Summary

SUMMARY: Under direction of the Director of Pharmacy or Medical Director, assists in the planning organizing and monitoring of the delivery of pharmacy services for the Alameda Health System. Coordinates the pharmacy services within AHS and its clients. The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist has specialized training and knowledge in drug information and other medications particularly utilized in a specialty field and provides consultation to
the staff and to clients. Performs related duties as required.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.

1.  Assumes the primary responsibility of managing the audits performed by the pharmacy benefit management system.

2.  Works with the Director of Pharmacy or Medical Director to coordinate and administer pharmacy services with AHS..

3.  Assists in the preparation of budget requests for prescriptions filled by local pharmacies.

4.  Assists the Medical Director or Director of Pharmacy in developing and maintaining the drug formulary for AHS and advising AHS and CBO medical staffs of additions and deletions.

5.  Represents Pharmacy Services on various committee, staff meetings and professional meetings as needed; participates on the AHS Institution Review Board and coordinates all investigational drug studies for the department.

6.  Keeps informed of new drug and innovations in the pharmaceutical field, maintains awareness of current literature and information for medical staff, serves as a resource for the professional staff and answers technical pharmaceutical questions.

7.  Assists in establishing and supervising record keeping, auditing and other drug control policies and procedures as required by County, State and Federal laws.

8.  Updates the medication monitoring guidelines; performs medication monitoring and reports findings to the Medical Director or Director of Pharmacy and Quality Improvement Committee; prepares drug monographs for presentation to committees, staff, physicians and other staff.

9.  Monitors prescribing habits of prescribers for long range planning and cost analysis; may formulate and dispense drugs.

10.  Coordinates the use and monitoring of expensive medications with the Medical Director or Pharmacy Director; collects and reports adverse drug reactions to Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Federal Drug Administration.

11.  Performs literature searches for medical staff enabling dissemination of the most current data on treatment modalities.

12.  Edits a newsletter, briefing professional staff on current medications, policies and MediCal directives.

13.  Acts as a liaison to the various pharmaceutical firms, applying for unrestricted educational grants and seeking reimbursement for indigent patients through applications from the various pharmaceutical firms.

14.  Coordinates continuing education activities for medical and nursing staff; orients new employees on pharmacy practices and procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: EITHER I The equivalent of two years of full-time experience as a staff pharmacist in a health care setting, OR II Graduation from a residency program in clinical or specialized pharmacy practice at an accredited University or hospital.
Required License/Certification: Valid Pharmacist License issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy.