Ambulatory Care Pharmacist

Kaiser Permanente; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in California seeks a pharmacist to provide ambulatory pharmaceutical care under protocols, collaborating with physicians and other health professionals. You will manage drug therapy, educate patients, and oversee dispensing with a focus on high-quality, evidence‑based, cost-effective care in assigned clinical areas.

Requirements include a California pharmacist license and completion of a clinical residency or equivalent direct patient care experience.

Qualifications

• Clinical pharmacology and therapy management knowledge.
• Ability to educate patients on medications and adherence.
• Strong verbal and written communication with patients and staff.

Responsibilities

• Promote rational, cost-effective drug therapy in collaboration with physicians.
• Supervise Pharmacist Residents, Interns, Technicians and other staff.
• Obtain medication histories and develop treatment plans.
• Monitor and adjust drug therapy per protocol and patient data.
• Coordinate lab monitoring and ensure appropriate drug use and safety.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Patient education

Communication

Team guidance

Education

B.S. in Pharmacy or Pharm.D

Job description

Job Summary:

Under indirect supervision, provides ambulatory pharmaceutical care services using approved protocols in collaboration with other health professional, including managing patient drug therapy, providing patient education, and preparing and/or overseeing the preparation and dispensing of medications. Promotes high quality, evidence-based, cost-effective pharmaceutical care. Performs these duties in the clinical areas assigned.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Department manager or designee, promotes rational and cost-effective Inpatient and Outpatient drug therapy through close participation in the drug therapy decision-making process with assigned physicians and other medical personnel.
• Provides direction to Pharmacist Residents, Pharmacist Interns, Pharmacy Technicians, and other non-licensed personnel.
• Conducts patient medication history inquiries upon referral from physicians and other medical personnel.
• Given a diagnosis, synthesize a treatment plan, which may include drug therapy and lifestyle modifications, and transition within the continuum of care settings.
• Identifies, resolves, and prevents potential and actual medication-related problems including: untreated indications, improper drug selection, subtherapeutic dosage, overdose, failure to receive medication, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and medication without indication.
• Under protocol, initiates, adjusts, monitors, and recommends changes in drug therapy based on information obtained through patient interviews, objective monitoring parameters, review of drug profiles and the patient medical record.
• Coordinates and interprets laboratory monitoring of drug therapy, including serum drug levels, electrolytes, and other approved drug-related laboratory testing.
• Provides patient monitoring for the purpose of evaluating and optimizing patient outcomes, drug utilization and patient compliance, detecting and/or minimizing ADRs, eliminating unnecessary drug use and duplication.
• Provides patient education related to the individuals disease state, including predictable actions, side effects, reasons for proper compliance, and any special instruction.
• Assure ongoing performance improvement of the pharmaceutical care services provided.
• Provides education to providers and staff via presentations, newsletters, formal utilization reviews, and one-on-one interactions.
• Performs other duties as required.

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

• Successful completion of a clinical pharmacy residency or possess the equivalent clinical experience in direct patient care delivery.

Education

• B.S. degree in Pharmacy OR Pharm.D required.

License, Certification, Registration

• Pharmacist License (California) required at hire

• Basic Life Support from American Heart Association

Additional Requirements:

• Comprehensive knowledge of current pharmacological/biopharmaceutical principles, medical terminology, pathologies, disease states, and related information for a medical management plan.
• Working knowledge of aseptic technique and preparation of sterile IV products and chemotherapy agents. Knowledge of emergency medications and drug monitoring.
• Understanding of drug utilization review and drug usage evaluation
• Knowledge of Federal and State laws & regulations regarding the provision of pharmaceutical services.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to operate the pharmacy computer system(s) and other equipment. Must be able to input prescription labels.
• Must obtain an NPI # within one month in position.
• Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.
• ACLS certification may be required in some areas.

Preferred Qualifications:

• N/A