Job Summary

Provides comprehensive, quality medication management for patients through application of pharmacy practice standards. Reviews physician orders and dispenses medications and pharmaceutical preparations to inpatient and outpatient areas of the hospital (if applicable). Maintains accurate patient profiles and monitors and helps manage drug therapies in order to achieve positive patient outcomes. Oversees pharmacy technicians and students and ensures accuracy of their work prior to dispensing. Adheres to Pharmacy Policies and Procedures and organizational goals and objectives.

Essential Functions

Prepares and dispenses medication orders per provider request according to established policies, procedures and protocols

1. Interprets medication orders (verbal and written) and maintains accurate, complete patient medication profiles.
2. Prepares and/or dispenses pharmaceuticals, including sterile and parenteral nutrition preparations safely and accurately using appropriate technique.
3. Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law.

Ensures safe, appropriate, cost-effective medication therapies for patients according to established policies, procedures, and protocols

1. Monitors drug therapy regimens for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, drug-laboratory test interactions, allergies, appropriateness of drug and dose, and therapeutic duplications.
2. Assists with pharmacokinetics consult service and drug dosing per organizational protocol.
3. Reviews/interprets culture and susceptibility data for antibiotic appropriateness and recommends changes, as needed.
4. Reads, extracts, and interprets information in patient charts accurately.
5. Detects and reports suspected adverse drug reactions and medication errors accurately and in a timely manner.
6. Sustains the formulary by minimizing nonformulary procurements, utilizing therapeutic substitution protocols and promotion rational medication therapy selection.
7. Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners; recommends evidence-based medication therapy regimens and monitoring plans and suggests appropriate, cost-effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff as needed.
8. Provides accurate, adequate, and timely drug information to the professional staff.
9. Documents all clinical activities and interventions accurately and completely.
10. Participates in the quality improvement and medication-use review activities of the department.
11. Participates in the development and presentation of orientation, education, and training programs to the pharmacy, medical, nursing and other staffs

Contributes to the quality and effective operation of the department

1. Supervises and directs pharmacy support personnel; verifies the daily activities of pharmacy technicians.
2. Completes and documents inspections of all assigned medication storage areas and identifies and replaces outdated and unusable drugs.
3. Answers the telephone, identifying self and department and directs calls to appropriate personnel and answers requests at the window.
4. Performs essential duties of the pharmacy director in his/her absence.

Other Duties

Other duties as assigned to support the department and health system organization

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education/Certifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy
• Current license in the state on New Jersey required

Minimum Work Experience

• Hospital experience preferred

Physical Demands Analysis:

• Frequently required/prolonged sitting, standing or walking
• Manual and finger dexterity to operate computer & equipment
• Walking, standing and lifting of materials/equip up to 60lbs
• Visual acuity required to read written and printed materials
• Work performed in climate-controlled, indoor setting