Full-time Director of Pharmacy presso Lexington Regional Health Center

Description

Lexington Regional Health Center

Title:  Director of Pharmacy Services

Effective Date: October 24, 2021

Supervisor:  Chief Financial Officer

Department:  Pharmacy

FLSA Status: Exempt

Principle duties and responsibilities

1. Responsible for the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of performance improvement and quality improvement activities assigned to Pharmacy Services. Defines problems, collects data, establishes facts and draws valid conclusions to develop effective improvement action plans consistent with recognized best practices. Responds to hospital quality initiative requests in which Pharmacy is a stakeholder.
2. Provides drug information to patients, health care providers and other health care professionals. Provides individual patient medication teaching on newly-prescribed medications and medication regimens. Provides drug information to clinical staff and healthcare providers on patient rounds, when initiating medication use interventions, in response to inquiries by clinical staff and via routine agenda items at the Medical Staff meetings. Educates pharmacy staff and other health care professionals regarding medication-related educational needs.
3. Develops policies and procedures that promote the effective, appropriate and safe use of drugs in all patient care activities in the health center.
4. Coordinates the operation of the Pharmacy Department, monitors activities of Pharmacy Services and takes appropriate action as necessary to ensure efficient and effective operation. Performs all aspects of pharmaceutical care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medication/medical errors.
5. Participates in various committees as assigned.
6. Coordinates pharmacy services with all other health center departments, including evaluation and implementation of recommendations from the health center’s committees that relate to pharmacy services.
7. Works closely with nursing staff, healthcare providers and other clinical department managers in addressing Pharmacy Services as they relate to medication management provided to all patients ranging from newborn to the elderly. Understands there are dosage variations between newborns, pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics and assures adequate resources are available to evaluate appropriateness of medication utilization in these populations. Provides an annual review of medication use for specific age/condition populations.
8. Interviews, recommends for hire, orients, trains, evaluates the performance of pharmacy personnel, and when necessary, disciplines and recommends discharge of subordinate personnel.
9. Prepares departmental reports on the activities of the pharmacy department for hospital administration as needed and acts as an advisory person to Administration regarding pharmacy issues.
10. Attends educational conferences and/or pharmacy professional meetings as financially appropriate to maintain professional licensure and keep abreast of current trends, best practices and changes in the pharmacy and healthcare fields.
11. Assumes role and responsibility of Staff Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician.
12. Ensure patients and visitors follow current infection control guidelines.
13. Participates in patient care activities that could include blood exposure and risk to bloodborne pathogens (eg: lacerations, handling of blood-contaminated specimens, etc.)
14. Responsible for safe bagging and disposal of biohazardous waste.
15. Responsible for following safe-injection practices.
16. Responsible for ensuring the environment meets appropriate governing body standards.
17. Maintains patient and staff safety through the use of patient safety tools (Teamstepps, Just Culture, etc.).
18. Regular attendance at the assigned work location is required.
19. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities

1. Knowledge of the effective, appropriate and safe use of drugs in order to optimize drug use in all patients as is typically acquired through the completion of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited school or college of Pharmacy.
2. Must hold a current active Pharmacist license issued by the state of Nebraska. Minimum registry of Registered Pharmacist. Must also obtain and maintain licensure as a Registered Pharmacist with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
3. Current Basic Life Support certification via American Heart Association required.
4. Completion of a hospital pharmacy residency preferred.
5. Knowledge of the specialized function of hospital pharmacy services, usually attained by completion of a hospital pharmacy residency and/or at least one year of hospital pharmacy experience.
6. Knowledge of medication use in all age groups, ranging from newborn to the geriatric population, obtained either in Pharmacy College education, experience or subsequent training.
7. Ability to implement comprehensive pharmacy services within the framework of the overall services offered by the health center, obtained through hospital pharmacy work experience.
8. Ability to apply appropriate management skills in order to successfully and efficiently manage the department, obtained through hospital pharmacy work experience
9. Significant knowledge of computer applications/programs to manage the pharmacy computer system application in collaboration with the hospital wide computer system as well as perform routine preparation and management of forms, databases, word documents, tables and charts.
10. Ability to complete reports and correspondence at a professional level.
11. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to protected and sensitive information.
12. Ability to understand, speak and write English required.
13. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
14. Ability to interact with all who are in contact with the Pharmacy for any reason, both internally and externally.
15. Ability to immediately respond to common inquiries and complaints from patients, employees and regulatory agencies.
16. Successful completion of required knowledge and training of standard precaution and transmission protocols and when to apply during principle duties and responsibilities.

Working conditions

1. Works in a well lighted and ventilated work area with minimal exposure to excessive dust, temperature, etc.
2. Work environment includes frequent exposure to noise and occasionally to potentially hazardous and toxic substances up to approximately 30% of work time.
3. Required to spend up to approximately 30% of work time seated to complete paperwork/computer work; 70% of the time is spent providing patient care and other pharmacy related tasks. Shelves in the department are required to be stocked 3 times per week. Shelf heights range from 6 inches from the ground up to 81 inches high. A 12 inch step stool is located in the department to be used to reach the highest shelves. 20 pound boxes, up to 5% of work time, are required to be stocked from floor to waist level in department and negligible weights up to 1-2 pounds are placed onto higher shelves. A medication cart is used to distribute medications to the hospital, requiring up to 38 pounds of horizontal force to push over thresholds into rooms and 25 pounds of horizontal force in the hallways. Medication cart is used up to 200 feet in distance from pharmacy area for distribution. If worker is required to transfer a patient for better positioning, 35 pounds is required to be lifted for transferring. Worker frequently walks distance of 500 feet to clinic location to transport small quantities of medications and check refrigerator/freezer temperatures.
4. Exposure to chemicals and other hazards related to patient care. Appropriate safety precautions, such as safety glasses, gloves, etc. must be used to minimize risk of injury.
5. Direct exposure to body substances during patient care activities and on contaminated surfaces such as patient equipment.

Management responsibilities

1.  Responsible for Pharmacy Supervisor, Staff Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Students. 

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required"