Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Inpatient - McLean Hospital

Site: The McLean Hospital Corporation

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

The clinical staff pharmacist is responsible for all aspects of assessing, verifying, dispensing, labeling, storing, recording, and using pharmaceutical preparations for patients throughout McLean Hospital. The team member ensures optimal clinical care in the acute and residential/partial psychiatric setting, which includes aspects of general medicine, through assessment of patient-specific factors and collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Clinical staff pharmacists are responsible for appropriate supervision, training, and verification of all work performed by pharmacy technicians and interns. Clinical staff pharmacists also partake in clinical initiatives/services, inventory management, educational activities, hospital/department committees, and continuous quality improvement as assigned. The clinical staff pharmacist provides exemplary customer service to patients and staff while completing tasks efficiently and accurately.

Qualifications

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

BS and/or PharmD from an accredited College of Pharmacy. Residency experience preferred. Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy or Psychiatry preferred.

License:

Current unrestricted pharmacy licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Experience:

Previous hospital pharmacy experience preferred.

Work schedule:

Weekday Evening Shift 2:30p-11p

32hr - 40hr/week

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Dispensing functions

• •Utilizes computerized order entry system and patient medical record to timely and accurately receive, interpret, review, and process medication orders/prescriptions.
• •Precisely enters medication orders for residential/partial programs.
• •Accurately prepares, labels, and dispenses medications based on medication orders or prescriptions according to Pharmacy Department Policies and Procedures and applicable laws.
• •Supervises technicians in preparation of medications and verifies accuracy of all prepared orders including hospital prepared unit dosed medications.
• •Prioritizes work to prepare dispenses in order of importance.
• •Fills and/or verifies requisitions from inpatient and residential units in a timely, accurate manner.
• •Fills and/or verifies code carts and emergency kits in a timely, accurate manner.
• •Ensures dispensed, circulating, and stocked medication is in-date and intact.
• •Utilizes automated dispensing cabinets and technician runs to distribute medication.
• •Reviews physicians’ medication orders with regard to patient specific factors as indicated by department policies, good pharmacy practice, and Joint Commission standards.
• •Provides medication recommendations to providers as needed.
• •Reports errors, near misses, and pharmacist interventions according to Pharmacy Department Policies and Procedures.
• •Suggests process improvement to Pharmacy Department administration when necessary.
• •Fills and dispensed investigational product for research studies when necessary.
• •Fulfils need for after-hours dispensing when on-call.
• •Maintains records as required by law to document drug transactions within the Pharmacy and throughout the hospital.
• •Ensures completeness of daily logs, including refrigerator temperature.
• •Holds hand-off discussion with on-coming shift as necessary.
• •Practices pharmacy in accordance with federal and state law.
• •Alerts Pharmacy Department administration of any problems with system software or hardware or medication distribution as they arise.
• •Other tasks as assigned by Pharmacy Supervisor or Director of Pharmacy.

Clinical functions

• •Utilizes patient specific information when interpreting, reviewing, and approving medication orders to assess safety and efficacy, including, but not limited to:
• •Age
• •Sex
• •Diagnoses
• •Allergies
• •Sensitivities
• •Current medications
• •Height and weight (when necessary)
• •Pregnancy and lactation information (when necessary)
• •Laboratory results (when necessary)

• •Ensures appropriateness of drug dose, frequency, and duration for each medication ordered prior to approving. Clarifies any ambiguities with prescriber.
• •Serves as a hospital resource for drug information and utilizes appropriate reference materials when necessary.
• •Responds to drug information requests with accurate information in a timely manner.
• •Assists in reviewing and revising the drug formulary, along with guidelines for drug use
• •Participates in educating nurses, patients, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy interns, and other pharmacists as needed.
• •Participates as needed in hospital committees, such as Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Continuous Quality Improvement Committee, Infection Control Committee, Fall Prevention Committee, etc.
• •Collects and assesses medication usage data.
• •Participates in the Department’s clinical initiatives and programs.
• •Monitors the tracking of clozapine patients and reporting of blood work levels to the Clozapine Registry according to Pharmacy Department Policy.
• •Adheres to McLean Hospital formulary whenever possible and provides recommendations for therapeutic interchange as necessary.
• •Collaborates with other healthcare disciplines to develop optimal treatment plans for patients.
• •Serves as a respectable pharmacy liaison to other departments.
• •Facilitates learning for pharmacy interns.
• •Provides educational lectures or written reports as required.
• •Provides clinical counsel after-hours when on-call.
• •Suggests improvements to the pharmaceutical services provided.
• •Maintains clinical and professional competency.
• •Other tasks as assigned by Pharmacy Supervisor or Director of Pharmacy.
• •Alerts Pharmacy Department administration of any clinical issues as they arise.

Inventory functions

• •Assists technicians in maintaining optimal drug inventory by ensuring medication availability while maximizing inventory turns.
• •Loans and borrows medications per Pharmacy Department policy as necessary.
• •Assesses characteristics of new items added to the inventory including designation as hazardous, high-risk, regulated waste, easily confused, etc.
• •Maintains security of controlled substances.
• •Ensures barcodes are functional for all products.
• •Performs weekly controlled drug inventory on a rotational basis.
• •Performs monthly unit inspections as assigned.
• •Alerts Pharmacy Department administration of any inventory issues as they arise.
• •Other tasks as assigned by Pharmacy Supervisor or Director of Pharmacy.

Safety functions

• •Safely uses departmental equipment.
• •Disposes of waste appropriately in accordance with Pharmacy Department Policies and Procedures.
• •Able to locate and follow SDS and hospital/departmental policies and procedures.
• •Demonstrates knowledge of fire safety verbally.
• •Notifies supervisor of any hazards immediately.
• •Other tasks as assigned by Pharmacy Supervisor or Director of Pharmacy.

Quality Improvement

• •Continuously assesses and improves the performance of care and services provided.
• •Uses systematic methods to improve services, plan changes, and evaluate outcomes.
• •Demonstrates effective problem solving techniques and promotes the same in others.
• •Maintains awareness and actively supports the mission, goals, and objective of the hospital and department through CQI activities.
• •Other tasks as assigned by Pharmacy Supervisor or Director of Pharmacy.

Staff Responsibilities

• •Supervises (and is responsible for) pharmacy technicians in the performance of their functions.
• •Attends and actively participates