Lead Outpatient Pharmacist

UCSF Health; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Health is seeking a Lead Pharmacist to oversee medication-use processes across UCSF Health System locations. The role involves clinical leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and administrative support to ensure safe, effective patient care.

The position emphasizes patient-centered pharmaceutical care, education, and participation in quality improvement, with responsibilities spanning patient histories, drug information, and coordination of medication access.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) from an accredited school.
• Completed ASHP PGY1 Pharmacy Residency or equivalent practice experience.
• Current license to practice pharmacy in California.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and monitor patient-specific therapeutic plans.
• Evaluate therapeutic outcomes and side effects.
• Consult with healthcare team to optimize medications and ensure continuity of care.
• Provide medication education to patients and caregivers to improve adherence.
• Document care in medical records and coordinate with providers.
• Assist in pharmacy operations, including drug ordering, preparation, and distribution.
• Support special projects, quality improvement, and compliance with regulations.
• Serve as a preceptor for learners and maintain preceptor qualifications.
• Participate in administrative and committee activities related to pharmacy practice.

Education

PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)

PGY1 Residency

California Pharmacist License

Job description

Lead Pharmacist – UCSF Health System

Under the Department of Pharmaceutical Services, the Lead Pharmacist is involved in all aspects of the medication use process at all pharmacy locations within the UCSF Health System. They may also be asked to participate in pharmaceutical care in other sectors of the Department of Pharmaceutical Services as needed.

The Lead Pharmacist performs a wide range of pharmaceutical care functions to assure that drugs prescribed for and used by patients are safe and effective. These include, for example, obtaining medication histories, reviewing and assessing medication profiles, providing drug information to patients and health providers, collaborating with clinicians on drugs of choice and therapeutic plans, ensuring access to medications, educating patients on the proper use of medications, and ensuring that patients understand cautions, adverse reactions, and interactions related to their therapy. The Lead Pharmacist will be part of an interprofessional team consisting of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other professionals. The Lead Pharmacist will be based primarily in the inpatient pharmacy setting managing specific patient population, supporting pharmacist scope of practice, and ensuring patient care excellence and safety. They will support the day-to-day operations of pharmacy services, administrative tasks, and special projects.

Responsibilities

Patient Care Activities

• Provide safe and effective patient-centered care by actively designing, implementing, and monitoring patient-specific therapeutic plans
• Evaluate patients for therapeutic outcomes and side effects of medications.
• When appropriate, develop and implement an alternate therapeutic plan.
• Consult with other healthcare team members to facilitate a change in the therapeutic plan, optimize medication therapies, and ensure continuity of care/medication access.
• Provide appropriate follow-up care to ensure therapeutic goals are achieved.
• Provide in-depth and patient-specific medication education to patients and their caregivers, where appropriate, with the objective of improving adherence, optimizing drug therapy response, and minimizing adverse drug events.
• Respond to patient inquiries regarding medication therapy and relevant health issues.
• Document care provided in the medical record (e.g., progress notes or other appropriate sections) and other appropriate platforms.
• Communicate relevant therapeutic information to other healthcare providers in a timely manner to coordinate medication therapy
• Participate in the Code Response Team as needed.

Operations

• Ensure quality and integrity of medications.
• Process drug orders.
• Screen all prescriptions and drug orders for appropriateness (e.g. drug name, dosage form, dose, indication, route, indication)
• Ensure quality and integrity of medications prepared; compound or fill and dispense medications in compliance with institutional standards, laws, and accepted standards of practice.
• Facilitate and coordinate timely delivery of pharmaceutical services to patients.
• Maintain appropriate knowledge of relevant pharmacy automation.
• May assist in oversight of non-pharmacists (pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students/interns, etc.) and a limited number of Staff Pharmacists II as assigned.
• May assist with and facilitate prior authorizations, appeals, billing, reimbursement, and other medication access processes when necessary.
• Comply with FDA mandates and self-imposed manufacturer restrictions on medications, investigational drugs, REMS, and recalled medications.
• Maintain records of services provided and other records required by law (e.g., workload statistics, narcotic inventory and control).

Advancing Practice

• Effectively perform assigned administrative functions (e.g., medication error reports, adverse drug reaction reports, special projects, etc.)
• Effectively perform and participate in medication-related reports and projects (e.g., drug monographs, medication use evaluations, quality improvement projects, formulary evaluation in area of oversight, etc.)
• Participate in and occasionally chair patient care, quality improvement, or Pharmacy and Therapeutics-related committees.
• Participate in clinical research.
• Keep up to date on protocols/policies, pharmacy practice standards, healthcare delivery trends, reimbursement systems, and emerging roles and responsibilities of pharmacists as they pertain to the area of specialty.

Training and Educational Activities

• Serve as a preceptor for pharmacy learners (e.g., students and residents). Facilitate learner experiences that ensure professional growth and competency development. Evaluate and provide on-going feedback.
• Maintain the qualifications necessary to maintain preceptor status.
• Provide effective medication-related and other relevant education to patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, learners, and the public (individuals and groups).
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of directly related experience.
• Must have graduated from an accredited school of pharmacy and possess a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) or equivalent degree as determined by the National Board of Pharmacy. For graduates in a non‑US country or jurisdiction, pharmacists must have earned a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification as determined by the National Board of Pharmacy.
• Completed an ASHP Accredited Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency Program or equivalent practice experience.
• Must possess a current license in good standing to practice pharmacy in the State of California.
• Current certification for Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association.

Preferred Qualifications

• Completed an ASHP Accredited Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) Residency Program.

License & Certification

Must possess a current license in good standing to practice pharmacy in the State of California. Current certification for Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association.

Salary & Benefits

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.