Pharmacy Clinical Specialist - Critical Care

Houston Methodist; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Methodist seeks a Pharmacy Clinical Specialist to deliver advanced clinical pharmacy services and optimize pharmacotherapy across designated areas. The role includes daily medication reviews, education for staff, and active participation in formulary and reconciliation activities.

The position supports precepting students and residents, contributes to quality and safety initiatives, and advances the organization’s mission of safe, cost-effective pharmaceutical care.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below.
• Must have ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency or equivalent experience; PGY2 or fellowship preferred; three years of clinical practice.
• Meets HM standards of an ASHP-Qualified Residency Preceptor within one year of employment.
• PHRM – Pharmacist state licensure in Texas and PPC – Pharmacist Preceptor Cert within 90 days.
• BLS – Basic Life Support within 90 days; ACLS/PALS and IV Certification may be preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical pharmacy services and education to staff, nurses, and physicians.
• Precept pharmacy students and residents on clinical rotations.
• Contribute to formulary processes, medication reconciliation, and pharmacotherapy reviews.
• Engage in quality and safety initiatives and participate in research or program development.

Job description

PRN- Days

At Houston Methodist, the Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position is responsible for performing advanced clinical pharmacy duties enabling the delivery of optimal pharmacotherapy to patients and facilitating safe, efficacious, and pharmacoeconomically rational use of medications in the population(s) served. This position involves daily reactive and targeted proactive medication regimen reviews for patients within the designated area(s) of responsibility or populations served. The Pharmacy Clinical Specialist position supports the delivery of pharmacy managed protocols, formulary processes and medication reconciliation activities while providing education to fellow pharmacists, nurses, and medical staff. Additional duties for this position include precepting pharmacy students and pharmacy residents on clinical patient care rotations within areas of responsibility and contributing to fulfilling the organization’s mission to provide innovative, personalized, cost-effective pharmaceutical care in a culture dedicated to quality and safety.

FLSA Status

Non-exempt

Qualifications

Education

• Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licences and Registrations section.

Experience

• Must have one of the following:
  • Successful completion of an ASHP-accredited post-graduate year one (PGY1) residency training program or equivalent experience (e.g., three years of pharmacy experience per residency year) – required.
  • ASHP-accredited post-graduate year two (PGY2) or fellowship – preferred.
  • Three years of clinical practice experience.
• Meets HM standards of an ASHP-Qualified Residency Preceptor within one year of employment.

Licences and Certifications

Required

• PHRM – Pharmacist State Licensure – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation PSV: Texas Pharmacist license or eligibility within 90 days.
• PPC – Pharmacist Preceptor Cert – State Licensure – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation PSV within 90 days.
• BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association within 90 days.

Preferred

• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA).
• PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA).
• IV Certification – Intravenous certification (various).
• Board of Pharmacy Specialty certification.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Proficiency in English sufficient to perform essential functions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers in a customer‑service‑focused manner.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills across all levels of the healthcare team, with the capability to coordinate major pharmacy service areas.
• Professional competence in drug selection, evaluation, utilisation, and distribution for all patient groups, from neonate to geriatric.
• Proficient in rational drug therapy principles, including application of evidence-based guidelines and innovative clinical practices.
• Knowledge of operational pharmacy practice and experience providing fundamental clinical pharmacy services and direct patient care activities with nursing and medical staff.
• Competence in research related to pharmacy practice and maintenance of active credentialing with HM Academic Institute (refer to manager for details).

Essential Functions

People Essential Functions

• Promotes a positive, team-focused work environment and actively collaborates with healthcare professionals for problem resolution and patient‑specific goals.
• Serves as a rotation preceptor for students and PGY1/P¥2 residents, and mentors staff pharmacists to advance clinical skills.

Service Essential Functions

• Processes all orders/requests accurately and efficiently, verifying drug appropriateness relative to patient diagnosis, allergies, height, and weight; exercises good judgment in patient care decisions per performance standard; documents patient care activities and outcomes.
• Provides patient‑specific and non‑patient‑specific drug information support regularly.
• Serves on one or more Medical Staff committees and actively contributes to committee goals.

Quality/Safety Essential Functions

• Collaborates with healthcare professionals to manage drug therapy for maximal effectiveness while minimizing adverse events, using established guidelines.
• Provides pharmaceutical care from fundamental to advanced level for patients in the designated practice area; activities include proactive drug therapy reviews, patient counselling, transitions of care, and pharmacist‑based dosing protocols.
• Participates in quality management initiatives such as medication use evaluations, adverse drug reaction and medication error reporting, clinical interventions, medication centre reviews, and inventory documentation and reporting.

Finance Essential Functions

• Contributes to pharmacoeconomically sound medication therapy by upholding HM Formulary standards and avoiding medication‑related complications.
• Self‑motivated to independently manage time; prioritises tasks for self and others within the specialty area.

Growth/Innovation Essential Functions

• Presents in‑services for pharmacy, medical, nursing, and other staff members in area(s) of responsibility; develops educational materials and programmes.
• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond fundamental competencies, focusing on continual development as a Pharmacy Clinical Specialist.
• Contributes to design, analysis, and reporting of quality improvement programme findings.
• Participates in research projects to advance organisational quality of care and the pharmacy profession; submits research and scholarly work for publication or presentation.

Supplemental Requirements

Work Attire

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

On‑Call

Yes (employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies such as disaster or severe weather events, regardless of selection).

Travel

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
• May require travel outside the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes