according to state and federal law, including:
  • counseling patients on all new prescriptions,
  • medication reviews,
  • supervising performance and accuracy of technical staff,
  • ensuring quality customer service and observance of HIPAA requirements regarding patient confidentiality.
• Provide training, support and ongoing feedback to Clinical Pharmacy Technicians.
• Participate in the preceptorship of pharmacy students.
• Assist with the design and operationalization of innovative projects to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of pharmacy prescribing within Virginia Garcia.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Handle protected health information in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HIPAA Requirements:

The Clinical Pharmacist will have access to PHI in the course of their duties. Applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated record sets to which this employee will have access include: the full medical record, the pharmacy patient chart, the demographic and scheduling information of the practice management systems and all information in the pharmacy management computer system including billing and insurance information, prescription files, and patient profiles.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• High level of skill in interpersonal and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and effectively support team members to accomplish daily activities and support colleagues in other areas to accomplish common goals.
• Bilingual proficiency strongly desired (Spanish/English preferred).
• Desire to work with underserved/disenfranchised communities.
• Cultural competency.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to deal with difficult and stressful situations.
• High degree of confidentiality, integrity and professionalism.
• Ability to multi-task and be flexible, must have ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and adapt to continuous changes while maintaining stakeholder engagement and ensuring quality outcomes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), pharmacy software, database software and EPIC.
• Commitment and alignment to Virginia Garcia’s mission, vision and values.

Education and Experience Required:

• Registered Pharmacist, licensed in good standing with the State of Oregon, with no sanctions or restrictions on the pharmacy license, or ability to become licensed after start of job.
• Preceptor registration.
• Residency training (PGY1) or comparable ambulatory care clinical pharmacy experience in community pharmacy setting.
• Advanced training in Ambulatory Care (PGY2) and Chronic Disease Management desired.

Behavioral Competencies:

Accountability

• Role model VG’s mission, vision, and shared values

Customer-Focus

• Listen to the voice of the customer and strive to delight them by exceeding their expectations

Teamwork

• If someone needs help, help them

Initiative

• Be innovative, apply fresh ideas, and continuously improve how you do your work

Confidentiality

• Maintain strict confidentiality and respect the privacy of others

Ethical

• Demonstrate integrity, honesty, and stewardship in all encounters at work

Respect

• Demonstrate consideration and appreciation for co-workers and patients

Communication

• Demonstrate the ability to convey thoughts and ideas as well as understand perspective of others

Physical Requirements:

Percentage of time spent

• Standing/Walking: up to 100% standing, up to 65% sitting
• Reaching/stooping/bending: 30%
• Must be able to lift/carry up to 30 lbs., less than 5% of time
• Computer usage: 90%
• Must be able to open and close prescription and patient vials: 25%
• Must be able to read for extended periods: up to 50%

Working Environment/Physical Hazards:

• Work in a well-lighted, ventilated environment.
• May be exposed to drug vapor or particles (powered antibiotics that are reconstituted for example).
• Possible indirect exposure to blood borne pathogens; expected to observe infection control.
• Exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals.

Office & Medical Equipment Used:

• Computer
• Telephone, fax, copier, scanner.
• Cash register (all pharmacy employees required to have basic training).
• Glucometers and point of care lab monitoring.
• Electronic ordering device.
• Equipment necessary to measure vitals (blood pressure cuff, scale, etc.).

Immunization:

Staff member must meet immunization requirements as stated in VGMHC’s immunization policy and state and federal guidelines.

Job description represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC’s Mission.

VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes affirmative action in the area of placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay and termination.