Pharmacist

Pharmacists fill orders for medications, monitor patient medication therapies, provide drug information, and supervisor and direct support personnel. In the absence of the pharmacy manager, a pharmacist may be required to assume the essential responsibilities and perform the duties of the pharmacy manager.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Responsibilities

• Prepares and dispenses medication order per physician request according to established policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Interprets medication orders (verbal and written) and transcribes to computerized patient medication profiles accurately; maintains accurate, complete patient medication profiles.
• Prepares and dispenses medications, including sterile and parenteral nutrition preparations safely and accurately using appropriate techniques.
• Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law.
• Ensures safe, appropriate, cost-effective medication therapies for patients according to established policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Monitors medication 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 the 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 medication therapy selection.
• Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners; recommends evidence-based medication therapy regimens and monitoring plans; and 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.
• Contributes to the quality and effective operation of the department.
• Supervises and directs pharmacy support personnel; verifies the daily activities of pharmacy technicians; and participates in the performance appraisal of pharmacy support personnel.
• Works independently with minimal supervision; organizes and prioritizes work assignments; and 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 medications.
• Answers the telephone, identifying self and department; directs calls to appropriate personnel; and answers requests at the window.
• Keeps pharmacy areas and equipment clean, neat, and well-organized.
• Performs essential duties of the pharmacy director in her absence.
• Maintains competence required for current job title/position.
• 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.