Description

The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, is seeking an experienced and dedicated Clinical Pharmacist to provide expert care for patients in our Ambulatory Care Pharmacies. The Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist provides pharmaceutical care to patients served by UI Health Care Ambulatory Care Pharmacies. Responsibilities include delivering clinical support, patient education, medication dispensing, and ongoing monitoring for patients receiving medications through ambulatory pharmacies, including immunization services. This role may also support ambulatory care operations at a UI Health Care central fill pharmacy location.

In addition, the Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist serves as a role model for Department of Pharmaceutical Care staff, residents, and students, supporting the development of professional skills and contributing to the continued growth and expansion of ambulatory pharmacy services.

Selective candidates are eligible for a sign-on bonus up to $10,000

Position Responsibilities:

Provides Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) on clinic-administered medications and take-home prescription orders.

• Completes a comprehensive patient assessment which includes evaluation of the patient's medications, and an evaluation of the patient's medical history.
• Evaluates all prescription orders to ensure the appropriateness of the following:
  Indication for use
  
  • Dose
  • Route of administration
  • Drug interactions
  • Dose adjustments for organ dysfunction
  • Physical and therapeutic incompatibilities
  • Drug-induced side effects and adverse reactions
  • Potential drug misuse or abuse
  • Use of the most cost-effective therapy
  • Duplicate therapy
• Ensures pharmacokinetic assessment of drug dosing on targeted patients through:
  
  • Clinical assessment of patients and desired therapeutic endpoints
  • Preparation of formal dosing recommendations
• Communicates with prescribers about patient medication needs.
• Conducts review of patient profiles and updates as needed based upon findings at time of patient visit.
• Provides appropriate drug information to other healthcare professionals.
• Assesses drug allergies noted in the medical record.
• Participates in collecting and documenting medication histories on patients.
• Evaluates patient compliance with prescribed medication therapy and identifies problems that may lead to partial or noncompliance.
• Utilizes appropriate resources and coordinates the resolution of financial concerns/burdens with department financial counselors.

Documents All Patient Care Activities Performed

The clinical pharmacist provides pharmacy-related services through sharing of information with other members of the healthcare team via documentation within the patient medical record and other on-line reporting systems. Examples of documentation may include:

• Patient drug allergies and patient-specific height and weight information.
• Medication histories.
• Medication counseling to patients.
• Interventions with prescribers and other healthcare providers.
• Patient interactions - those that occur in the clinic and when the patient is located elsewhere (e.g., at home, as an inpatient, in the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy)
• Drug dosing recommendations made to prescribers.
• Drug Use Evaluation Program activities.
• Steps taken to identify, evaluate, or avoid adverse drug reactions.

Coordinates Patient Communications and Interactions

• The clinical pharmacist educates patients on the pharmaceutical care services offered including the following:
  • Medication history.
  • Patient's drug allergy history.
  • Patient teaching classes (where appropriate).
  • Med sync and adherence packaging.
  • Medication counseling.
• Communicating patient information to local healthcare providers involved with the patient's care to ensure appropriate continuity of care.

Facilitates Operational Initiatives Which Lead to Enhanced Patient Care Services

The clinical pharmacist assumes the role of patient advocate for all concerns associated with drug therapy. The clinical pharmacist shall position him/herself to positively influence therapeutic decisions which will affect patients and their care. Participation in hospital-wide programs intended to improve care (e.g., the Drug Use Evaluation Program and Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Program) serves as a valuable quality-of-service surveillance tool and promotes healthcare provider education.

• Follows-up on any medication system problems, such as:
  • Unclear or inappropriate prescription orders.
  • Cost effective drug therapy.
  • Prescription for non-formulary products.
• Carries out, as appropriate, Medication Use Evaluation Program initiatives through active prescriber intervention and education.
• Serves on intra- and interdepartmental committees, task forces, and teams as required.

Provides Educational Services

University of Iowa Health Care is a teaching institution; therefore, the clinical pharmacist is responsible for the education of students, fellow staff, other healthcare providers, and patients about drugs and their appropriate use. The clinical pharmacist shall serve as a role model for staff and students. The educational process crosses professional boundaries, as the clinical pharmacist interacts with and serves as an informational resource for other members of the health care team. The clinical pharmacist takes great care to instruct all patients about the need for and appropriate use of prescribed medications. Examples of educational services may include:

• Serving as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents.
• Presenting in-service educational programs to staff nurses, physicians, and other colleagues on the healthcare team.
• Serving as mentor and role model for other pharmacist practitioners within the department, particularly those who provide ambulatory care services.

Facilitates Transitions of Care

• The ambulatory care clinical pharmacist participates in the facilitation of patient transfer from the inpatient to the outpatient setting. Part of the responsibility involves the bedside delivery of discharge medications directly to the patient to provide appropriate medication education at the point of care to expedite the discharge process.

Complete and maintain compliance with all competencies and educational requirements.

Qualifications

Education Requirements:

• PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree or Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy

Required Qualifications:

• Current licensure by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners required upon hire.
• Immunization Certification.
• Basic Life Support Certification.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Job related experience with and/or commitment to service excellence.
• Professional experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

Desired Qualifications:

• One (1) year of applicable pharmacy experience is preferred. Prior work or student rotational experience may be considered as relevant.
• Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY1 Residency.
• Health system pharmacy experience.
• Specialty Pharmacy experience.
• Non-sterile compounding experience.
• Board certification in Ambulatory Care, Pharmacotherapy, Oncology, Certification in Specialty Pharmacy or other pertinent area.

Position and Application details:

• Resume and cover Letter are required to be considered for an interview; applicants must upload the documents and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission:
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.