Staff Pharmacist

DESCRIPTION: Responsible for helping the Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) with the pharmaceutical services of the Center, technically and administratively.  Maintain pharmaceutical inventory, review patient medication records, monitors for possible drug interactions and/or drug allergies and counsels patients as per OBRA 90 (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990).  Responsible for complying with all state and federal laws pertaining to the practice of pharmacy.

Strives to assure cooperation between all Center service sites; assures that personnel conform to the Center’s personnel and operations policies and procedures, e.g., reporting to work on time and/or reporting their absences to their immediate supervisors in a timely manner.

SUPERVISION: Directly supervised by the Director of Pharmacy.

SUPERVISES: Certified/Registered Pharmacy Technicians, and Relief Pharmacist personnel in absence of the Pharmacist in Charge.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires intermittent sitting and standing.  May require moving up to 25 pounds.  Requires the use of office equipment such as calculator, typewriter, computer, copier, etc.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interprets physician prescriptive orders.
• Verifies authenticity of orders.
• Helps PIC supervise and ensure that pharmacy drug rooms at each clinic are properly stocked and maintained with necessary medications as per formulary.
• Supervises the teaching of the pharmacy tech and/or relief personnel concerning the proper procedures and handling of all pharmacy drugs.
• Maintains a training manual for the tech as required by state law.
• Supervises all pre-packing and the enclosing of a label which has all the required information on it by state and federal law.
• Maintains a pre-packing log as required by law.
• Assumes the overall responsibility for the rules established by GCHC including the pharmacy procedure manual and accountability records of the drugs used or dispensed from the facilities, as required by state statutes and Federal laws.
• Continually seeks to provide the highest quality of medications at the lowest price, by checking the prices of various vendors from the designated wholesaler.
• Provides a monthly report on the financial status of the pharmacy department which includes such items as how may prescriptions were filled by the clinic and average cost per prescription.
• Reviews the patients’ medication record to identify; clinically significant drug interactions, therapeutic duplication, drug disease contraindications, drug allergy interactions, incorrect drug dosage or duration of drug treatment and clinical abuse and misuse.
• Maintains patient medication profiles and documents patients counseling on all new prescription.
• Maintains a counseling log.
• Provides literature and counseling to patients concerning their medication as per OBRA 90.
• Accurately fills and dispenses all prescription (directs the transcribing, typing, filling, labeling, checking and dispensing).
• Helps PIC in direct price changes of medication for computer input.
• Helps PIC in maintaining prescription records of all drugs dispensed.
• Helps PIC in assuring that pharmacy is in compliance with all State and Federal regulations.
• Helps PIC in maintaining TX Dept. of Health Sexually Transmitted Disease stock medication and assured their stock is used for STD clients only.
• Performs duties that contribute to ultimate quality patient care and safely.
• Consults with Medical Providers about questions concerning medications.
• Helps in insuring that a pharmacy procedure Manual is maintained and periodically reviewed that contains the rules and regulations for the system of control and distribution of drugs used and dispensed by the clinic.
• Helps in providing information on new drugs to staff and Providers and acts as a liaison between drug company rep and the Center.
• Participates in Interdepartmental i.e. Pharmacy & Therapeutic, Quality Improvement/Risk Management meetings etc.
• Responsible for the security of the pharmacy.
• Helps in maintaining a file of Pharmacy Personnel in-service education.
• Helps in supervising computer file levels and purge as necessary.
• Helps in rotating and checking drugs periodically to insure medications are not expired.
• Helps in disposing all drugs that cannot be returned according to law.
• Returns controlled drugs to DEA for disposal or disposes of them according to DEA procedures.
• Performs drug inventory as required.
• Helps in preparing reports concerning the dispensing of drugs an associated cost.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Graduate of an accredited College of Pharmacy.
• Current license from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
• Must comply with State and organizational continuing medical education requirements.
• Must have a current BLS Certificate.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must carry out the duties of a Pharmacist as defined by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
• Must maintain patient confidentiality.
• Must be absolutely exact in all pharmacy service oriented tasks involved with patient care safety.
• Must be able to communicate with patients and staff members both verbally and in writing.
• Must have management skills and be current in the theory and practice of good supervisory techniques.
• Must be familiar with inventory control and accountability.
• Working knowledge of law and pharmaceutical practice and principles.