Clinical Pharmacy Specialist -Oncology

The Division of Pharmacy at MD Anderson Cancer Center strives to be the industry leader in providing premier patient-centered care, based on excellence and innovation in patient care, services, research and education. We strive to ensure safe, effective and cost-conscious medication use and to work with our health care colleagues to promote optimal drug therapy outcomes through the development of integrated, quality programs.

Clinical Pharmacy Practice

• Develops and/or maintains an active clinical pharmacy practice on the assigned service(s), actively participates in inpatient rounds and/or outpatient clinic coverage, including on-call and weekend coverage as assigned.
• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to optimize the pharmacotherapeutic aspects of patient care.
• Manages the medication therapy of individual patients (in collaboration with the healthcare team); develops, recommends, implements, monitors, and redesigns drug therapy regimens to optimize therapy; performs these tasks within the position/professional scope of practice and institutional and department policy and procedures.
• Manages daily patient medication problems and emergency situations as they arise and documents activities in the electronic health record appropriately (interventions, notes, handoffs, etc).
• Provides timely follow-up on the clinical effects of the medication regimen with adjustments as necessary to achieve optimal outcomes and documents actions.
• Provides drug and clinical information to other healthcare professionals.
• Develops and communicates specific pharmacotherapeutic plans for individual patients.
• Provides accurate and timely medication reconciliation and updates of medication list.
• Identifies and intervenes appropriately to resolve potential medication problems of all assigned patients.
• Evaluates and provides recommendations on pharmacokinetic or nutrition consults as applicable.
• Participates in discharge planning for assigned inpatients.
• Proactively assesses patient's financial status and addresses barriers.
• Appropriately participates in and guides medical staff to comply with institutional standards, initiatives, and guidelines (ABN's, prior authorization requirements, reimbursement optimization, formulary management, REMS programs, drug shortage programs

Education and Training

• Provides effective medication and practice-related education or counseling to patients and caregivers.
• Provides accurate and timely medication, treatment guidelines, formulary, and other pertinent information to members of the healthcare team.
• Demonstrates a desire and an aptitude for teaching that includes mastery of the four preceptor roles when teaching clinical problem solving (instructing, modeling, coaching, and facilitating) to trainees.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide comprehensive and constructive criteria-based feedback and evaluation of resident/student performance including an assessment, identification of opportunities for improvements and an actionable plan.
• Serves as an effective preceptor for resident, student, and other trainee clinical learning experiences.
• Effectively precepts other trainee-required experiences including oncology forum, research projects, grand rounds, MUEs, etc.
• Collaborates with student and residency leadership to coordinate individual learning experiences.
• Attends and actively participates in trainee learning activities including grand rounds, student presentations, pharmacy pearls, journal club, grand rounds workshops, etc.
• Provides didactic lectures, in-services, shared student instruction or attends case conference presentations to trainees.
• Models professional behavior to orient, mentor, and train new clinical staff on patient care services, policy and procedures, and normal operating procedures (in collaboration with the Clinical Manager).

Clinical Support
• Appropriately uses technology to facilitate safe and efficient delivery and communication of patient care (electronic health record, mobile devices, lap tops, VPN, etc.).
• Participates in medication-related processes to assess, evaluate, maintain and improve the delivery of patient care.
• Actively participates in institutional initiatives to develop, improve, validate and implement research and standard of patient care tools (ordersets, treatment plans, algorithms, patient education materials, etc.) to optimize patient care and safety.
• Adheres to regulatory/compliance policies and procedures that govern the profession and scope of practice.
• Completes pharmacy protocol reviews to facilitate the IRB submission processes.
• Critically analyzes their own practice, experience, medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self-improvement.
• Obtains/maintains required and preferred licenses, certifications, training, and continuing education prior to the deadlines including but not limited to preceptor certificate, pharmacist license, BLS, ACLS, service specific competencies, DTM, sterile compounding certification and process validation (as assigned), etc.
• Consistently documents and reviews clinical activity/interventions appropriately.
• Uses professional judgment and language to report safety events utilizing the institutional and federal government systems (UHC Safety Intelligence System, Medwatch, etc.).
• Consistently models service excellence.
• Attends and actively participates in committees/meetings (e.g., Division of Pharmacy, Disease Site and Institutional).
• Demonstrates effective oral and written communication skills.
• Aligns all patient care activities and project work with departmental and institutional policies, business model/needs, goals, and vision.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education Required:

Pharm.D degree. Pharmacy Practice Residency (PGY 1) and Residency in the area of specialization (PGY 2). Experience as a clinical pharmacist in the area of specialization may substitute for the required residency on a one to one basis.

Certification / Licensure Required:

Must obtain license to practice pharmacy in the State of Texas by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy within 90 days of date of entry into job.

Experience Required:

None

Preferred Experience:

Experience as a clinical pharmacy specialist

Onsite Presence:

Is Required

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

WORKING CONDITIONS

Frequency

Deadlines
Physical Proximity
Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and/or tissue
Hazardous Chemicals and Materials
On Call
Patient Contact

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Constant 67-100%
Rarely1-2%
Seldom 3-10%

Frequent 34-66%

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Frequency

Weight

Arm/Hand Steadiness
Balancing
Bending/Stooping
Carrying
Depth Perception
Eye/Hand Coordination
Handling
Keyboarding
Lifting
Standing
Visual Acuity
Please Select

Occasionally 11-33%
Frequent 34-66%
Seldom 3-10%
Occasionally 11-33%
Frequent 34-66%
Constant 67-100%
Seldom 3-10%
Constant 67-100%
Seldom 3-10%
Occasionally 11-33%
Frequent 34-66%
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5-10 lbs
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5-10 lbs
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COGNITIVE DEMANDS

Analytical Ability
Appropriate Behavior
Attention to detail
Comprehending
Critical Thinking
Following Instructions
Giving and Receiving Constructive Feedback
Interpersonal Skills
Mathematical Skills/Reasoning
Memorizing/Remembering
Multitasking
Oral Communication
Organizing
Problem Solving
Reading Skills/Comprehension
Responding in emergency situations
Selective Attention
Written Communication