Job Tagline:

Phoenix Pharmacy Seeks ID Clinical Pharmacist

Description:

The Infectious Disease (ID) Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for development, implementation, and documentation of the antimicrobial stewardship program for the facility. This will be accomplished through collaboration, coordination and communication with the Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator, Infection Preventionists, Pharmacists, Medical Staff and other healthcare workers. The goals of the program – to ensure clinical and microbiological effectiveness of antimicrobials; decrease the emergence of resistance; education of prescribers (including pharmacists, nurses and ancillary healthcare providers) in therapeutically efficacious and cost- effective therapy; decrease adverse reactions and predisposition to secondary infections; improve patient care by shortening length of stay, preventing ADR and secondary infections; promote conversion of intravenous therapy to oral antibiotics; consolidate antimicrobial formulary; control antimicrobial costs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Develop, educate and implement programs that improve antimicrobial selection and target high cost and or specialized antimicrobials.
2. Develop evidence based guidelines and recommendations for the use of high impact, high cost and/or specialized antimicrobial agents that will encourage the selection of:
a. The antimicrobial regimen with the narrowest spectrum of activity based upon culture and sensitivity results
b. The antimicrobial regimen with the narrowest spectrum of activity for empiric therapy against epidemiologically proven common etiologic agents (community and hospital acquired)
c. Antimicrobials and antimicrobial combinations that delay or prevent the emergence of resistance.
3. Provide prospective review of high impact, high cost and/or specialized antimicrobial agents prescribed for patients to ensure appropriateness of therapy based on medical staff approved guidelines. Recommend alternative therapy as appropriate.
4. Monitor antimicrobial therapy for contraindications, incompatibilities, allergies and doses outside the normal range with special attention paid to doses and medications prescribed for pediatric and geriatric patient populations.
5. Perform medication utilization and disease state review to assess prescriber compliance with medical staff approved guidelines.
6. Work with the Medical Director of Infection Control, Chairman of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, and the Chief Medical Officer to improve adherence to medical staff approved guidelines.
7. Participate in the antimicrobial testing panel selection process and coordinate with microbiology the appropriate cascading of antimicrobials on culture and susceptibility reports.
8. Monitor facility specific antibiogram on a quarterly basis and suggest modifications to antibiotic formulary / use as needed.
9. Attend Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meetings and make formulary presentations regarding new agents to be placed on the hospital formulary.
10. Document clinical interventions and improved patient outcomes due to clinical interventions.
11. Track and document cost savings related to clinical interventions, prevented adverse drug reactions, medication errors and secondary infections.
12. Ensure the use of best practice with regards to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic utilization/dosing of antimicrobials.
13. Educate and mentor pharmacist staff to improve their knowledge of antimicrobial agents, their appropriate use, monitoring, and resistance patterns.
14. Promote pharmacist involvement in antimicrobial selection, dosing and monitoring for selected agents.
15. Provide at least one inservice or lecture to the medical staff annually. Provide inservices and lectures to other healthcare providers on an as needed basis.
16. Convert therapy from IV to PO in accordance with medical staff approved IV to PO conversion policy.
17. Adjust antibiotic therapy for renal insufficiency in accordance with medical staff approved renal dosing protocol.
18. Respond to drug therapy and pharmacokinetic consults on an as needed basis.
19. Document medication errors and adverse drug reactions.
20. Along with the Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator, assist with the initial competency of new employees, as well as the annual assessment of continuing staff pharmacists as it relates to infectious disease and pharmacokinetic dosing protocols.
21. Assist in precepting pharmacy students doing their rotation at the hospital.
22. Assist with other clinical duties on an as needed basis.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

1. Pharm.D. or BS in Pharmacy Degree required. Residency training or equivalent experience in infectious disease required.
2. One year hospital experience preferred.
3. Experience in developing an antimicrobial stewardship program or participating in an established antimicrobial stewardship program preferred.
4. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. Must have excellent presentation skills.
6. Must be able to handle stress and perform in a fast-paced environment.
7. Should have good computer skills and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint.

Arizona Pharmacy License

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