Pharmacist Specialist, Nights

UPMC Mercy is hiring a Full-Time Pharmacist Specialist to support the Emergency Department and Pharmacy Operations!

This position will work 7 nights on and then 7 nights off. Preferred candidates will have completed PGY-1, PGY-2, or have equivalent hospital experience. 

In the Emergency Department, the Pharmacist is responsible for verifying medication orders for the department, recommending and preparing medications for intubation and procedural sedation, attending and assisting with traumas, burns, cardiac arrests, and internal alerts as a medication specialist, answering all medication-related questions from physicians and nurses, facilitating drug arrival from the central pharmacy, and responding to drug information requests. Additionally, the pharmacist is a member of the pharmacokinetic team and adjusts initial doses of vancomycin and aminoglycosides for new consults overnight. 

Purpose:
Pharmacist Specialists are responsible and accountable for the provision of safe, effective, and cost-effective pharmacotherapy. They provide support of specialized areas of centralized and decentralized medication-use systems to deliver optimal medication therapy. Pharmacist Specialists participate in all necessary aspects of the medication-use process and pharmacy operations and services. Specialized pharmacy services include but are not limited to areas of pharmacy practice including pharmacy informatics, research, sterile compounding, and medication safety, regulatory, and quality. Pharmacist specialists assist in the assessment, detection, mitigation, and prevention of medication-related adverse events and regulatory non-compliance. Pharmacists serve as resources and liaisons to other departments, health care team members, or external groups. They also support and/or lead patient care quality and regulatory compliance initiatives designed to improve medication-use processes or pharmacy practice. Pharmacists provide medication and practice-related education/training and actively serve as preceptors for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents. If applicable, participation in the quality initiatives is expected with the goal of improving clinical pharmacy services by monitoring processes, analyzing data, implementing interventions, and evaluating the effectiveness of those interventions.

Responsibilities:

• Interpret and evaluate physician orders and prescriptions to prepare, calculate, and dispense appropriate medication dosage forms for inpatient and outpatient treatment in accordance with the Pennsylvania Pharmacy Practice Act, Federal Drug Laws, and other regulatory organizations. Identify and report suspected adverse drug reactions accurately and in a timely manner. Sustain the formulary by minimizing non-formulary procurements, utilizing therapeutic interchange protocols, and promoting rational drug therapy selection. Review, maintain, and screen patient medication records and profiles for allergies, drug interactions and therapeutic duplications while entering orders and/or verifying medications. Organize daily operational duties and assist in the supervision of pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aides, student interns and other ancillary personnel involved in providing pharmaceutical care. Adhere to all regulatory requirements, professional standards of practice, and hospital quality management policies and procedures in providing pharmaceutical care. Adhere to all regulatory requirements, professional standards of practice, and hospital quality management policies and procedures in providing pharmaceutical care
• Communicate with physicians and nurses to ensure prompt clarification of orders that are unclear, illegible, or incomplete. Communicate with physicians and nurses to ensure prompt clarification of orders that are unclear, illegible, or incomplete. Provide drug information and/or educational programs to healthcare professionals and pharmacy students. Utilize all available computer systems and technologies in the provision of pharmaceutical care. Fill prescription orders in accordance with State and Federal regulations, utilizing technological resources and equipment. Prepare and dispense intravenous admixture solutions, as required, using aseptic technique in an accepted sterile product preparation area. 

• Graduate of an ACPE accredited College of Pharmacy
• B.S. degree in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree required
• Current licensure as a Pharmacist in practicing state
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in specialized area of pharmacy operations/services required
• Relevant training/certification in specialized area of pharmacy operations/services preferred
• Pharmacist specialists support pharmacy operations in specialized roles. Current pharmacist specialist positions include but are not limited to informatics, IT, inventory, research, medication safety, regulatory, quality, medication therapy management.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Pharmacist
• Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran