At Houston Methodist, the Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position is responsible for performing advanced clinical pharmacy duties enabling the delivery of optimal pharmacotherapy to patients and facilitating safe, efficacious, and pharmacoeconomically rational use of medications in the population(s) served. This position involves daily reactive and targeted proactive medication regimen reviews for patients within the designated area(s) of responsibility or populations served. The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position supports the delivery of pharmacy managed protocols, formulary processes and medication reconciliation activities while providing education to fellow pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff. Additional duties for this position include precepting pharmacy students and pharmacy residents on clinical patient care rotations within areas of responsibility and contributing to fulfilling the organization's mission to provide innovative, personalized, cost-effective pharmaceutical care in a culture dedicated to quality and safety.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with other health care professionals as needed for problem resolution and/or achievement of identified patient specific goals.

• Serves as a rotation preceptor for students from affiliated colleges of pharmacy and PGY1 or PGY2 pharmacy residents as well as being a mentor for staff pharmacists supporting clinical skill advancement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Processes all orders/requests accurately and efficiently, verifying appropriateness of all drugs in reference to the patient's diagnosis, allergies, height and weight. Exercises good judgment in patient care decisions per performance standard and documents patient care activities and patient outcomes impacted by pharmaceutical care and clinical interventions.

• Provides patient-specific and non-patient specific drug information support regularly.

• Serves as a member on one or more Medical Staff Committees and actively contributes to accomplishing the goals of the committee.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborates with other health care professionals to manage patient's drug therapy for maximal effectiveness while minimizing side effects, adverse drug reactions, toxicities, drug interactions, and incompatibilities using established internal and external guidelines.

• Provides pharmaceutical care at the fundamental to advanced level for patients within the designated practice area(s). Activities include, but are not limited to, proactive drug therapy reviews and monitoring, patient counseling, transitions of care management including medication acquisition process support, and management of pharmacist-based dosing protocols.

• Participates in quality management initiatives such as, but not limited to: medication use evaluations, adverse drug reaction and medication error reporting, clinical interventions, medication center reviews, and inventory management documentation and reporting.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Contributes to the provision of pharmacoeconomically sound medication therapy by upholding HM Formulary standards in area(s) of responsibility and avoiding medication-related complications.

• Self-motivated to independently manage time; effectively prioritizing tasks for self and for others within the specialty area of focus.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Presents in-services for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and other staff members in area(s) of responsibility. Develops educational materials and provides educational programs for the pharmacy staff and other hospital personnel.

• Seeks opportunities to expand one's learning beyond fundamental competencies with a focus on continual development as a Pharmacy Clinical Specialist.

• Contributes to the design, analysis and reporting of quality improvement program findings.

• Participates in research projects to advance organizational quality of care and the pharmacy profession. Submits research and scholarly work for publication, platform presentations, and/or poster presentations.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must have one of the following:
•       ◊ Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency training program or equivalent experience (i.e., three years of pharmacy experience per residency year); ASHP-accredited post-graduate year two (PGY2) or fellowship preferred
•       ◊ Three years of clinical practice experience

• Meets HM standards of an ASHP-Qualified Residency Preceptor within one year of employment

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• PHRM - Pharmacist - State Licensure -- Texas Pharmacist License or eligible for Texas Pharmacist License within 90 days AND
• PPC- Pharmacist Preceptor Cert - State Licensure within 90 days AND
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (AHA) -- For pharmacists regularly assigned to Code Blue events within 90 days AND
• PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support (AHA) -- For pharmacists regularly assigned to Code Blue events within 90 days AND
• NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation -- If applicable to primary work assignment within 90 days AND
• IV Certification - Intravenous certification (ACPE) -- If applicable to primary work assignment within 90 days AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) within 90 days

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• Board of Pharmacy Specialist (BPS)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork and leadership skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers; capable of assuming responsibility for coordinating the activities of a major pharmacy service area

• Demonstrates professional and technical competence in the selection, evaluation, utilization, and distribution of drugs and drug information and applies these to all patient groups, neonate to geriatric

• Operates at a proficient level with regards to one's application of the principles of rational drug therapy including but not limited to: application of current evidence-based guidelines, novel and innovative clinical practices

• Knowledge of operational pharmacy practice and demonstrated record of experience providing fundamental clinical pharmacy services and demonstrated experience with direct patient care activities and interactions with nursing and medical staff members

• Competence in research in an area related to the practice of pharmacy and maintains active credentialing with HM Academic Institute as applicable to primary work assignment (refer to manager for details)

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.