Clinical Pharmacist- Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

Click here for the current job posting

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, diversity, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Clinical Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship Program

This pharmacist will join an established Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) consisting of pharmacists and physicians. This position will provide the opportunity to further develop and expand the existing ASP. This pharmacist will serve as a clinical resource to providers and nurses as well as the Department of Pharmacy Services. This position, in conjunction with the stewardship team will identify opportunities to improve antimicrobial prescribing across the University of Utah Health system. Additional roles will include implementing stewardship interventions and tracking and evaluating the impact of these interventions for patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings. This position works collaboratively with providers, nurses, and pharmacists as well as other teams across the system. The primary focus of the position is Antimicrobial Stewardship; however, the pharmacist will be responsible for providing back-up coverage to Infectious Disease Pharmacists and their areas of clinical responsibilities. This position also offers the opportunity to teach learners (students, residents) and participate in clinical research. As a starting expectation, this would consist of a majority of in-person work.

The following outlines the responsibilities that are included but are not limited to the following functions.

• Develop inpatient and outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in conjunction with the physician and pharmacy ASP Co-Leaders.

• Maintain existing protocols for approval of restricted antimicrobials, prospective audit and feedback of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and optimizing use of infectious diseases rapid diagnostics. Target interventions include documentation of stewardship recommendations using progress notes in the medical record.

• Participate in in-person “handshake rounds”/prospective audit and feedback with physician co-lead minimum of 3 days per week.

• Participate in antibiotic allergy de-labeling interventions which includes in-person patient discussion and education.

• Share antimicrobial stewardship pager duties with other team members. The antimicrobial stewardship pager is staffed 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm and takes calls for restricted antimicrobials and assistance with other stewardship related provider and pharmacist questions. This is split with the rest of the stewardship team.

• Develop new protocols and manage antimicrobial stewardship projects and initiatives.

• Analyze antimicrobial utilization data and other program outcome data and prepare and present reports.

• Mentor front line pharmacists regarding optimal infectious diseases care and antimicrobial stewardship, including participation in and leading quarterly stewardship-focused grand rounds.

• Participate in departmental and interdisciplinary committees to improve patient safety, therapeutic outcomes, and cost savings.

• Be responsible for the care of patients as well as the development of effective, professional relationships within the multidisciplinary team.

• Design and provide effective in-service education for physicians, nurses, pharmacy technicians, and other practitioners on antimicrobial use issues.

This position will strongly prefer candidates with PGY-2 Infectious Disease Residency and prior antimicrobial stewardship experience (2 years experience or more preferred). Data management skills also preferred in order to assess utilization and impact of antimicrobial interventions.

Clinical pharmacists insure safe, effective, and cost-efficient medication therapy is implemented for all patients in their care and monitor care appropriately. This includes preparing medications, participating in the drug distribution process, monitoring drug therapy, providing drug information to patients and providers, providing clinical pharmacy services, solving medication related problems for individual patients as well as in the medication use process, and supervise daily workflow to accomplish daily tasks allotted to the pharmacist and those who report to him or her (e.g., technicians, residents, students, or interns). Clinical pharmacists participate in quality improvement projects to improve clinical care or pharmacy operations. Clinical pharmacists must work effectively as a team member, communicate clearly, assertively, and professionally, to all pharmacy customers including patients, their families, and other staff members, and provide superior customer service when interacting with patients, visitors, family members, staff, co-workers, and vendors. Clinical pharmacists must be willing to work with trainees in the department (eg, students, interns, residents or new staff).

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our four hospitals and seventeen clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Solves problems in the medication use process for patients and the organization.

• Identifies and engages in organizational and department quality improvement activities to improve patient care, medication use process, and pharmacy operations.

• Educates and trains residents, students, interns, colleagues and other health care professionals as well as supervises technicians, residents, interns, or trainees in their job tasks.

• Responsible for the medication use process of preparing and dispensing medications following medication use policy and all laws, regulations, and standards applicable to pharmacy practice.

• Assesses appropriate drug information and literature resources, and provides effective information to varied audiences including patients, other health care professions, and peers.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

• Ability and willingness to train department trainees (eg students, residents, new staff).

• Ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

Qualifications

Qualifications Required

• Advanced degree (PharmD or MS) or equivalent clinical practice experience.

• Demonstrated human relation, effective communication, and computer literacy skills.

• Additional qualifications may be required depending on area the pharmacist is primarily assigned to work. Examples of additional qualifications could include basic or advanced life-support training, residency training, or certifications.

Licenses Required

• Current licensure to dispense controlled substances in the State of Utah.

• One of the following

• Current Pharmacist license in the State of Utah (Obtain within 90 days of starting residency)

• Current time-limited license to practice as a Pharmacist in the State of Utah. The time-limited license is issued in cases of State Emergencies and are valid only during the time frame indicated.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Preferred

• Residency training.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves light work that may exert up to 20 pounds and may consistently require light work involving lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects. This position involves standing for extended periods of time and is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Requirements

Color Determination, Listening, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Walking

Multi-lingual Candidates Welcomed

To inquire about this posting, email: [email protected]