At Houston Methodist, the Staff Pharmacist position is responsible for providing day-to-day comprehensive, patient-oriented, pharmacy services in any or all areas of the department which includes processing orders, therapy review, and education to patients and other members of the direct patient care team. This position collaborates with other health care professionals to manage patients' drug therapies for effectiveness and overall safety. The Staff Pharmacist position contributes to the fulfillment of the department's mission by collaborating to provide innovative, personalized, cost-effective pharmaceutical care in a culture dedicated to quality and safety. This position is also responsible for the oversight of pharmacy technicians and students and may serve as a preceptor, ensuring the accurate and timely delivery of pharmaceuticals.

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 all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Guides and mentors pharmacy technicians and students to help build confidence in skills, knowledge and abilities. In the absence of Senior Staff Pharmacists or other higher level, serves as a coordinator for the shift overseeing and leading activities of technicians and other support staff.

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.

• Monitors workload fluctuations and work output of pharmacy technician(s), adjusting assignments as appropriate to ensure accurate and timely delivery of medications to patient care areas.

• Conducts proactive drug therapy reviews and monitoring, providing drug information, patient counseling, and management of pharmacist-based dosing protocols, collaborating with other health care staff for problem resolution for the achievement of patient-specific goals.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborates with other health care professionals to manage patient's drug therapy for effectiveness, side effects, adverse drug reactions, toxicities, drug interactions, and incompatibilities following guidelines for formulary management and clinical intervention tools in the achievement of patient specific goals. Documents patient care activities and patient outcomes as impacted by pharmaceutical care and clinical interventions.

• Participates in department quality management activities, i.e. medication use evaluations, adverse drug reactions and medication error reporting, clinical interventions, medication center reviews, and inventory management documentation and reporting.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 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 daily tasks.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in inter- and intra-departmental activities including in-services, article publication/presentation, preceptorship, and additional training. Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Staff Pharmacist.

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

• No experience needed; some experience applicable to the specific work setting (e.g., hospital, specialty pharmacy) highly preferred

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 15 months AND
• NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation -- For pharmacists regularly assigned to respond to Code Blue events 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

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

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

• Demonstrates the knowledge of basic principles regarding rational drug therapy, including but not limited to, 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

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

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.