Clinical Pharmacist Specialist

Job Title: Clinical Pharmacist Specialist

Lifespan, a leading healthcare organization in Rhode Island, is seeking a highly skilled Clinical Pharmacist Specialist to join our team of dedicated professionals.

Job Summary:

The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist will work under the supervision of the Pharmacist-In-Charge, Senior Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, or Clinical Coordinator, as applicable, to coordinate pharmacy clinical programs, including pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutical care, drug information services, and pharmacoeconomics. The successful candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary care providers to monitor, assess, recommend changes, and optimize medication use in their area of therapeutic specialty.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinates and oversees new and established pharmacy clinical services within the scope of practice.
• Establishes priorities for effective patient care and clinical pharmacy services within the scope of existing departmental and organizational policies.
• Provides patient care and education through comprehensive medication reconciliations, medication-related patient counseling, plan of care adherence counseling, and support, and general health education coaching and support.
• Emphasizes the safe and effective use of medications, identifies potential drug interactions, and performs other related activities.
• Facilitates provision of resources to maximize patients' medication therapy success, considering the patient's social determinants of health.
• Coaches professional staff on pharmaceutical care and pharmacoeconomic principles, facilitating safe and cost-effective medication use practices within the integrated care delivery model.
• Provides support for patients enrolled in the Lifespan Specialty Drug Patient Management Program (SDPMP) and those covered by Lifespan-affiliated accountable care organizations, in accordance with the policies and procedures of the respective patient care program.
• Appropriately documents patient encounters, interventions, and plans of care in the electronic health record (EHR).
• Participates in the development, implementation, and integration of patient-focused medication therapy management and pharmaceutical care services.
• Reviews and analyzes proposed clinical services, recommending and implementing changes, allocation of resources, recent technologies, etc., to increase the efficiency and level of pharmaceutical care provided.
• Implements, interprets, and provides consultation for policies, procedures, and standards of practice related to medication use.
• Ensures that pharmacy clinical services and programs support established standards of care, meet or exceed patient care quality standards, and consider the aging processes and human developmental stages of the patient populations served.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and real-time go-to resource in their area of specialty.
• Maintains current professional competence in their area of specialty, including new medications, disease management standards, patient care practices, and innovative technology, by participation in ongoing independent study and membership and participation in professional organizations.
• Effectively communicates with staff, management, and customers to facilitate the timely flow of drug information.
• Works with Lifespan's Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee to establish protocols for drug therapy management and collaborative practice.
• Monitors drugs and/or therapeutic classes targeted for review and implements corrective strategies to optimize drug use in compliance with clinical usage guidelines.
• Participates in quality management and quality improvement activities, practice performance improvement initiatives, and quality measures; identifies opportunities for improvement where systems modifications could result in operational advancements and efficiencies.
• Leads or participates in relevant committees, task forces, and performance improvement teams as assigned.
• Participates in the development of a strategic vision for the department in the clinical practice setting, including short and long-term goals, in consideration of Lifespan's mission of 'Delivering health with care' and its values of compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence.
• Provides input to assist in the development of effective drug budgeting and allocation of resources through application of pharmacoeconomic principles and methods to achieve defined goals and objectives.
• Monitors drug utilization projections and recommends corrective strategies as appropriate.
• Participates in determining the qualifications and competence of department personnel and in the development of tools and standards to establish and improve staff competency levels in areas of therapeutic specialty.
• Participates in orientation of new employees, in-service training, and continuing education programs.
• Participates in the education and training of pharmacy residents, pharmacy interns, nurses, physician assistants, medical students, and residents.
• Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy residents and interns, completes applicable competency and evaluation documentation, and provides oversight for pharmacy internship rotations.
• Presents formal lectures to pharmacists, other health professionals, and the lay public as assigned.
• Supports department academic affiliations, including serving as adjunct clinical faculty and providing lectures for colleges of pharmacy, nursing, and physician assistant programs as assigned.
• Conducts pharmacy practice research, clinical research, and data-related research in alignment with Lifespan's mission, goals, and priorities; authors original research-based abstracts, scientific and scholarly papers, and submits for publication and/or presentation in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Prepares papers for presentation at professional organization meetings, submits manuscripts for publication in professional journals, and authors articles for publication on the Pharmacy Web site.
• Performs immunizations or medication administrations in accordance with Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations, dependent on specific position and responsibilities.

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy.
• Prior to start date, possesses current unrestricted licensure as a licensed pharmacist or as a licensed 90-day temporary pharmacist in the State of Rhode Island.
• Obtains full licensure prior to expiration of 90-day temporary pharmacist license and then possesses and maintains current unrestricted licensure as licensed pharmacist in the State of Rhode Island.
• Within 6 months of start date for positions that perform immunizations or medication administrations in accordance with Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy Rules and Regulations, must possess and maintain an American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) approved Immunization Certification and American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification.
• Successful completion of Post Graduate Year 2 (PGY-2) Residency from an accredited program in area of specialty and national board certification in area of specialty within 1 year of hire.
• Two years clinical experience, knowledge, and development may be considered in lieu of formal training, in which case national board certification in area of specialty or Pharmacotherapy will be required within 1 year of meeting board certification eligibility requirements.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact appropriately with patients, families, colleagues, and others.
• Effective organizational and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of area-specific technology, including but not limited to, pharmacy information systems, EHRs, automated dispensing technology, software, and equipment.
• Experience with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and web browsers.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Extended periods of time spent standing and walking.
• Requires the visual and manual dexterity to operate a computer.
• Occasional travel between facilities or sites is required.

Independent Action:

• Functions independently within a broad scope of departmental policies and practices.
• Refers specific complex problems to supervisor when clarification of departmental policies and procedures may be required.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None.

---