REMS Program Specialist

Astera Cancer Care; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennessee Oncology in Nashville is seeking a REMS Program Specialist, a licensed nurse responsible for REMS program compliance and patient care management for all patients receiving designated REMS medications.

Responsibilities include implementing REMS requirements, coordinating patient enrollment and monthly surveys, assisting with pregnancy testing, audits, QA, and collaboration with pharmacists and physicians to ensure safe, effective therapy.

Qualifications

• Valid Tennessee or compact state nursing license required.
• Minimum 1 year RN or 2 years LPN or RN experience.
• 2+ years RN or LPN outpatient clinic experience preferred.
• Oncology experience preferred.
• TN State Pharmacy Technician license active or obtainable within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Ensure REMS requirements are met and REMS counselor certification is maintained.
• Implement REMS requirements and serve as subject matter expert for REMS processes.
• Coordinate REMS enrollment, monthly surveys, and pregnancy testing as applicable.
• Process specialty claims including prior authorizations, rejections, copays, and overrides.
• Provide patient care management and adherence support for prescribed regimens.
• Audit REMS program activities and participate in QA improvements.
• Communicate professionally with patients, physicians, and staff across channels.
• Collaborate with management to develop and optimize REMS programming.

Skills

Critical thinking

Clinical documentation

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

RN license - TN or compact state

LPN/RN experience 1+ year

TN Pharmacy Technician license active or within 90 days

Oncology clinic experience

Job description

Tennessee Oncology, one of the nation’s largest, community-based cancer care specialists, is home to one of the leading clinical trial networks in the country. Established 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee Oncology’s mission remains unchanged: To provide access to high-quality cancer care and the expertise of clinical research for all patients, at convenient locations within their community and close to their home. Our growing network of physicians and locations is based on this mission. Tennessee Oncology is committed to advancing both the science of detection and targeted treatments, and to making these advances available to every patient. We believe caring for cancer patients is a privilege.Why Join Us? We are looking for talented and highly-motivated individuals who demonstrate a natural desire to support the meaningful work of community oncologists and the patients we serve.Job Description:The Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Program Specialist is a licensed nurse that is responsible for ensuring program compliance and completion of all REMS requirements in addition to patient care management and adherence support for all patients currently receiving designated REMS medications, including those who will be required to receive product from outside pharmacies. Responsibilities will include comprehensive knowledge of REMS requirements from both the physician prescribing and the pharmacy fulfillment perspective.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Successfully pass annual test and maintain REMS counselor certification for required medicationsImplement all requirements for REMS medications and to serve as the subject matter expert on REMS process and medication management for both the clinic and pharmacyCollaborate with clinical staff to coordinate REMS required patient enrollment, monthly surveys, and any required pregnancy testing at the appropriate intervals prior to medication dispenseNavigate between multiple systems and ensure required documentation within each including but not limited to pharmacy processing system, EMR and manufacturer enrollment portalComplete specialty claims processing including, but not limited to, inclusion of prior authorizations, rejections, copay cards, and overridesProvide patient care management and/or mitigation of potential side effects, ensuring adherence to prescribed dosing and schedule, and assist in coordinating combination therapy including multiple routes of therapy administrationAssess adherence, identify opportunities and recommend/incorporate appropriate adherence support strategies including but not limited to calendars, reminders, digital solutionsReview clinical data and incorporate this data from the EMR and other sources to actively engage through open-ended, probing questions to actively engage and assess patient status to support best treatment outcomesExercise professional clinical judgement in identifying, triaging, and escalating patient issues to a pharmacist and/or physicianPerform routine audits of all areas required with REMS programParticipate in annual manufacture audit of REMS programCommunicate professionally and courteously across a variety of patient and HCP levels both in person and telephonicallyParticipate in Quality Assurance (QA) meetings as needed, identify areas of work susceptible to QA improvement and work with pharmacists to initiate Quality Improvement Projects as neededCollaborate with management in continuous program development and optimizationKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:Self-motivated worker who can work independently or with a teamAbility to prioritize tasks and demonstrate timeliness in completionAbility to focus equally on patient care and administrative requirementsAbility to think critically and independently to solve problemsAbility to communicate clinical information professionally and conciselyProficiency in organizing and completing multi-step processesDetailed and results-oriented with excellent customer service skillsExcellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and establish collaborative relationships with physicians, patients, clinical and administrative staffWorking knowledge of government and managed care benefit structuresPromotes highest ethical standardsEDUCATION & EXPERIENCEValid State of Tennessee or appropriate compact state nursing license requiredMinimum one (1) year RN or (2) years LPN or RN experience requiredTwo (2) or more years RN or LPN outpatient clinic experience preferredOncology experience preferredTelephone triage or other clinical interaction preferredSpecialty Pharmacy or medication therapy management program experience preferredTN State Pharmacy Technician license active and in good standing or obtained within 90 days of hire if not previously licensed in TN