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 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:

• Doctoral degree in Pharmacy from an accredited College of Pharmacy.

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.
• Completion of clinical pharmacy residency preferred.
• 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.