Network Director of Pharmacy Automation and Informatics in Valhalla, New York at Westchester Medical Center

Job Summary: The Network Director of Pharmacy Automation and Informatics is responsible for the development, building, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of all aspects of pharmacy-related IT applications, clinical information systems, and computerized pharmacy systems, software, and hardware. The scope and complexity of the position require successful incumbents to possess a diverse and highly developed skillset including but not limited to: time-management, project-management, communication, creativity, vision, teamwork, management, leadership, clinical knowledge base/skills, mentorship, change management, scholarship, and teaching.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees Information Systems resources across the network to support application implementation, upgrades, and maintenance. Responsible for pharmacy medication database maintenance; pharmacy informatics operations support; policy and procedure development; software customization; upgrade planning, implementation and testing; database management and mining; training systems; and development, testing, maintenance and troubleshooting of interfaces between PIS software, and other clinical information systems, and various pharmacy automation technologies.
• Specializes or is knowledgeable in the total medication process, from ordering to administration, and is responsible for effective process design, development, and implementation of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Clinical Decision Support.
• Responsible for implementing, testing, supporting, maintaining, updating the Pharmacy Information Systems, Pharmacy software interfaces, and connectivity with pharmacy automation systems such as unit-based dispensing cabinets, smart pumps, and point-of-care bedside medication scanning technologies.
• Evaluates and monitors the EMR system set up, enhancements, and updates in its downstream effects on pharmacy automation.
• Assures existing systems are processing effectively, optimally, and accurately according to objectives.
• Participates in development, monitoring, and evaluation of decision support for continuous improvement, particularly for medications.
• Oversees and updates pharmacy chargemaster and other pharmacy financial systems to accurately reflect appropriate costs of medications.
• Works collaboratively with Medication Safety Officer to evaluate data from reported actual and near medication variances (errors), due directly or indirectly to pharmacy systems/automation, to elicit patterns and ascertain priorities for appropriate systems changes, upgrades, or lastly, recommendation for migration to another system platform if available.
• Contributeto to and supports strategic planning, event detection and proactive efficiency assessments to help create a system-based approach for a safe and efficient medication dispensing process.
• Provides accurate reports and analysis to assist the department in improvement initiatives, allocation/re-distribution of resources, and/or multidisciplinary clinical workflow improvements.
• Serves as a pharmacy department liaison, with the various Information systems departments, responsible for standardization of medication ordering, processing, and dispensing practices, as it pertains to pharmacy information and automation systems, across all pharmacy locations.
• Partners with clinicians to identify and facilitate advanced clinical decision support implementation within the electronic medical record in order to meet clinical goals.
• Responsible for order set management: Development and maintenance of overall principles for safe design and use of order sets, with a focus on medications. Development and maintenance of standard order set clinical content, standards, patient safety principles, and evidence based practice guidelines.
• Promotes effective communication concerning medication use applications and Assumes responsibility for the timely dissemination of information as related to pharmacy automation and technology.
• Ensures that medication related systems support compliance with federal and state regulatory bodies, accreditation standards, Medicaid/Medicare Services, and recognized pharmacy practice standards.
• Provides support to medical staff and allied health professionals for drug utilization data gathering and analysis.
• Provides support for internal and external audits, billing and financial analysis.
• Supports resolution of all general computer related issues within the Pharmacy Network.
• Helps develops and facilitate the implementation of goals and objectives for the advancement of automation technology in the Pharmacy Network.
• In conjunction with the pharmacy leadership team, provides assistance to the institution’s committees and clinical leaders to ensure that medication‐related systems support interoperability and transportability of clinical information while maintaining patient safety and confidentiality.
• Participates actively with the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and other groups/committees as requested by the AVP, Regional Pharmacy Services or designee and provides drug data analysis for these groups/committees.
• Conducts practice‐related projects, clinical research, or pharmacy CQI initiatives using effective project management skills.
• Responsible for staff scheduling, supervision, orientation, training and competency assessment.
• Participates in Pharmacy Network strategic plan development and execution of assigned goals.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Experience: 6 years of experience as a pharmacist in a hospital setting. 10 years of pharmacy automation, pharmacy computer system applications, or information technology experience, required.

Education: B.S. Pharm or Pharm D. required, PGY-2 Pharmacy Informatics Residency or Master's Degree in Health Informatics is preferred

Licenses / Certifications: Must maintain NYS Pharmacy License, Clinical applications certification or equivalent, required,

Other: Strong knowledge of hospital pharmacy and related Pharmacy applications/eMAR. Capable of working with the organization’s leadership, clinical teams, and IT systems related to all clinicians and processes. Knowledge of leading projects and directing the efforts of multiple people. Able to understand clinical workflows and patient-care oriented processes. Has a good foundation of information technologies in a clinical environment. Additional IT or Clinical certifications or credentialing is preferred. Ability to work in a complex team environment and to collaborate with both external and internal professionals and other customers. Familiarity with various software, equipment and technology necessary to provide pharmacy services. Able to demonstrate skills in prioritization, problem solving, team building, decision making, time management and strategic planning. Knowledge of pharmacy services within an acute care environment of an integrated health system and an ever changing environment. Knowledge of laws and regulation regarding pharmacy. Knowledge of external medication related quality metrics. Planning and problem solving. Developing goals and objectives, and establishing priorities.

Special Requirements: