Outpatient Pharmacist

Job Summary

Under direction and subject to state and federal laws and regulations and professional practice standards governing pharmacy in California, the Outpatient Pharmacist selects, prepares, and distributes drugs, chemicals, solutions, and materials for medical and scientific use. This role involves functional direction of supportive personnel, clinical judgments for medication utilization and administration in cooperation with medical and nursing staff, and providing patient counseling and medication education services.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare encompasses Primary Care, Specialty Care, and Inpatient Pharmacy services across three hospitals: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospital & Clinics, O’Connor Hospital, and Saint Louise Regional Hospital. Outpatient pharmacies are strategically located throughout Santa Clara County in various clinics and facilities, alongside centralized outpatient pharmacy services like Purchasing, Call Center, and Central Fill. Candidates must possess Ambulatory/Outpatient/Retail Pharmacy experience as a practicing Pharmacist.

Learn more about Santa Clara Valley Healthcare at: scvmc.scvh.org | och.scvh.org | slrh.scvh.org | esa.santaclaracounty.gov

Typical Tasks

• Directs and participates in the stocking, inspection, storage, preparation, dispensing, and administration of medications in the patient care area.
• Functionally directs assigned personnel and operations within the pharmacy area.
• Prepares required reports on section activities.
• Ensures strict aseptic techniques are followed for sterile solutions and records are properly completed.
• Advises patients on drug use, proper storage, common side effects, and drug interactions.
• Monitors drug therapy safety and efficacy via computerized medication profiles.
• Participates in managing medical emergencies, adverse drug interactions/reactions, and acute/chronic disease states.
• Contributes to the education of healthcare practitioners.
• Provides drug information to prescribers and other healthcare staff, assisting in drug therapy selection and adjustment.
• Acts as pharmacist-in-charge when designated.
• Participates in Pharmacy/hospital committees as required.
• Initiates and participates in drug use reviews, quality assurance programs, patient care audits, clinical drug investigations, and system development for service improvement.
• Develops and utilizes systems for cost-effective fiscal management and reimbursement.
• Performs responsibilities and duties of a professional pharmacist as defined by the Business and Professional Code.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards

Possession of an academic degree in Pharmacy from an accredited College of Pharmacy and a valid license to practice as a pharmacist in the State of California. Sufficient education, training, and experience to perform the typical tasks and demonstrate the following knowledge and abilities:

Knowledge Of

• Prescription and non-prescription drugs and drug products, including indications, efficacy, dosage, mechanisms of action, fate and disposition, major contraindications, and potential side effects.
• Influence of patient's age, sex, concomitant disease states, concurrent drug therapy, foods, and diagnostic procedures on drug activity and disposition.
• Physiology, anatomy, pathology, chemistry, and mathematics as they relate to pharmacy practice.
• Major reference sources for drug information and ingestion questions.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing methods.
• Legislation governing pharmacy practice and hospital pharmacy services/operations as they relate to pharmacy services.

Ability To

• Identify, achieve, maintain, and use competencies relevant to the area of practice.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and provide functional direction to para-professional personnel.
• Effectively counsel patients regarding medication use, possible side effects, and storage.
• Effectively advise and consult with medical, nursing, and other personnel regarding drug substance properties.
• Use and evaluate information from appropriate reference sources and clinical literature.

Key Skills/Competency

• Pharmacy practice
• Drug dispensing
• Patient counseling
• Medication education
• Drug interactions
• Aseptic techniques
• Quality assurance
• Fiscal management
• California pharmacy law
• Clinical judgment