Clinical Pharmacist

A Day in the Life at Option Care Health

The Clinical Pharmacist is a licensed professional who is responsible for providing safe and appropriate pharmacy services to Option Care patients in accordance with the policies and procedures of Option Care, pharmacy practice professional standards, and applicable regulatory entities. This is an entry level position into the practice of clinical pharmacy in the alternate setting. The staff Clinical Pharmacist coordinates patient services with the Nursing Department, monitors patient progress toward goals and educates patients, caregivers, staff and other professionals regarding appropriate medication use.

Job Responsibilities (listed in order of importance and/or time spent)

• Determines the suitability of individual patients for home care. Collects and organizes all patient-specific information needed to determine the suitability of patients for home care. Assesses patients  suitability for home care in accordance with Option Care policies. Medical condition and prescribed medication therapy suitable for home care services and prognosis with clearly defined outcome goals.
• Designs, recommends, monitors and evaluates patient-specific pharmacy care plans for the pharmacotherapy of home care patients. When appropriate, makes suitable recommendations for modifications in the prescribed medication therapy or monitoring parameters for a home care patient. Collects and organizes patient-specific information needed to prevent, detect, and resolve medication-related problems and to make appropriate medication therapy recommendations. Appropriate monitoring parameters are identified for each patient.
  
  Completes nutritional assessment of patients and makes appropriate recommendation.
• Modifies the pharmacy care plans for home care patients based on evaluation of monitoring data and other pertinent patient-specific information. Competent in use of pharmacokinetic principles and formulas. Competent in assessing patient laboratory values.
• Provides medication-use education to Option Care staff, other professionals, home care patients and/or their caregivers. Uses effective patient education techniques to provide counseling to home care patients and/or their caregivers.
• Ensures continuity of pharmaceutical care to and from the home and other patient-care settings. Uses a systematic procedure to communicate pertinent patient information to and from the home and other patient-care settings. Prepares and dispenses medications using appropriate techniques and following Option Care policies and procedures. Accurately calibrates equipment. Prepares medications so they are appropriately concentrated, without incompatibilities, stable, and appropriately stored.
  
  Adheres to appropriate safety and quality assurance practices. Prepares labels that conform to the organization's policies and procedures. Medication contains all necessary and/or appropriate ancillary labels. Inspects the final medication before dispensing. Assures presence of authorization to dispense. Complies with state/federal laws and USP standards, including Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) controlled substance regulations set forth by the state and DEA.
  
  Complies with policies regarding the perpetual inventory systems for schedule II narcotics, controlled substances and other medications subject to diversion.
• Manages the use, maintenance, and troubleshooting of medication administration equipment and medication-related equipment used in the management of home care patients. Accurately programs, maintains and gives advice to others on the use and maintenance of all medication administration and medication-related equipment used by Option Care. Participates in the process for assessing, managing, and reporting medication-related incidents and equipment error and/or failures.
  
  Accurately completes QAR documents according to the Option Care policy. Monitors and reports discrepancies in perpetual inventory systems for schedule II narcotics and other medications subject to diversion.
• Provides concise, applicable, and timely response to requests for drug information from health care providers and home care patients. Formulates responses to drug information requests based on analysis of the literature. Attends educational seminars or participates in other CEU opportunities in order to promote professional competency and complies with state mandated CEU requirements.
• Manages the use of investigational drug products according to established regulations and Option Care policies and procedures. Utilizes pharmacy support personnel effectively. Prioritizes the workload and organizes the workflow, taking into account available resources. Needed work is accomplished in the time available. Ensures the accuracy of the work of pharmacy support personnel.
• In all activities, complies with accreditation, legal, regulatory, and safety requirements.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient and proprietary information.…