Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Specialist -Rheumatology

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the ambulatory clinical pharmacy manager and according to department policies, procedures, and guidelines, pharmacist will be responsible for providing the highest level of patient and customer care to patients undergoing treatment at the medical center.  Clinical pharmacy specialist will be working under the clinical supervision of the medical directors of rheumatology clinic. Clinical pharmacy specialist ensures optimum patient related outcomes for various rheumatologic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, scleroderma, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, etc.) by preventing or resolving drug-related issues and optimizing the drug therapy of patients. Provides drug information to patients, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Integrally involved in education of pharmacists, residents and students. Additionally, the clinical specialist coordinates clinical projects, assists with formulary coordination and policy revisions, ensures billing compliance and revenue capture and helps to lead other projects as needed. Serves as a resource and drug expert for all rheumatology biologics and general rheumatology related medications and strives to increase knowledge through research and writing activities.

Position: Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Rheumatology      

Department: Specialty Pharmacy

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Work in collaborative fashion with all specialty area nurses, fellows, and attendings toward optimizing patient outcomes, with added focus on improving population health activities important to institutional goals and mission.

The ambulatory clinical pharmacy specialist will be responsible for providing medication optimization focused pharmacotherapy services within the rheumatology clinic. They will be expected to function at a high level and work independently under a scope of practice/collaborative practice agreement  in providing support for patients on biologics/DMARD   to ensure safe and effective treatment from start to finish for each patient.  The clinical specialist will collaborate with rheumatology specialists, specialty pharmacy team and BMC infusion center pharmacy to improve the quality, safety and adherence for all biologic therapies. They will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of attendings, mid-level providers, fellows, nurses, and specialty pharmacy liaisons to optimize and promote rational, safe, evidence based, and cost-effective therapy for all patients. Clinical specialist will also be involved with high level projects.

The primary responsibilities within Rheumatology clinic are to:

• Help manage patients on biologics/DMARDs referred for treatment, establish patient relationships and ensure continuity of care
• Develop, document, and execute plan of care utilizing guidelines or established protocol
• Provide medication education and counseling to patients as outlined in department policies and procedures
• Provide ongoing care for chronic problems as delineated in protocol
• Order laboratory studies
• Coordinate with nursing staff regarding immunizations
• Aid in infusion center orders
• Analyze laboratory and diagnostic test data so as to modify drug therapy and dosing as necessary
• Monitor patients to assess response, toxicities and non-adherence to drug therapy
• Document pertinent findings, patient face to face encounters, and counseling sessions in the electronic medical record appropriately
• Identify and take specific corrective action for drug-induced problems
• Assist with management of drug and drug-related problems in clinic in conjunction with attending physician
• Notify primary provider  regarding atypical findings
• Refer patient to ED or alternate service if warranted in discussion with physician
• Provide effective transition of care needs including, but not limited to, medication reconciliation and completing post-discharge telephone calls
• Identify opportunities for improvement in patient care or the medication use process
• Take an active role in the development and implementation of quality improvement projects
• Actively participate the formulary review process and formulary management (drug monographs, MUEs, medication guidelines) for medications used to treat rheumatologic disorders or in other areas of interest
• Actively participate in various institutional committees
• Participate in the updating and building of new and existing order sets and operational and clinical efficiencies within EPIC
• Precept APPE 4th year PharmD students, PGY-1 and PGY-2 practice residents
• Provide in-service education to pharmacy staff, students, nurses, physicians and other healthcare practitioners, as needed (other opportunities for teaching include lectures at Boston University School of Medicine, if desired)
• Participate in the orientation and cross-training of pharmacy residents and other pharmacy team members
• Serve as a pharmacy liaison to the BMC staff by ensuring the connectivity between clinical and distributive services
• Act as a supervisor over the operational activities of the pharmacy liaison (certified pharmacy technician)
• Assist or provide direction for the pharmacy liaison in completing prior authorization requests, responding to prior authorization denials, and obtaining co-pay assistance for high co-pays through pharmaceutical sponsored co-pay assistance programs for commercial payers or through chronic disease funds for government subsidized payers
• Maintain current knowledge base of Rheumatoid therapies with continuing education (with a minimum of 5 hours of disease management related continuing education annually)
• In all activities, comply with accreditation, legal and regulatory requirements
• Meets hospital-wide standards in the following areas:
  • Conform to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights, so that the best possible customer service and patient care may be provided
  • Utilize hospital values as the basis for decision-making and to facilitate the division’s hospital mission
  • Follow established hospital infection control and safety procedures

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Work requires licensure to practice pharmacy in the state of Massachusetts by the hire date.
• Work requires substantial interpersonal skills towards our customers (particularly patients, physicians and nurses) and fellow employees of the hospital.

EDUCATION:

• Work requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from an accredited college of pharmacy. Advanced degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Work requires at a minimum a Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy and at least five years of pertinent work experience or a Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy and post-graduate training, with at least three years of pertinent work experience, or a Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy from an accredited college of pharmacy with post-graduate training or at least two years of pertinent work experience.

Compensation Range:

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being. 

NOTE: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

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