General Summary

Under general supervision, interprets and evaluates physicians' prescriptions to provide prescribed medications and other pharmaceuticals as needed for optimal and desired patient care according to professional standards and practices. Oversees pharmacy support personnel. Works with insurance companies/third party payers to resolve reimbursement and eligibility issues for patients. Orders pharmaceuticals. Conducts bi-annual inventory of stock. Assesses pharmacy performance. Trains students and hospital staff. Advises/consults with patients and families, medical and nursing staff.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Provides ambulatory-related pharmaceutical care to individual patients. Promotes optimal drug therapy and safe use of medications (including OTCs and herbals) by applying medication use standards to individual patients. Specific processes include: assessment of patient-specific data to evaluate the patient's status and medication needs; prescription management ( and order entry); medication preparation and dispensing; patient/family medication counseling; the prevention, detection, and resolution of drug-related problems.
• Manages the pharmacy and directs support staff in absence of supervisor. Acts in accordance with the mission, vision, and values of the Medical Center and Pharmacy Department. Maintains established departmental, state, federal and local laws, policies and procedures and generally accepted pharmacy practices.
• Works with insurance/third party payers to ensure payment. Researches the customer's ability to pay for the prescription instead of them being paid from money from the GAP for High-Risk funds.
• Provides educational services including professional development and training to pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, pharmacy technicians, nurses, physicians, other health care professionals.
• Enhances customer relations and satisfaction. Interacts with internal and external customers of the Medical Systems in a respectful, courteous, and tactful manner to foster the delivery of quality patient and employee services.
• Engages in practice enhancements and professional development. Demonstrates a commitment to expanding his/her knowledge base and clinical skills in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences, or pharmaceutical care services, managed care pharmacy, and/or practice management.
• Provides timely drug information in a professional manner to the public and health care professionals through accurate interpretation of appropriate medical and pharmaceutical references. May include provision of services in a formalized drug or poison information center.
• Maintains medication distribution and control systems. Includes appropriate management of inventory control systems. Involves development and ongoing maintenance of medication use systems designed for the storage, preparation, dispensing, distribution and administration of medications. Participates in performance improvement activities. Possesses knowledge and can apply and suggest improvements to established policies and procedures and operational processes.
• Manages care, quality, and costs. Involves the systematic and continuous process of evaluating and improving the utilization of medications in a patient population in order to enhance the quality, safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the medication use process.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient populations(s) served. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs. Provides the care needed as described in the unit/area/department policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as required.