Advanced Clinical Pharmacist

HCA HealthONE Aurora; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 81,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

HCA Healthcare, Inc. is seeking a Pharmacist Specialist to lead inpatient and satellite pharmacy services. You will supervise staff, review orders for safety, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary rounding team to optimize patient care.

The role requires a Colorado license (BCPS preferred) and a solid background in clinical pharmacy, medication safety, and formulary management. Regulatory compliance and quality improvement are key focuses.

Qualifications

• Licensed pharmacist in Colorado; BCPS preferred.
• Completion of an accredited pharmacy residency preferred.
• Active license and regulatory compliance in pharmacy practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise pharmacy services across inpatient and satellite areas.
• Review medication orders for safety and appropriateness.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary rounds teams to optimize therapy.
• Develop and review formulary and order sets.
• Participate in quality improvement and medication-use reviews.
• Ensure regulatory and SCIP/core measures compliance.
• Provide clinical consultation and evidence-based recommendations.
• Educate staff through in-servicing and ongoing training.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical pharmacy

Medication safety

CPOE interpretation

Pharmacy workflows

Patient advocacy

Team collaboration

Quality improvement

Education

Pharmacy degree (BS or PharmD)

Residency program graduate

Colorado Pharmacist license

Tools

CPOE system

Vigilanz/CPW

Job description

Hourly Wage Estimate: 58.97 - 76.67 / hour

Learn more about the benefits offered for this job.

The estimate displayed represents the typical wage range of candidates hired. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, how many years of experience you have and comparison to other employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range.

Experience the HCA Healthcare difference where colleagues are trusted, valued members of our healthcare team. Grow your career with an organization committed to delivering respectful, compassionate care, and where the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual is recognized.

Job Summary and Qualifications

The pharmacist specialist is responsible for the safe, effective and cost-effective selection and utilization of medications for the patients in which they serve. The specialist uses advanced knowledge, skills, and professional judgment in all aspects of his or her work.

The pharmacist specialist will serve as a leader of pharmacy services including adult and pediatric inpatient areas and satellites, specialty areas such as operating rooms, Emergency Department, and outpatient services. The specialist is responsible for directly supervising support personnel in the immediate assigned area and may act as supervisor in situations as assigned.

The pharmacist specialist serves as a patient advocate when planning and implementing pharmaceutical care. By considering the patient’s disease state(s), age, lab values, and other pertinent information, the specialist evaluates medication orders and intervenes when appropriate. As a member of a multidisciplinary rounding team, the pharmacist will collaborate with other healthcare professionals and represent pharmacy in a knowledgeable and professional manner. In addition to planning and implementing pharmaceutical care, the pharmacist will ensure regulatory and quality measures are followed (SCIP, Core Measures, etc).

Cost-effective utilization of medications will be reviewed by the specialist during patient rounds, order entry and while performing medication use evaluations (MUEs). As needed, the pharmacist will provide recommendations and/or literature to prescribers supporting the use of formulary agents. The specialist will also establish and review evidence‑based order sets within their practice.

Individuals in this position will strive to advance personal and departmental pharmaceutical knowledge. The pharmacist is expected to stay current on literature related to pharmacy practice and to engage others in learning through staff in‑servicing and other education as needed.

The pharmacist specialist will be an active member of at least one of the following hospital committees: P&T Committee, Code Blue Committee, Medication Safety, NICU/PICU/Peds, Pain Management, Stroke Council, HCAHPS Committee, Infection Prevention, Cancer Committee or other committee as designated by the Director of Pharmacy.

The specialist will also establish at least one project per calendar year with a goal of improving clinical practice or drug utilization (topic approved by pharmacy management).

Position Requirements

• Licensure/Certification/Registration: Registered Pharmacist in the State of Colorado. BCPS certification preferred. BCLS/ACLS required through AHA or ARC.
• Education: B.S. or Pharm D. degree in Pharmacy. Graduate of an accredited residency program preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of three years clinical experience required. Previous management/project management experience preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Prepares and dispenses medication orders per physician request according to established policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Verifies Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) orders for accuracy and appropriateness. Intervenes when orders are unclear or potentially unsafe or inappropriate.
• Interprets medication orders (verbal and written) and transcribes to computerized patient medication profiles accurately. Maintains accurate, complete patient medication profiles. Trouble shoots/clarifies COE orders.
• Prepares and dispenses medications, including sterile, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition preparations safely and accurately using appropriate techniques.
• Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law.
• Ensures safe, appropriate, cost‑effective medication therapies for patients according to established policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Monitors medication therapy regimens for contraindications, drug‑drug interactions, drug‑food interactions, drug‑laboratory test interactions, allergies, appropriateness of drug and dose, and therapeutic duplications.
• Participates in all drug therapy management protocols including, but not limited to; pharmacokinetics, renal dose adjustments, LMWH dosing in obesity, Warfarin dosing, and IV to PO.
• Reviews/interprets culture and susceptibility data for antibiotic appropriateness and recommends changes, as needed.
• Reads, extracts, and interprets information in patient charts accurately.
• Detects and reports suspected adverse drug reactions and medication errors accurately and in a timely manner.
• Sustains the formulary by minimizing non‑formulary procurements, utilizing therapeutic substitution protocols, and promoting rational medication therapy selection.
• Provides clinical consultation and clarification to practitioners. Recommends evidence‑based medication therapy regimens and monitoring plans. Suggests appropriate, cost‑effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff, as needed.
• Provides accurate, adequate, and timely drug information to the professional staff.
• Provides drug information to patients and their families/performs applicable medication reconciliation.
• Utilizes Vigilanz/CPW to document all clinical work. Alerts/activations are acted upon promptly and when warranted, alerts are discussed with a physician.
• Documents all required double checks.
• Participates in the quality improvement and medication‑use review activities of the department. Collects data; conducts quality monitors and inspections; and maintains logs, records, and other documentation as assigned.
• Participates in the development and presentation of orientation