Clinical Pharmacist - Oncology

Clinical Pharmacist - Oncology

Clinical pharmacists at MercyOne are integral to optimizing pharmacotherapy regimens, ensuring safe patient care practices, and advocating for evidence-based medicine within interdisciplinary healthcare teams. As decentralized team members, you will conduct daily medication therapy reviews, consults, and other clinical services for patients within designated areas, specifically focusing on oncology. This role contributes directly to the pharmacy’s mission of improving health outcomes in our community, adhering to established policies, procedures, protocols, standards, and regulatory requirements.

Area(s) of coverage will be assigned based on experience, training, and competency, with a rotating day and evening shift schedule, including every third weekend.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

• Appropriately assesses patient data to identify medication-related problems through profile reviews, pharmacy consults, and interdisciplinary rounding.
• Participates in medical emergencies and other formal alerts such as trauma, stroke, sepsis, and STEMI as required.
• Reviews and interprets provider orders to assure that the drug, dosage form, and dose are appropriate for the patient's age, weight, and comorbidities. Checks for drug incompatibilities and allergies, taking appropriate action when necessary.
• Consults with providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals involved in patient care regarding pharmacotherapy optimization to achieve optimal patient outcomes across the continuum of care.
• Provides accurate and timely responses to other healthcare professionals and patients regarding drug information questions and facility medication use policies to assure safe and appropriate use of medications.
• Serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students/residents and assists with orientation, instruction, and training of pharmacy students, interns, pharmacy technicians, residents, pharmacists, and other health professionals.
• Assists nursing with medication administration (oral, injectable, continuous infusion titration) depending on work assignments and in accordance with regulatory and hospital policies.
• Documents patient care activities including therapy plan, monitoring, and follow-up in the electronic medical record as per departmental guidelines.
• Responsible for the completion of all assigned work during the shift, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety through quality control checks, identifying and reporting medication errors and near misses, identifying process improvements, and ensuring appropriate documentation.
• Maintains current awareness and adheres to State and Federal laws, regulations, pharmacy policies, standard operating procedures, formulary, and pertinent clinical practice guidelines while providing pharmaceutical care to patients.

Education and Experience

A Pharmacy degree (BS or Pharm.D.) from an ACPE approved college of pharmacy is required. Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency or 3 years of hospital experience is necessary. Successful completion of a PGY-2 residency or 3 years of experience in the relevant clinical practice area (oncology) is preferred. You must be licensed, or eligible for licensure, as a pharmacist in Iowa, and obtain licensure within 3 months of hire. BLS certification is required within 3 months of hire, and ACLS and/or PALS certification within 3 months of hire based on practice area(s). BPS Board Certification (BCPS or specialty board certification in the relevant clinical practice area) is expected within 2 years of hire or 10 years of experience in the relevant clinical practice area. Other certifications may be requested by direct supervisors/managers. Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter abuse training for child and dependent adult abuse is required within three (3) months of hire.

Knowledge

Achieves and maintains an adequate knowledge base including pharmacology, therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic drug monitoring, and literature evaluation to provide clinical services for all patient populations and age groups served. Provides clinical services as required by policy and procedure.

Skills

• Effective communication with patients and other healthcare professionals.
• A high level of analytic ability to research and evaluate drug information, interpret patient-specific information, and resolve medication-related problems.
• Displays enthusiasm for teaching and is proficient in all preceptor roles (instructing, modeling, coaching, or facilitating).
• Proficient in the use of computers, software for pharmacy and healthcare applications, specific pharmacy practice technology, and equipment.
• Efficiently and adequately documents clinical activities and interventions such as consults, patient education, and other patient-specific information as defined by policy and procedure.
• Ability to utilize problem-solving skills to promote a positive work environment and interpersonal relationships, while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.

Key skills/competency

• Oncology Pharmacotherapy
• Medication Therapy Management
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Patient Care Assessment
• Drug Information
• Pharmacokinetics
• Regulatory Compliance
• Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
• Preceptorship