At Houston Methodist, the Pharmacy Administrative Specialist position is an advanced pharmacist practitioner responsible for providing and coordinating pharmaceutical care to the patients of Houston Methodist through medication use evaluations, drug policy development, and continuous quality management activities related to his/her specialty focus area designed to improve operational efficiency and patient safety. This position serves on one or more Medical Staff, Hospital, and/or Departmental Committees or Subcommittees. The Pharmacy Administrative Specialist position also serves as a role model for the pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy students, and residents in the integration of clinical and dispensing services in the Department. Other duties for this position include planning and participating in staff development and coordinating intradepartmental quality management and performance improvement initiatives related to the respective specialty areas of focus. This position contributes to fulfilling the department's mission by collaborating 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 leads the team to be dynamic and a 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. Role models to team members effective communication skills, assisting in their development of such skills.

• Develops educational materials and provides educational programs for the pharmacy staff and other hospital personnel. Serves as a preceptor for students from the affiliated colleges of pharmacy and/or pharmacy residents.

• Communicates regularly with the pharmacy management team regarding personnel issues, quality improvement initiatives, and regulatory compliance matters. Effectively implements protocols and objectives with team members to result in optimization of staff performance, teamwork, patient safety, and customer service.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages daily workload fluctuations, recommending changes as appropriate for optimum patient care with respect to staffing assignments and work output. Oversees activities of staff assigned in the area. Coordinates activities with staff to ensure accurate and timely delivery of medications to patient care areas while functioning as shift coordinator.

• Performs functions of a unit based pharmacist and exercises good judgment in patient care decisions by providing operational and clinical support which may include, but is not limited to: order verification and problem resolution, processing orders/requests, responding to pharmacy consult requests, automatic stop orders, medication histories, patient counseling and proactive drug therapy reviews and monitoring.

• Serves as a liaison for other departments and pharmacy to help support pharmacy goals and quality initiatives.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates department reporting related to specialty focus area. Collects, collates, monitors, reviews, and reports on statistical information, including inventory analysis, quality management and productivity data, generated by the pharmacy information system.

• Works with other departments as an expert in specialty focus area to improve patient care by participating in hospital and departmental quality management activities. Identifies and helps to resolve operational and clinical service issues related to technology. Oversees quality assurance processes related to specialty focus area and applies proven quality assurance methodology (i.e., Six Sigma, Lean, etc.) as appropriate to improvement activities.

• Reviews and updates policies and procedures assigned by the department director and/or manager.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in developing the department's annual budget as it relates to the specialty focus area. Assists the medical staff in selecting therapy regimens which cost-effectively meet individual patient needs.

• Identifies/implements cost savings and/or revenue opportunities for the hospital and shares their ideas with the pharmacy staff and management team. Manages inventory to minimize waste and expired drugs in the work area as well as uses one's resources effectively and efficiently.

• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize tasks for self, pharmacy technicians, and other support staff.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists pharmacy administration in planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring new pharmacy programs and services for the assigned work area and department that address safety, finance, and operational initiatives, including the monitoring of established services.

• Contributes regularly to intra-departmental, interdepartmental activities, and professional publications. Gives presentations at local, state and national meetings. Presents in-services for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and nutrition staff members in area of specialty practice. Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Pharmacy Administrative Specialist.

• Leads technology assessment, selection, development, planning and implementation of automated systems.

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

• An advanced degree (i.e., master's degree or Pharm.D) preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must have one of the following:
•       ◊ Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) and year two (PGY2) residency training programs or equivalent professional experience (i.e., three additional years of pharmacy experience per residency year; completion of a pharmacy fellowship program with a focus in an applicable field may be considered equivalent to a PGY2 residency)
•       ◊ Six years of pharmacist experience applicable to the specific work setting (e.g., hospital, specialty pharmacy); may consider HM employee with five years of pharmacy experience and performance that demonstrates leadership abilities

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• PHRM - Pharmacist - State Licensure -- or eligible for Texas Pharmacist License within 90 days AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) within 90 days AND
• PPC- Pharmacist Preceptor Cert - State Licensure 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

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

• Knowledge of comprehensive pharmacy services including unit-dose drug distribution, intravenous admixture preparation, nutrition support services, and target drug monitoring

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

• Working knowledge of medical information systems and their design, development, and integration into clinical practice

• Capable of assuming responsibility for coordinating and supervising the activities of a major pharmacy service area

• Research competence in an area related to the practice of pharmacy

• Ability to work independently; capable of handling challenging/difficult diagnostic procedures and patient care situations; demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average clinical skills

• Proficient in all areas of pharmacy technology

• Computer skills to include proficiency in MS Office and EMR software

• Advanced skill in use of spreadsheet and relational database software for aggregation of data for analysis

• Strong presentation skills and ability to facilitate work teams

• Highly organized with the ability to multi-task and work effectively with team and stakeholders to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness

• Ability to analyze and solve problems and make decisions on technical and project-related issues

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* No

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

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

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.