Clinical Ethicist jobs in Iowa

The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, is seeking a full-time Clinical Pharmacist to join our team.  This pharmacist position provides comprehensive pharmaceutical care services to patients seen in UI Healthcare Ambulatory Care Pharmacies and clinics. The pharmacist will predominately provide clinical support, education, medication dispensing, and monitoring for patients receiving medications in the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center infusion area and clinics.

Position Responsibilities:

Patient Care - Participate in the Provision of Pharmaceutical Care 

• • Provide medication order review and evaluation, therapeutic drug monitoring and chemotherapy protocol review.
  • Provide in-depth patient education on new chemotherapy regimens.
  • Utilize IV workflow technology to inspect and verify compounded sterile products.
  • Oversee distribution of patient-specific medications; prepare sterile compounds including hazardous antineoplastic items; dispense take-home medications to patients and their caregivers; consult with patients on appropriate over-the-counter medications; and collect payment using point-of-sale system.
  • Complete a comprehensive patient assessment including medication history, pertinent physical assessment, assessment of relevant laboratory values, patient interview, and an evaluation of past medical history for appropriate patients.
  • Work with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers as a member of the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Identify, evaluate and prevent adverse drug events through appropriate interventions.
  • Communicate therapeutic recommendations to the health care provider verbally.
  • Coordinate medication-planning activities including facilitation of prescription writing, patient education, coordination with family members or home health care providers, etc.
  • Collaboratively address financial issues to ensure receipt of needed medications.
  • Provide drug information and education to health care professionals.
  • Serve as liaison for ambulatory pharmacy staff regarding patient medication therapy.
  • Evaluate patient-specific medication regimens to ensure the appropriateness of the following:
    • Indication
    • Correct dose
    • Route of administration
    • Drug-drug, drug-food, drug-lab, or drug-disease state interactions
    • Efficacy of therapy
    • Adherence to therapy
    • Dose adjustments for organ dysfunction 
    • Adverse drug reactions
    • Potential drug misuse or abuse
    • Use of the most cost-effective therapy
    • Availability of medications on the UIHC Formulary (as applicable)

Documents All Patient Care Activities Performed

The active participation of the clinical pharmacist as a member of the healthcare team requires efficient communication of activities to all those who participate in the care of patients.  Provision of pharmacy-related services requires the sharing of information with other members of the team through documentation within the patient medical record and other on-line reporting systems as well as through intradepartmental channels which provide adequate documentation of such services to departmental and hospital administrative personnel.

• • Documents all patient drug allergies and patient-specific height and weight information.
  • Documents medication histories.
  • Documents the provision of medication counseling to patients.
  • Documents interventions with prescribers and other healthcare providers.
  • Documents patient interactions – those that occur in the clinic and when the patient is located elsewhere (e.g., at home, as an inpatient, in the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy).
  • Documents applicable drug dosing recommendations made to prescribers.
  • Documents applicable Drug Use Evaluation Program activities.
  • Documents steps taken to identify, evaluate, or avoid adverse drug reactions.
  • Medication errors into standard reporting system.

Facilitates Operational Initiatives Which Lead to Enhanced Patient Care Services

The clinical pharmacist must assume the role of patient advocate for all issues associated with drug therapy.  The clinical pharmacist must position him/herself so to positively influence therapeutic decisions which will affect patients and their care.  Participation in hospital-wide programs intended to improve care (e.g., the Drug Use Evaluation Program and Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Program) serves as a valuable quality-of-service surveillance tool and promotes healthcare provider education.

• • Follows-up on any medication system problems, such as:
    • Unclear or inappropriate prescription orders
    • Drug therapy which is not most cost effective
    • Prescription order for non-formulary products
    • Missing or untimely medication doses
  • Carries out, as appropriate, Medication Use Evaluation Program initiatives through active prescriber intervention and education.
  • Serves on intra- and interdepartmental committees, task forces, and teams as required.
  • Perform quality assurance monitoring of services provided at the main campus and Quad Cities infusion centers.
  • Facilitates completion of monthly clinic audits as assigned by the supervisor.

Provides Educational Services

An important responsibility of the clinical pharmacist is the education of students, fellow staff, other healthcare providers, and patients about drugs and their appropriate use.  New and future pharmacy practitioners are continually exposed to the day-to-day activities of the practicing clinical pharmacist; thus, the clinical pharmacist must serve as a role model for these staff and students.  The educational process must also transcend professional boundaries, as the clinical pharmacist interacts with and serves as an information resource for other members of the health care team.  Lastly, the clinical pharmacist takes great care to instruct all patients about the need for and appropriate use of prescribed medications.

• • Serves as preceptor for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents on clinical rotations sponsored by the UIHC Department of Pharmaceutical Care.
  • Presents in-service educational programs to staff nurses, physicians, and other colleagues on the healthcare team.
  • Presents at and/or participates in other educational programs sponsored by the Department of Pharmaceutical Care, the College of Pharmacy, other UIHC or UI departments, and state and national organizations.
  • Conducts educational classes for pharmacy students and pharmacy residents as appropriate.
  • Conducts patient education classes about the proper use of medications as appropriate.
  • Serves as mentor and role model for other pharmacist practitioners within the department, particularly those who provide ambulatory care services.

Participates in Research

The ambulatory care clinical pharmacist participates in research activities as appropriate, including providing support for Investigational Drug Service prescriptions and orders.  This research may take many forms, including developmental, evaluative, and/or clinical research.  It may be intradepartmental or interdisciplinary in format.  The presentation and/or publication of research findings are encouraged.

Other

Complete and maintain compliance with all competencies and educational requirements.