Pharmacy Clinical Specialist

About the Role at Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital

As a Pharmacy Clinical Specialist at Houston Methodist, you will be instrumental in delivering optimal pharmacotherapy to patients, ensuring safe, efficacious, and cost-effective medication use. This role involves comprehensive medication regimen reviews, supporting pharmacy-managed protocols, and actively participating in formulary processes and medication reconciliation. You will also play a key role in educating pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff, while precepting pharmacy students and residents. Join a culture dedicated to quality and safety, contributing to innovative, personalized pharmaceutical care.

Qualifications

To qualify for the Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for required certifications.
• Experience: Must have one of the following:
  • Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency training program or equivalent experience (three years of pharmacy experience per residency year).
  • ASHP-accredited post-graduate year two (PGY2) or fellowship preferred.
  • Three years of clinical practice experience.
• Preceptor Status: Meets Houston Methodist standards of an ASHP-Qualified Residency Preceptor within one year of employment.

Licenses and Certifications

Required:

• PHRM - Pharmacist - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (Texas Pharmacist License or eligible)
• PPC - Pharmacist Preceptor Cert - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
• PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association

Preferred:

• IV Certification - Intravenous certification (Various) or Board of Pharmacy Specialty certification

Skills and Abilities

Candidates should possess the following key skills and competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to safely perform assigned duties through ongoing assessments.
• Sufficient proficiency in English (speaking, reading, writing) for patient and employee safety.
• Effective communication with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers, with a customer service focus.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills, ensuring excellent customer service.
• Professional and technical competence in drug selection, evaluation, utilization, and distribution for all patient groups (neonate to geriatric).
• Proficient application of rational drug therapy principles, including evidence-based guidelines and innovative clinical practices.
• Knowledge of operational pharmacy practice and experience providing fundamental clinical pharmacy services and direct patient care interactions.
• Competence in pharmacy-related research and active credentialing with HM Academic Institute, if applicable.

Essential Functions

People Essential Functions

• Promote a positive work environment and contribute to a dynamic, team-focused unit.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals for problem resolution and patient-specific goals.
• Serve as a rotation preceptor for pharmacy students and residents, and a mentor for staff pharmacists.

Service Essential Functions

• Process orders/requests accurately and efficiently, verifying drug appropriateness.
• Exercise good judgment in patient care decisions and document outcomes.
• Provide patient-specific and non-patient-specific drug information support.
• Actively contribute as a member of one or more Medical Staff Committees.

Quality/Safety Essential Functions

• Collaborate to manage patient drug therapy for maximal effectiveness and minimal side effects.
• Provide fundamental to advanced pharmaceutical care in designated practice areas.
• Participate in quality management initiatives such as medication use evaluations and adverse drug reaction reporting.

Finance Essential Functions

• Contribute to pharmacoeconomically sound medication therapy by upholding formulary standards.
• Independently manage time and prioritize tasks within the specialty area.

Growth/Innovation Essential Functions

• Present in-services and develop educational materials for various staff members.
• Seek opportunities for continual professional development as a Pharmacy Clinical Specialist.
• Contribute to the design, analysis, and reporting of quality improvement program findings.
• Participate in research projects, submitting scholarly work for publication or presentation.

Key Skills/Competency

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Pharmacotherapy Management
• Medication Regimen Review
• Formulary Management
• Patient Education
• Pharmacy Preceptorship
• Quality Improvement
• Drug Information
• Protocol Management
• Medication Reconciliation