Pharmacist - Drug Information/Drug Policy

Department Overview:

This position provides staffing support for the OHSU Drug Information Center. This position serves as a preceptor for students from various colleges of pharmacy and for pharmacy residents.

Function/Duties of Position:

• Answers or coordinates answering of drug information consultations; assists in managing the operations of the OHSU Drug Information Service. Responds accurately and within negotiated time frame to requests for drug information from physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health care providers. Prepares written or graphical summaries of work in a timely manner. Researches and evaluates professional literature in response to questions and request and provides drug information to physicians, residents, nurses, and other health care professionals. Provides pharmacy consultation to physicians or other health care professionals when requested or appropriate. Examples include: (1) specific drug information, (2) pain control evaluations, (3) pharmacokinetic dosing consultations and (4) cost-effective drug alternatives.
• Assists in coordinating activities or students/residents in the OHSU Drug Information Service; may lecture at School/Colleges of Pharmacy; precepts residents and students.
• Monitors therapeutic response and adverse effects of drug therapy. Consults with practitioner when question or problems are identified. Appropriately reports adverse drug reactions, drug defects, and medication errors that are identified and reported to the Drug Information Service.
• Ability to interpret and evaluate physician's orders and prescriptions for accuracy, completeness and appropriateness as it relates to medication utilization reviews. Recognizes therapeutic problems, including drug interactions, contraindications, improper dosing and precautions of therapy and toxicities. Consults with practitioner when any questions or problems are identified. Assists with the control all medications for patient use. This includes assuring proper drug storage recommendations are followed by Pharmacy Department. Maintains appropriate records as required by law and hospital policy.
• Assists with devising, developing, and conducting Medication Utilization and Quality Assurance studies for the purpose of assuring safe and proper use of medications and continually improving the quality of pharmacy service.
• Collects, monitors and analyzes data on drug use for appropriateness and cost effectiveness. Uses collected data to formulate future strategies. Prepares written or graphical summaries of work in a timely manner. Prepares materials for the Clinical Knowledge & Therapeutics Executive Committee and sub-committees.

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. Pharmacy or Pharm.D.
• Pharmacy practice residency or three years equivalent work experience
• Drug Information residency or equivalent work experience
• Drug therapy in patients described in Position Purpose. (Dosage, indications, side effects, etc.)
• Contemporary medication use systems (interpret prescribers’ orders, prepare and dispense medications and sterile products, etc.)
• Drug Information through written and verbal consults as well as monographs
• Interpersonal communication
• Supervisory concepts
• Problem solving
• OR Board of Pharmacist license
• Compliance with Code of Conduct, Respect in the workplace and Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Inpatient and outpatient hospital pharmacy practice
• Clinical Knowledge & Therapeutics Executive Committee participation and/or subcommittee
• Precepting of Pharmacy Students and Residents

Additional Details:

• The drug information pharmacist will experience competing demands from pharmacy management, nurses, physicians, pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals, as they attempt to answer consults, and influence decision-making, clinical policies and practices and workflow. The drug information pharmacist must deal with intense situations on a daily basis. In addition, within the healthcare setting there can be significant lack of control over the work pace, with frequent interruptions (work is often dictated by external factors) including precepting and managing students and residents to oversee and validate work in a continuous influx of requests that may lead to mental fatigue or stress.

Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.