Are you an internal caregiver, student, or contingent worker/agency worker at UMass Memorial Health? CLICK HERE to apply through your Workday account.Exemption Status:Exempt
Hiring Range:$103,812.80 - $186,846.40
(based on a full time schedule of 40 hours per week).
Please note that the final offer will vary based on scheduled hours. Compensation for part-time or reduced schedules will be prorated based on scheduled weekly hours, experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
Schedule Details:Monday through Friday
Scheduled Hours:830-5p
Shift:1 - Day Shift, 8 Hours (United States of America)
Hours:40
Cost Center:10020 - 3800 Pharmacy
This position may have a signing bonus available a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.
The Ambulatory clinical pharmacy specialist provides medication management services that integrate clinical services, order management, patient/staff education, and research. The Ambulatory pharmacy specialist is responsible for improving the patient's experience, safety, and achieving positive clinical and financial outcomes upon hospital admission. Participates in and contributes to educational programs, committees, and clinical research.
Major Responsibilities: The following key performance areas (Clinical, Operations/Distribution, Financial, Safety and Regulatory, Research and Education) are performed by the clinical pharmacist:
- Responsible for providing patient care according to the laws and regulations governing pharmacists and the practice of pharmacy by the appropriate state and federal agencies. When assigned to particular pharmacy service teams, may be responsible for prescribing medications under specific collaborative drug therapy management agreements (CDTM).
- Works relatively independently, and within the limits of established pharmacy/ambulatory care practice site's policies and procedures, as a member of the patient care team.
RESPONSIBILITIES SPECIFIC TO CDTM (Only applicable to team members that require CDTM to perform job functions)- TThe pharmacist shall wear a nametag, which identifies him/her as a pharmacist.
- The pharmacist shall have completed 5 years' experience as a licensed pharmacist or have satisfied one of the requirements in 247 CMR 16.02(1)(c)
- Have earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and have entered into a collaborative practice agreement on or before 2017; or
- Have completed such other education or residency criteria that the MA Board of Pharmacy determines to be the equivalent of five year's experience as a licensed pharmacist.
- The pharmacist shall devote a portion of practice to the defined drug therapy area that the pharmacist shall co-manage.
- The pharmacist shall complete, in each year of the term of the protocol, at least 5 contact hours or 0.5 continuing education units of Board-approved continuing education that address areas of practice generally related to the particular collaborative practice protocol.
- The pharmacist must notify the Board of Registration of Pharmacists of change of employment, supervising physician or departure from the state within 30 days. Whenever an authorized pharmacist participating in CDTM is disciplined by the Board, whether by agreement or Board order, or otherwise subject to any practice restrictions, the authorized pharmacist must provide written notification of such discipline or practice restriction to each supervising physician.
- A supervising physician or physician designee may permit a pharmacist to approach patients of all ages and with all types of conditions, to perform the following tasks pursuant to a written CDTM agreement including, but not limited to:
- Collect and review patient history, including a medication history and relevant disease state history to manage CDTM services as appropriate per protocol.
- In the ambulatory setting, monitor vital signs as appropriate per protocol and record pertinent data.
- Assist the supervising physician or physician designee in an inpatient setting as follows:
- Record patient progress notes.
- Order and interpret select laboratory test as outlined in the specific CDTM protocols.
- Order medications as outlined in the specific CDTM Protocols.
- Instruct and counsel patients on the use of prescribed drug therapy.
Clinical Performance- Provides medication management services in a collaborative manner that consist of the following:
- Review patient medication history, educate patients on drug therapy, establish desired outcomes, develop/modify therapeutic plans, determine alternatives for achieving outcomes, develop drug monitoring plans, monitor patient outcomes, document medication related issues in electronic health record, interpret laboratory data, review patient medication profiles, monitor pharmacokinetics of drug therapy, monitoring for potential adverse drug - drug, drug-lab, drug-disease state, and drug - food interactions.
- Maintains and updates a patient profile with demographics (e.g. height and weight), diagnosis, allergies, and current medications.
- Monitors drug therapy to evaluate appropriateness of use, dose, dosage form, regimen, route, therapeutic duplication, and drug interaction.
- Provides drug information to health care professionals and to patients.
- Documents clinical interventions.
- Counsels patients on discharge medications as appropriate.
- Performs clinical review and verification of medication orders.
- Performs medication order entry when needed.
- Discusses medication order clarifications with the prescriber, documents interventions, and communicates medication order changes as needed.
- Facilitates medication discharge planning and smooth transition to alternate sites of care and access to an ambulatory pharmacy.
Operations/Distribution Performance- Ensures the timely and accurate dispensing of medications from the pharmacy area.
- Cross-covers in a variety of practice areas within the pharmacy as requested by supervisor.
- Ensures regulatory compliance of controlled substance distribution and monitoring.
- Supervise work of pharmacy technicians.
- Provide feedback to maintain and optimize pharmacy technology.
Financial Performance- Promotes the use of formulary drugs by converting non-formulary orders to formulary drugs when possible according to P&T protocol. Coordinates procurement of non-formulary drugs when necessary.
- Conducts targeted drug program and drug usage evaluations as needed and reports results to Department Managers/ Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
- Identifies and acts upon cost avoidance in drug therapy by promoting cost effective regimens, drugs, and by reducing waste.
- Facilitates cost saving programs such as IV to PO and therapeutic substitution.
- Manages medication inventory, expiring products, and recalls.
- Understands and facilitates the Prior Authorization process in associated clinics
Safety and Regulatory Performance- Detects, monitors, documents, and reports adverse drug reactions and medication errors.
- Utilizes drug use reports to identify adverse drug events.
- Participates in Joint Commission and other accreditation and regulatory activities such as National Patient Safety Goals and Department of Pharmacy Quality Improvement Plan.
Research and Education Performance- Precepts Intermediate Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) rotation students, and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation students, and pharmacy residents consistent with academic credentials and clinical experience.
- Participates in continuing education programs, meetings, training programs and related activities.
- Prepares educational materials and participates in information sharing activities for the health care community and general public.
Position Qualifications:License/Certification/Education:
Required:- Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree; OR Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BSPharm) degree with 3 years hospital experience.
- Licensure with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy.
- the pharmacist shall hold a current unrestricted license in good standing to practice pharmacy in the Commonwealth and currently be engaged in pharmacy practice in the Commonwealth.
- Must have Massachusetts Controlled Substance Registration license, National Provider Index number, and a Drug Enforcement Administration Registration number, if applicable.
Preferred:- ASHP Accredited Residency in Pharmacy Practice (PGY1) is recommended.
- Pharm.D. degree with minimum of 1 year of direct Ambulatory patient care experience.
- Medication Therapy Management certification or equivalent.
- Board certification in a related area of ambulatory practice.
This position may include additional travel to offsite clinics. 
