Pharmacy Clinical Specialist - Acute Care

Merraine Group; Virginia; On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Clinical ladder career development

Onsite childcare

Free parking

Onsite credit union

Employee discounts

Job summary

Merraine Group is seeking a Clinical Pharmacist to impact patient outcomes within a collaborative healthcare team at a Virginia hospital. You will deliver decentralized clinical services across ICU, medicine, surgery, obstetrics, nursery, ED, and infusion centers, while reviewing orders and optimizing therapy with physicians and nurses.

You’ll develop and support clinical programs, participate in formulary decisions, educate staff, and precept students.

Qualifications

• PharmD or BS in Pharmacy with hospital experience.
• Eligibility for Virginia pharmacist licensure.
• Clinical pharmacy experience in acute care preferred.
• Board certification encouraged.
• Knowledge of medication therapy management and safety.

Responsibilities

• Provide decentralized clinical pharmacy services across ICU, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Nursery, ED, and Ambulatory Infusion Center.
• Review and verify medication orders for accuracy, safety, and guidelines.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to optimize therapy and outcomes.
• Develop and support clinical programs, policies, order sets, and MQEs.
• Monitor compliance with guidelines and recommend safety improvements.
• Participate in formulary management and hospital committees.
• Educate healthcare professionals and develop competency assessments.
• Precept students and support clinical training.
• Provide clinical consultation to staff pharmacists, including evening on-call rotation.
• Provide onsite coverage about one weekend every four weeks with weekday adjustments.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy practice

Communication skills

Collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education mentorship

Initiative adaptability

Education

PharmD

BS in Pharmacy

PGY1 residency

Virginia pharmacist licensure

Board certification encouraged

Job description

This is an opportunity for a clinical pharmacist to make a direct impact on patient outcomes as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary healthcare team. The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist will provide clinical expertise across a range of acute care settings, partnering with physicians, nurses, and fellow pharmacists to optimize medication therapy, promote patient safety, and advance evidence-based practice. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to clinical program development, staff education, and medication management initiatives within a well-established, not-for-profit community hospital.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide decentralized clinical pharmacy services across the Intensive Care, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Nursery units, Emergency Department, and Ambulatory Infusion Center.
• Review and verify medication orders for accuracy, appropriateness, safety, and compliance with established clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to optimize medication therapy, resolve complex drug-related problems, and improve patient outcomes.
• Develop and support clinical pharmacy programs, medication management policies, order sets, and medication-use evaluations.
• Monitor compliance with clinical practice guidelines and recommend improvements to medication safety and quality of care.
• Participate in formulary management, hospital committees, and initiatives to standardize and improve medication-use practices.
• Educate healthcare professionals on medication-related topics and develop and administer competency assessments.
• Precept pharmacy students and support clinical training and professional development.
• Provide clinical consultation to staff pharmacists, including participation in an evening on-call rotation for complex patient cases.
• Provide onsite clinical pharmacy coverage approximately one weekend every four weeks, with corresponding weekday scheduling adjustments.

Qualifications & Experience

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree or Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy with hospital experience, or completion of a relevant PGY1 residency, consistent with the organization's requirements.
• Eligibility for pharmacist licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Clinical pharmacy practice experience and strong communication skills preferred.
• Experience in acute care or specialty areas such as oncology, pediatrics, cardiology, critical care, or emergency medicine is an advantage.
• Board certification in pharmacy is encouraged.
• Knowledge of medication therapy management, evidence-based clinical guidelines, medication safety, and interdisciplinary care practices.
• Clinical judgment: Evaluates complex medication regimens and develops appropriate, evidence-based recommendations.
• Collaboration: Builds effective working relationships with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other members of the care team.
• Communication: Explains clinical recommendations clearly and provides reliable medication information to healthcare professionals.
• Patient safety focus: Identifies medication-related risks and supports continuous improvement in clinical practice.
• Analytical thinking: Evaluates medication utilization, clinical outcomes, and adherence to treatment guidelines.
• Education and mentorship: Supports staff development, student learning, and competency-based training.
• Initiative and adaptability: Contributes to clinical program development and responds effectively to evolving patient care needs.

The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist will join a 250-bed, not-for-profit community hospital serving Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The organization offers a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service built around collaboration, evidence-based medication management, and direct involvement in patient care across multiple hospital settings.

The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with some flexibility in start and end times. The role includes onsite clinical coverage approximately every fourth weekend, with a weekday off when working a weekend. Clinical pharmacists also share an evening on-call rotation to provide support for complex clinical questions; calls are infrequent.

The compensation package includes a $15,000 sign-on bonus paid with the first paycheck and relocation assistance. Additional benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan and generous paid time off
• Flexible scheduling and tuition reimbursement
• Clinical ladder career development program and shared governance
• Individualized orientation with a dedicated preceptor
• Onsite childcare, fitness reimbursement, and free parking
• Onsite credit union and employee discounts