Clinical Pharmacist II

General Summary of Position

The Clinical Pharmacist II at MedStar Health collaborates and consults with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure safe, efficacious, and cost-effective prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring of medication. This role requires specialized drug knowledge, sound judgment, strong communication skills, self-direction, and motivation to positively impact patient outcomes. The Clinical Pharmacist II also participates in educational programs and performs duties consistent with a Clinical Pharmacist I role, including drug distribution, supervision, and non-dispensing functions.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Evaluates medication orders for accuracy and completeness, resolving discrepancies through direct communication with prescribers or nursing staff, and dispenses medications.
• Assesses feasibility, compounds, or verifies the compounding of extemporaneous products, recommending alternatives when appropriate.
• Prepares IV admixtures and compounds sterile products, including large volume parenterals, mini-bags, TPN solutions, and hazardous agents like cytotoxic drugs.
• Reviews patient profiles to identify contraindications and screens drugs/dosages to ensure appropriateness based on therapeutic intent and physiological functions. Participates in monitoring drug therapy in decentralized settings.
• Dispenses controlled substances and maintains perpetual inventory, ensuring adherence to legal requirements and departmental policies.
• Provides functional supervision for support personnel, monitoring work quality, organizing resources, prioritizing workload, and directing workflow to meet departmental standards.
• Enters and verifies computer entries and data for drug orders. In decentralized settings, may instruct patients and families on safe medication use and counsel them on potential adverse effects.
• Monitors drug therapy for assigned patients, taking appropriate action to optimize therapy, drug selection, and minimize adverse reactions, ensuring accurate dosages based on patient needs.
• Participates autonomously in patient care rounds, reviewing patient-specific data to evaluate status, medication needs, and develop therapeutic plans. Counsels and educates patients on their medications.
• Responds to evaluative and non-evaluative drug information requests from healthcare professionals.
• Ensures prescribers comply with clinical practice guidelines, drug policies, and third-party benefit procedures, minimizing non-formulary drug use and eliminating therapeutic duplication. Makes recommendations for alternative medications and dosage adjustments.
• Provides educational services for pharmacy technicians, clinical pharmacists, residents, nurses, prescribers, and other healthcare professionals.
• Maintains current knowledge by reading literature, attending seminars and conferences, and completing required continuing education credits.
• Contributes to established goals, adheres to policies, procedures, quality, and safety standards, aligning with MedStar SPIRIT Values. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and represents the department/hospital in community outreach efforts.
• Engages in multidisciplinary quality and service improvement teams.

Minimal Qualifications

Education

• Doctoral degree from an accredited college of Pharmacy required or an equivalent Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of Pharmacy required.

Experience

• PGY-1 or 3 years of direct patient care experience in a hospital setting required.

Licenses and Certifications

• PHARMD - Licensed Pharmacist in the state of practice required.
• Board certification required within one year of eligibility.

Key skills/competency

• Medication Management
• Patient Care
• Drug Therapy Monitoring
• Sterile Compounding
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Drug Information
• Pharmacist Supervision
• Regulatory Compliance
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Quality Improvement