Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Studies - Royal Columbia Hospital

Location: New Westminster

Detailed Overview

The Pharmacist, Clinical Drug Studies coordinates the implementation of clinical drug trials; oversees the maintenance of ongoing clinical drug trials ensuring standards are being met; responds to queries, resolves problems with clinical drug trials and makes recommendations for changes to the Coordinator, Clinical Pharmacy Services. Provides clinical pharmacy services including individualization of patient medication therapy; patient medication counselling; consultation with physicians, nurses and other health care providers to develop and discuss therapeutic plans and assistance in the development of drug therapy guidelines for individual disease conditions.

Provides support to the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee by preparing written summaries and recommendations on drug usage; contributes items such as case studies and articles for submission to professional journals; acts as department resource person in the assigned area of responsibility and provides instruction and/or supervision to pharmacy students and residents. Additionally, the Pharmacist, Clinical Drug Studies performs drug distribution duties including processing prescriptions by reviewing prescribed medication therapy;

validating prescriptions; identifying safety concerns; contacting the subscriber and/or the health care team to resolve discrepancies or problems; documenting discussions or modifications to the medication therapy, and dispensing medications. Responsibilities Coordinates the implementation of clinical drug trials by methods such as evaluating protocols, developing policies and procedures, educating pharmacy, nursing and medical staff, and liaising with the investigator to ensure quality and effective care.

Oversees the maintenance of ongoing clinical drug trials and ensures standards are being met. Maintains appropriate records of clinical drug studies and invoices stakeholders for services. Provides problem resolution for clinical drug trials by performing duties such as responding to queries and/or problems, communicating with pharmacy, medical and nursing staff, identifying and making recommendations for changes to procedures to the Coordinator, Clinical Pharmacy Services.

Responsible for the implementation and review of departmental policies and procedures related to clinical drug trials by performing duties such as reviewing existing policies and procedures, developing new procedures, communicating approved changes to staff, and checking the quality of work to ensure the compliance with hospital and department standards, policies and procedures pertaining to clinical drug research. Consults with physicians, nurses and other health care providers to develop and discuss therapeutic plans appropriate for each patient based on chart review and assessment of clinical responses.

Ensures appropriate documentation is maintained in the patient health record in accordance with regulations, protocols and practice standards. Individualizes patient medication therapy by performing activities such as referencing standard literature/publications and patient demographic information, reviewing patient charts and laboratory test results, meeting with the patient and health care team to assess clinical response of the patient to medication therapy and modifying or developing therapeutic plans to ensure that medication therapy is consistent with the patient''s needs.

Provides patient medication counselling regarding drug therapy by reviewing reference literature, summarizing information and meeting with patients and their families to provide and explain information and plans, demonstrating procedures, techniques and use of equipment, and assessing patient's/family's understanding of the procedures, techniques and equipment. Assists the health care team in developing drug therapy guidelines for individual disease conditions by reviewing current literature, compiling and analyzing information relating to current therapy guidelines, providing suggestions and recommendations, and monitoring the effectiveness of current guidelines on patient health care outcomes.

Participates in ward rounds, program team…