Hawaii Island Community Health Center

Job Title-Clinical Pharmacist

Supervised By-Director of Pharmacy Services

Position Function Summary

Under the general direction of the Director of Pharmacy Services and working directly with providers, support staff, and patients, the Clinical Pharmacist is responsible and accountable for the provision of medication therapy and outcomes for Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center (HICHC) patients. They are a primary source of scientifically valid information on the safe, appropriate, and cost-effective use of medications .

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all duties and responsibilities of the job assignment. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on clinic needs, and may include but not be limited to the following:

Clinical Pharmacy Services

Utilizes privileges granted by collaborating providers based on the clinical pharmacist’s demonstrated knowledge of medication therapy and record of clinical experience as described below:
- Assesses the status of the patient’s health problems and determines whether the prescribed medications are optimally meeting the patients needs and goal of care.
- Evaluates the appropriateness and effectiveness of the patient’s medications. o Recognizes untreated health problems that could be improved or resolved with appropriate medication therapy.
- Follows the patient’s progress to determine the effects of the patient’s medications on his or her health.
- Consults with the patient’s providers in selecting the medication therapy that best meets the patient’s needs and contributes effectively to the overall therapy goals.
- Advises the patient on how to best take his or her medications. o Consults with the patient’s providers (or operates independently under collaborative practice agreement, as applicable) to develop and implement a medication plan that can meet the overall goals of patient care established by the health care team.
- Applies specialized knowledge of the scientific and clinical use of medications, including medication action, dosing, adverse effects, and drug interactions, in performing their patient care activities in collaboration with other members of the health care team.
Supports the health care teams’ efforts to educate the patient on other important steps to improve or maintain health, such as exercise, diet, and preventive steps like immunization.
Partners with the development of pharmacy-led Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) for qualifying patients under the supervision of a practitioner, as described below:
- Conducts a thorough work-up of patient prior to scheduled appointment regarding patient’s family, immunization, medical, social, and surgical histories and compiles an updated list of current providers. o Performs necessary screenings to detect any cognitive impairment, depression, fall risk, and functional ability.
- Provides education and thus, better understanding of both current over the counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Addresses any medication issues, including reported adverse effects, potential drug interactions, medication nonadherence, or insurance formulary problems.
- Provides patient with Medicare-covered preventive services such as immunizations and screenings.
- Participates in Pharmacy Service Department clinical initiatives including but not limited to the anticoagulation service and Hepatitis C treatment program. o Provides a consistent process of patient care that ensures the appropriateness, effectiveness, and safety of medications prescribed by medical providers at HICHC.
Engages in clinical pharmacy program development based on the needs of the HICHC patient population, provider request, or as directed by the administrative team.

Supervisory Duties

Supervises student pharmacists engaged in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) and/or Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) as assigned by affiliated Schools and Colleges of Pharmacy.
In conjunction with the Director of Pharmacy Services, manages, supervises, and oversees the work of location specific Refill Nurses, Prior Authorization (PA) Specialists and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Technicians as assigned by the Director of Pharmacy Services.
- Includes recruiting, hiring, training, coaching, scheduling, team building and performance management and evaluation. o Performs Annual Performance Reviews and personnel action such as selection, promotion, and discipline with guidelines of EEO, AAP and in accordance with policies and procedures of HICHC in a timely manner for assigned direct reports.
- Provides oversight and managerial support to Refill Nurses as needed.

Policy and Procedure Development

Ensures that policies and procedures are developed and implemented according to organizational, regional, national, state, and federal requirements and guidelines.
Assists organizational leadership to develop clinic-wide uniformity of Annual Wellness Visits.
Contributes processes and materials to promote programs or support the goals of the department and organization.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS Requirements Of Positions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And Experience

BS Pharmacy Degree or a Doctor Pharmacy Degree from an accredited College/School of Pharmacy required.
Licensed or eligible for licensure as a pharmacist in the State of Hawaiʻi (must maintain licensure during employment tenure).
Completion of American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited PGY-1 pharmacy residency is preferred.
Board Certification in either Ambulatory Care or Pharmacotherapy is preferred.
- A minimum of 1 year of pharmacy practice experience in lieu of board certification with the additional completion of the following: o Anticoagulation Forum Boot Camp
- University of Washington HCV Course Modules (or equivalent)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Personable abilities such as communication (both oral and written), deep knowledge of drugs, medical procedures and therapies, diagnosis and disease states, and some pharmacokinetics.
Skills in working with technical automated equipment and information systems are an added value.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as government regulations and guidelines, patient records, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.
Ability to write at a minimal level of competence, including internal reports and memoranda.
Ability to communicate with diverse groups of people to include staff and providers and patients.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families to make their visit a pleasant experience.
Sensitivity to the multicultural nature of the service are population and may be required to communicate in another language.

Personal Characteristics

Personal characteristics to include: a team player, high integrity, communication and customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, and gain and maintain respect of others.

Confidential and Sensitive Information

Because the employee has access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, personal data regarding individual patients and the families, and/or sensitive company financial data, an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee. Violation of this confidence may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

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Clinical Pharmacist