Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) is the pharmacist legally and professionally responsible for the overall operation, compliance, and clinical integrity of the home infusion and specialty pharmacy. The PIC ensures safe, effective, and compliant medication-use processes; oversees sterile and non-sterile compounding; leads pharmacy staff; and collaborates with prescribers, nurses, payers, and patients to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in accordance with federal, state, and accrediting body requirements.
Responsibilities: Patient Care & Consultation:- Perform comprehensive medication reviews and offer patient consultations to optimize drug therapy management.
- Assess patients' clinical condition by reviewing lab results and vital signs to determine the suitability of home infusion therapy.
- Collaborate with physicians and healthcare providers to develop individualized therapy plans.
- Educate patients and caregivers on correct medication administration, storage, potential side effects, and possible complications.
- Continuously monitor and evaluate patient progress, making necessary adjustments to treatment protocols in partnership with the healthcare team.
- Ensure pharmacist review of all prescriptions for appropriateness, dosing, indication, allergies, interactions, required labs, monitoring parameters, and duration of therapy.
- Oversee clinical protocols for home infusion and specialty therapies (e.g., anti-infectives, biologics, immunoglobulins, nutrition support).
- Oversee drug information, therapeutic interchange/substitution processes, and formulary management.
Infusion Medication Management: - Supervise the preparation, dispensing, and delivery of home infusion medications, ensuring adherence to all legal and regulatory standards.
- Accurately compound and label sterile products as needed, following strict safety and quality protocols.
- Ensure timely and precise medication therapy management to prevent delays or errors in patient care.
- Ensure equipment qualification, maintenance, calibration, and documentation.
- Ensure proper storage, handling, chain of custody, and cold-chain management.
Leadership and Staff Management:- Provide leadership, mentorship, and supervision to pharmacists, technicians, interns, and support staff.
- Ensure appropriate staffing, scheduling, training, and competency validation.
- Conduct or support performance evaluations, coaching, and corrective actions.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, professionalism, and patient-centered service.
Collaboration & Communication:- Work closely with home health nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to coordinate patient care.
- Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and contribute insights during case discussions about therapy regimens and patient progress.
- Address therapy-related concerns or complications and offer professional recommendations to the healthcare team.
Regulatory Compliance & Safety: - Serve as the designated PIC per state Board of Pharmacy regulations and maintain all required licenses and registrations.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations (e.g., FDA, DEA, USP , CMS Conditions of Participation, HIPAA).
- Maintain accreditation readiness and compliance (e.g., ACHC).
- Oversee policies, procedures, and SOPs; ensure timely review, approval, staff training, and documentation.
- Act as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, auditors, and inspectors; lead corrective action plans.
- Ensure medication safety systems, error prevention strategies, adverse event reporting, and continuous quality improvement.
- Lead quality assurance activities, including audits, KPI tracking, root cause analysis, and process improvement initiatives.
- Review and trend medication errors, near misses, complaints, recalls, and adverse drug reactions.
- Ensure recall management processes are in place and executed effectively.
Inventory & Supply Management:- Manage the inventory of medications and supplies for home infusion, ensuring proper stock levels and quality standards.
- Coordinate with vendors to order necessary medications and supplies.
- Oversee the safe and proper disposal of medications and hazardous materials.
Education and Licensing:- PharmD or Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from an accredited institution.
- Current and unrestricted state pharmacist license in good standing
- Current immunizations certification (if required by state law)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR certification - not required
Experience:- At least 5 years of experience working as a pharmacist.
- Preferred experience in home infusion and/or specialty pharmacy.
- Experience with sterile compounding is preferred but not required.
Desired Skills:- Prior PIC or pharmacy management experience.
- Experience with accreditation surveys and regulatory inspections.
- In-depth knowledge of pharmacology, medication management, and infusion therapies.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interactions with patients, caregivers, and healthcare teams.
- Ability to evaluate patient needs and modify therapy plans based on clinical assessments.
- Proficiency in pharmacy management software such as CareTend and tools for medication tracking, dispensing, and maintaining patient records.
- Strong attention to detail, along with excellent organizational and time management abilities.
