Job Title: Lead Pharmacist

Location: Williamsport Hospital

Shift: 1:30 PM – 10:00 PM, including every third weekend. No holidays are required.

Overview: UPMC is seeking a dedicated and experienced Lead Pharmacist to join our team at Williamsport Hospital. This role involves providing leadership coverage during the evening shift, ensuring the timely provision of cost-effective drug therapy to optimize patient outcomes, offering educational support to current and future healthcare practitioners, and contributing to drug-related research.

Desired Skills:

Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team, with a strong emphasis on patient safety. Teaching: Proficient in educating and mentoring others, fostering the development of new skills. Problem Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of addressing challenges effectively. Adherence to Procedures: Ability to follow established procedures meticulously while also providing constructive feedback to management when processes need improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Patient Care and Team Collaboration: Actively contribute to patient care outcomes and departmental goals. Ensure punctuality and attendance as scheduled. Implement Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee policies, including drug usage evaluation, formulary restrictions, adverse drug reaction reporting, and therapeutic and generic substitutions. Quality Improvement and Education: Participate in departmental quality improvement programs to enhance pharmaceutical care. Maintain professional competency through continuing education and staff development programs. Provide both formal and informal in-service education activities. Inventory and Compliance: Ensure adequate inventory of drugs and supplies for patient care. Assist in procurement following established procedures. Audit and maintain accurate records for all controlled substances, ensuring compliance with Federal, State, and Department regulations. Research and Development: Support drug-related research by assisting in the procurement, accountability, storage, preparation, and distribution of study drugs. Design and coordinate research projects as appropriate. Training and Supervision: Participate in the education and training of healthcare practitioners, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy residents, and students. Supervise daily activities and assist in the training of pharmacy technicians and student interns. Medication Management: Ensure accurate dispensing of medications to the correct patients at the appropriate times. Utilize computer systems to process medication orders and maintain patient information. Evaluate medication orders for appropriateness, considering patient-specific factors and applying pharmacokinetic principles. Consult with prescribers as needed. Leadership and Collaboration: Conduct meetings with pharmacy and healthcare team members to facilitate service improvements. Maintain collaborative relationships with Clinical Directors, Primary Care Nurses, and Physicians. Consult with the Pharmacy Manager on patient care issues. Develop and implement quality improvement and cost-reduction initiatives. Work with team members to evaluate workflow and implement service enhancements. Develop workflow guidelines, policies, and procedures to maximize productivity and standardize practices. Direct and schedule team personnel, authorizing extra hours and overtime as required.

Qualifications:

Proven experience in a pharmacy leadership role. Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical practices and regulations. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. Commitment to continuous professional development.

Key Responsibilities (continued):

Staff Development and Supervision: Coach and mentor staff through constructive feedback, positive discipline, and performance evaluations. Coordinate the daily activities of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists within the area of responsibility. Demonstrate a service-oriented approach toward patients, staff, and visitors. Medication Dispensing and Verification: Ensure the correct drug is dispensed to the appropriate patient in a timely manner, using proper preparation techniques. Verify the NDC numbers of drugs used to fill prescriptions with the NDC number on the prescription. Training and Education: Supervise daily activities and assist in the training and education of pharmacy technicians and student interns, providing feedback as needed. Participate in the education and training of current and future healthcare practitioners, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy residents, and pharmacy students. Financial Accountability: Maintain the financial accountability of the department by ensuring proper procedures are followed for third-party rejects in a timely manner.