Clinical Pharmacist

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network; Calgary; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN) invites applications for a Clinical Pharmacist to join its health team in northwest Calgary and Cochrane. You will collaborate with primary care providers to deliver patient-centered care for chronic conditions, integrating medication management into a multidisciplinary approach.

The role emphasizes self-management coaching, evidence-based practice, and ongoing program development with opportunities to impact community health outcomes while working

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and active Alberta licensure.
• Prescribing authorization may be required within first year.
• Proficiency with clinical documentation and patient education.
• Strong teamwork and communication with diverse care teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage medications within a primary care team, including assessment and monitoring.
• Conduct medication reconciliation and reviews.
• Provide drug information and evidence-based therapeutics to clinicians.
• Coach patients on self-management and healthy lifestyle changes.
• Develop care plans for patients with chronic conditions with regular follow-up.
• Navigate the health system to connect patients with resources.
• Maintain continuity of care through clear written/verbal communication.
• Build the Clinical Pharmacist role within and beyond the PCN team.
• Identify community needs and help create programs with partners.
• Deliver care through individual and group appointments.
• Consult with hospital and PCN providers to ensure seamless transitions.
• Participate in program development, evaluation, and quality improvement.
• Collect data for service indicators and progress reports.

Skills

Active listening

Motivational interviewing

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Evidence-based care

Computer skills

Health assessment

Documentation skills

Time management

Flexibility (evenings/weekends)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy

Licensed with the Alberta College of Pharmacy

Additional prescribing authorization

MoCA certification (asset)

Certified Diabetes Educator (preferred)

Bilingual English with Cantonese/Mandarin (asset)

Tools

EMR systems

Clinical information tools

Job description

Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network (PCN) is a group of family physicians and health care professionals in northwest Calgary and Cochrane collaborating with various external stakeholders to deliver the best possible primary care. Calgary Foothills PCN has established a team environment where individuals are encouraged to take initiative, be creative and contribute to ongoing decision-making.

The PCN’s Health Team is comprised of registered nurses, clinical pharmacists, social workers, registered dietitians and behavioral health consultants. Team members are co-located in Patient’s Medical Home locations, centralized in clinic sites and deliver care in individual and group formats.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Clinical Pharmacist collaborates with the primary care provider, Calgary Foothills PCN multidisciplinary team and community/external partners to provide patient-centered care for those with chronic disease and/or complex health conditions.

Key Responsibilities

Key aspects of the position may include, but are not limited to:

• Managing medications as part of a primary care team, including patient assessment, prescribing/deprescribing medications, ongoing monitoring and follow-up
• Conducting medication reconciliation and medication reviews
• Providing drug information and evidence-based therapeutics information to physicians, nurse practitioners and clinical teams
• Working with patients on self-management by providing coaching and education to help advance their skills, knowledge and self-efficacy in adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours that are meaningful to them
• Helping to build care plans with patients who have, or are at risk of, chronic health conditions through biopsychosocial health assessment, collaborative goal setting, applicable interventions based on patient readiness, regular follow-up and evaluation of progress
• Supporting the navigation of the health care system to connect patients and the medical home to applicable PCN, community and health system resources as needed
• Promoting continuity of patient care through effective written and verbal communication with the Patient’s Medical Home and those involved in the circle of care
• Building relationships and developing the Clinical Pharmacist role within and outside of the Calgary Foothills PCN team
• Identifying clinic/community needs and create individual or group-based programs in collaboration with those partners
• Providing care through individual and facilitated group appointments
• Consulting with hospital, community and other PCN health care providers to ensure seamless care transitions
• Participating in the development, delivery, evaluation and quality improvement of health programs
• Collect data and maintain data for service indicators, progress reports and evaluations

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Understanding of clinical pharmacist scope of practice within a community setting
• Expertise in active listening and motivational interviewing
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), organization and critical thinking skills
• Strong skills in collaborating with team members and physicians
• Maintains an individual's dignity and self-worth during all interactions
• Experience with trauma informed care an asset
• Ability to provide evidence-based care
• Ability to work well in a team setting and independently
• Excellent computer skills are required
• Strong health assessment and documentation skills
• Ability to prioritize, manage time effectively, and be flexible in a very dynamic work environment
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings/weekends, when required
• Accepts, implements and evaluates change with a positive attitude
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy
• Licensed with the Alberta College of Pharmacy as a practicing member
• Additional prescribing authorization required (may be completed within the first year of employment)
• MoCA certification is considered an asset
• Certified Diabetes Educator preferred
• Bilingual (English with Cantonese and/or Mandarin) considered an asset

Employment Requirements:

• Completion of a satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search.

Diversity & Inclusion

• Our PCN strongly believes in sustaining an inclusive, respectful and equitable working environment that represents the communities we serve. We are committed to a merit-based selection process that ensures all candidates are considered. We invite people of all ethnic backgrounds, ancestry, religious beliefs, sex, gender identities and expressions, sexual orientation, ages, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics and disabilities to apply for positions within our PCN.

Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation

• As part of our ongoing commitment to advancing reconciliation and supporting Indigenous communities, we actively uphold Call to Action 23 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. We are dedicated to increasing the recruitment and retention of Indigenous professionals across all levels of our organization, particularly in health and wellness roles and encourage individuals of Indigenous ancestry to apply.

Please note that only candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, as well as districts 4, 5 and 6 of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.