Pharmacy Administrative Specialist - Specialty Pharmacy

Note: Candidates with Specialty Pharmacy experience strongly encouraged to apply. 

At Houston Methodist, the Pharmacy Administrative Specialist position is an advanced pharmacist practitioner responsible for providing and coordinating pharmaceutical care to the patients of Houston Methodist. This position specifically supports a dual-accredited specialty pharmacy program through the development and implementation of training and education programs, workflow management/optimization, drug policy and procedure development, regulatory/accreditation compliance, and driving continuous quality management activities to improve operational efficiency and patient safety. This position serves on one or more Medical Staff, Hospital, and/or Departmental Committees or Subcommittees. The Pharmacy Administrative Specialist position also serves as a role model for the pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy students, and residents in the integration of clinical and dispensing services in the Department. Other duties for this position include planning and participating in staff development and coordinating intradepartmental quality management and performance improvement initiatives related to specialty pharmacy services. This position contributes to fulfilling the department's mission by collaborating to provide innovative, personalized, cost-effective pharmaceutical care in a culture dedicated to quality and safety.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and leads the team to be dynamic and a focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with other health care professionals as needed for problem resolution and/or achievement of identified patient specific goals. Role models to team members effective communication skills, assisting in their development of such skills.

• Develops educational materials and provides educational programs for the pharmacy staff and other hospital personnel. Serves as a preceptor for students from the affiliated colleges of pharmacy and/or pharmacy residents.

• Communicates regularly with the pharmacy management team regarding personnel issues, quality improvement initiatives, and regulatory compliance matters. Effectively implements protocols and objectives with team members to result in optimization of staff performance, teamwork, patient safety, and customer service.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages daily workload fluctuations, recommending changes as appropriate for optimum patient care with respect to staffing assignments and work output. Oversees activities of staff assigned in the area. Coordinates activities with staff to ensure accurate and timely delivery of medications to patient care areas while functioning as shift coordinator.

• Performs functions of a unit based pharmacist and exercises good judgment in patient care decisions by providing operational and clinical support which may include, but is not limited to: order verification and problem resolution, processing orders/requests, responding to pharmacy consult requests, automatic stop orders, medication histories, patient counseling and proactive drug therapy reviews and monitoring.

• Serves as a liaison for other departments and pharmacy to help support pharmacy goals and quality initiatives.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates department reporting related to specialty focus area. Collects, collates, monitors, reviews, and reports on statistical information, including inventory analysis, quality management and productivity data, generated by the pharmacy information system.

• Works with other departments as an expert in specialty focus area to improve patient care by participating in hospital and departmental quality management activities. Identifies and helps to resolve operational and clinical service issues related to technology. Oversees quality assurance processes related to specialty focus area and applies proven quality assurance methodology (i.e., Six Sigma, Lean, etc.) as appropriate to improvement activities.

• Reviews and updates policies and procedures assigned by the department director and/or manager.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in developing the department's annual budget as it relates to the specialty focus area. Assists the medical staff in selecting therapy regimens which cost-effectively meet individual patient needs.

• Identifies/implements cost savings and/or revenue opportunities for the hospital and shares their ideas with the pharmacy staff and management team. Manages inventory to minimize waste and expired drugs in the work area as well as uses one's resources effectively and efficiently.

• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize tasks for self, pharmacy technicians, and other support staff.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists pharmacy administration in planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring new pharmacy programs and services for the assigned work area and department that address safety, finance, and operational initiatives, including the monitoring of established services.

• Contributes regularly to intra-departmental, interdepartmental activities, and professional publications. Gives presentations at local, state and national meetings. Presents in-services for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and nutrition staff members in area of specialty practice. Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Pharmacy Administrative Specialist.

• Leads technology assessment, selection, development, planning and implementation of automated systems.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section

• An advanced degree (i.e., master's degree or Pharm.D) preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

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• Must have one of the following:
•       ◊ Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) and year two (PGY2) residency training programs or equivalent professional experience (i.e., three additional years of pharmacy experience per residency year; completion of a pharmacy fellowship program with a focus in an applicable field may be considered equivalent to a PGY2 residency)
•       ◊ Six years of pharmacist experience applicable to the specific work setting (e.g., hospital, specialty pharmacy); may consider HM employee with five years of pharmacy experience and performance that demonstrates leadership abilities