Pharmacist Infusion Services

Position Summary

Work involves the oversight of all aspects of clinic pharmacy operations in a hematology/oncology clinic setting including dispensing medications and intravenous solutions to patients for all types of chemotherapy and ancillary treatments; providing comprehensive pharmaceutical care to adult oncology patients; providing patient counseling and drug therapy monitoring to ensure patients receive safe, efficacious and cost-effective medication therapy. Provides a quality level of comprehensive clinical pharmaceutical services demonstrating sound judgment based upon knowledge and application of professional, departmental, and organizational principles and standards.  Demonstrates an ability to coordinate subordinate activities by providing direction and guidance concerning the operational activities of the department. Work is performed in accordance with protocols, internal guidelines/standards, and Board of Pharmacy regulatory requirements.

Position Responsibilities

• Provides pharmacy services and care to all patients serviced by an outpatient oncology pharmacy area.
• Develops clinical pharmacy standards related to oncology pharmacy according to the organizational policies/procedures for ensuring the quality of medication therapy.
• Monitors therapy and consults with other professional providers, provides education services to all clients and healthcare team, provides accurate and comprehensive patient specific drug information to patients/families, and works to continually improve clinical care and systems
• Performs all distributive functions of the department; physician order interpretation, order entry into EMR, therapy monitoring, IV admixture functions, checking of technician activity, monitoring delivery systems, computer operation and stock control.
• Assists pharmacy leadership in support of department clinical functions including, but not limited:  ADR, DUE, P&T, on-going clinical staff education, and statistical analysis of Clinical Effectiveness against Cost-to-Benefit Ratio.
• Counsels, and educates hospital/clinic and customers on medication information in accordance with department policies and procedures and all applicable Federal and State Laws for ambulatory clinical services to ensure delivery of safe, efficient and cost-effective medication therapy.
• Communicates accurately and confidently to patients, physicians, and other medical staff.
• Monitors patients under approved prescriptive authority protocols.
• Works collaboratively with all pharmacy and ancillary staff to meet financial and customer service goals such as medication cost and inventory control, efficient workflow, insurance billing, and controlled substance controls.
• Facilitates accurate, safe, efficient and timely dispensing of medications in accordance with State Board of Pharmacy regulations by overseeing and directing the workflow of Pharmacy Assistants and Pharmacy Technicians in the absence of an Ambulatory Pharmacist – Lead or Supervisor. 
• Enters and/or verifies medication orders received from providers into the EMR.
• Completes and applies appropriate package labeling to medications dispensed from the pharmacy. 
• Handles customer service issues in the absence of Supervisor/Manager.
• Cultural Sensitivity and Competence:  Demonstrates proper use of communication tools/materials for effective communication and understands how the culture(s) of patient populations can affect communication, collaboration and the provision of care, treatment and services.  Patient Population Served:  Demonstrates knowledge and proper skills associated with the department’s defined specific populations served.
• Demonstrates ability to document clinical activities and interventions such as consults, patient teachings and other patient specific information as defined by policy and procedure. 
• Interprets medication orders and/or prescriptions for drug interactions, appropriate drug selection and appropriateness. Accurately enters / verifies the order or prescription into the computer system, labels, and dispenses medications in a timely manner.
• Verifies and checks medications prepared by other pharmacy personnel. 
• Communicates drug information to patients and health professionals. Resolves drug related problems by consulting with other health care professionals to achieve appropriate patient outcomes. Unclear orders written by a licensed provider are clarified with the licensed provider. Assists the licensed provider in appropriate drug selection and therapeutic regimens.
• Achieves and maintains an adequate basic knowledge base to provide clinical services for all age groups served. Provides basic clinical services as required by policy and procedure. 
• Maintains a working knowledge of automated systems
• Responsible for technician activities, performance, provides direction and guidance as needed.  
• Participates in the orientation, instruction and training of pharmacy students and interns, pharmacy technicians, residents, pharmacists and other health professionals.
• Performs duties in documented accordance with requirements of all regulatory and governing bodies.
• Completing mandatory education from a system and department level as appropriate. 
• Provides patient counseling and drug information and documentation as appropriate.
• Completes other duties as they are assigned within the scope of their licensure as requested.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor of Science or PharmD from an accredited school of pharmacy
• Registered Pharmacist with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in good standing-(RPH)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification issued by the American Heart Association
• 5 years of experience in Pharmacy in lieu of Board Certification
• 2 years of oncology or infusion pharmacy experience (preferred)

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an 881-bed quaternary care academic medical center that is a joint venture between Baylor College of Medicine and St. Luke’s Health. Located in the Texas Medical Center, the hospital is the home of the Texas Heart® Institute, a cardiovascular research and education institution founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD. The hospital was the first facility in Texas and the Southwest designated a Magnet® hospital for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, receiving the award five consecutive times. Baylor St. Luke’s also has three community emergency centers offering adult and pediatric care for the Greater Houston area. 

St. Luke’s Health, now part of CommonSpirit Health formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health, has been serving our community since 1954. Operating 137 hospitals and more than 1,000 care sites across 21 states, making our services accessible to nearly 1 in 4 U.S. residents. We proudly provide a vast array of services that help us keep our community safe and healthy.