Clinical Pharmacist - Oncology

Department Overview

The purpose of this position is to provide the services of a licensed pharmacist which includes the responsibility for the safe and proper distribution and use of medications in inpatients and outpatients who range in age from neonates, infants less than one year of age, children and adolescents ages 10-18, adults ages 19-65 and the elderly over age 65.

This position is to function at higher decision making and accountability levels regarding medication therapy, pro-actively affecting medication use by making recommendations at the time prescribing decisions are being made or, in some cases, making independent decisions about medication therapy in cooperation with other healthcare team members. Additional services provided include facilitation of medication reconciliation, discharge counseling, and medication delivery through coordination of care from admission to discharge. The

pharmacist must possess strong communication skills for patient education and work collaboratively with inpatient and outpatient interdisciplinary teams including but not limited to providers, nurses, case workers, pharmacists, and technicians, as well as, the teaching and preceptive component of students, interns and/or residents.

This is a flexible model where coordination of care for the patient as he/she transitions from one aspect of the medication use system to another is integrated with traditionally centralized functions, such as order entry/verification. This coordinated care model will continue to evolve as part of an integrated decentralized patient care practice. This position may be responsible for rotating through several work sites which may include, but not be limited to Research Pharmacy and Inpatient Adult/Pediatric Hematology/Oncology units. 

Function/Duties of Position

• Identifies, resolves and documents complex therapeutic problems, demonstrating advanced knowledge and application of this knowledge to a specific patient population.

• Interprets and evaluates prescriber's orders and for accuracy, completeness and appropriateness. Documents activities of clinical decision or medication distribution issues that are not in line with the standard of practice, require follow-up, or continued monitoring/evaluation. Verify the accuracy and appropriateness of medications prepared and dispensed from the pharmacy.

• Assists in the reconciliation of medications, education of patients regarding their home medication regimens, and coordination of the discharge medication plan with the interdisciplinary team. Documents activities in the patient medical record.

• Monitors therapeutic response and adverse effects of medications to guide drug therapy. Consults with provider when questions or problems are identified and documents activities in the patient medical record. Appropriately reports all adverse drug reactions, drug defects, and medication errors. 

• Responds accurately to requests for drug information from prescriber's, nurses, patients and patient's families; independently reviews and interprets the literature and applies this information to specific patient care situations.

• Assists in the development of treatment guidelines to be used in patients with specific diagnosis. Documents activities in the patient medical record, pharmacy monitoring profile, drug use evaluation data collection or adverse drug reaction reporting program. 

• Other Duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• A current Pharmacist’s license issued by the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy.

• BS in Pharmacy or Pharm.D. PLUS Practice Residency/Equivalent Experience or Specialist Certification (BCPS, BCOPS, etc)

• Inpatient hospital pharmacy practice: Ability to meet the pharmaceutical care needs of the following patient care types: Acute care, psychiatric, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, long-term care, obstetric, oncology, chemically dependent, HIV, home care, hospice.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Enforce pharmaceutical care principles safely and accurately
• Make age-related modification of drug therapy
• Make disease-related modification of drug therapy
• Evaluate medical literature Work independently without minimal direct supervision
• Handle multiple tasks and frequent interruptions
• Communicate effectively both formally and informally, including presentations Project manage
• Work with a team professionally and collaboratively
• Set priorities to respond quickly to emergent situations/requests
• Work cooperatively with health-system and pharmacy staff
• Communicate effectively and professionally (orally and in writing)
• Perform work accurately with attention to detail
• Exercise sound professional judgement
• Perform systematic problem solving
• Enforce practice guidelines,standards, and medication related policies
• Make critical decisions
• Perform key computer related skills including use of the EMR, common word processing, spreadsheet, medical literature and medication databases

Preferred Qualifications

• PGY-2 Specialty Residency BLS/ACLS certification Vaccination certification Teaching Certificate
• Experience in Oncology pharmacy practice, either inpatient or outpatient
• Specialist Certifications (BCPS, BCOPS, etc) State of Oregon Pharmacy Preceptor licensure
• Oncology related drug therapy management in patients described in Position Purpose. (Dosage, indications, side effects, etc. of chemotherapy and related adjunctive medications)

Additional Details

The pharmacist will experience competing demands from nurses, physicians, pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals, as they attempt to influence clinical decision-making, clinical policies and practices and work flow. The pharmacist must deal with intense situations on a daily basis. In addition, within the healthcare setting there can be significant lack of control over the work pace, with frequent interruptions (work is often dictated by external factors) that may lead to mental fatigue or stress.

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.