Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist Specialist

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an 881-bed quaternary care academic medical center that is a joint venture between Baylor College of Medicine and St. Luke’s Health. Located in the Texas Medical Center, the hospital is the home of the Texas Heart® Institute, a cardiovascular research and education institution founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD. The hospital was the first facility in Texas and the Southwest designated a Magnet® hospital for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, receiving the award five consecutive times. Baylor St. Luke’s also has three community emergency centers offering adult and pediatric care for the Greater Houston area. 

St. Luke’s Health, now part of CommonSpirit Health formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health, has been serving our community since 1954. Operating 137 hospitals and more than 1,000 care sites across 21 states, making our services accessible to nearly 1 in 4 U.S. residents. We proudly provide a vast array of services that help us keep our community safe and healthy.

The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist is responsible for providing leadership and clinical pharmacy services, including the implementation of System, Region, and Facility Pharmacy Services initiatives. The incumbent will provide leadership in establishing and maintaining clinical pharmacy programs, mentor staff pharmacists to clinical pharmacy activities, educate pharmacy residents and students affiliated with the facility, provide clinical pharmacy support to one or more Service Lines, and collaborate with the facility Pharmacy leadership team in establishing action plans to support department initiatives at the campus level. Ensures that all actions taken and methods to produce the results outlined below incorporate and promote CSH’s mission, vision, and values.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promotes long and short-range planning to respond and integrate within the market, Region, and system.
• Works collaboratively with pharmacy peers to standardize clinical pharmacy systems when appropriate.
• Works, as directed by facility pharmacy leadership, on developing, coaching and mentoring pharmacy staff to maximize their scope of practice in the provision of clinical pharmacy services and scholarly activities across the continuum of care.
• Educates the medical staff regarding cost-effective, quality pharmaceutical care based on evidence based medicine and best practices.
• Participates in assigned committees relevant to their knowledge, experience and practice area.
• Assures that clinical pharmacy initiatives are in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Precepts Pharmacy Interns and Pharmacy Residents.
• Functions as a clinical pharmacist (centralized/ decentralized staffing).
• This position may serve as the Residency Program Director as applicable.

CLINICAL PHARMACIST FUNCTIONS

• Demonstrates ability to document clinical activities and interventions such as consults, patient teachings and other patient specific information as defined by policy and procedure.
• Interprets medication orders and/or prescriptions for drug interactions, appropriate drug selection and appropriateness. Accurately enters the order or prescription into the computer system, labels, and dispenses medications in a timely manner.
• Verifies and checks medications prepared by other pharmacy personnel.
• Communicates drug information to patients and health professionals. Resolves drug related problems by consulting with other health care professionals to achieve appropriate patient outcomes. Unclear orders written by a licensed provider are clarified with the licensed provider. Assists the licensed provider in appropriate drug selection and therapeutic regimens. 
• Achieves and maintains an adequate basic knowledge base to provide clinical services for all age groups served. Provides basic clinical services as required by policy and procedure.
• Maintains a working knowledge of automated systems.
• Responsible for technician activities, performance, provides direction and guidance as needed.
• Participates in the orientation, instruction and training of pharmacy students and interns, pharmacy technicians, residents, pharmacists and other health professionals.
• Performs duties in documented accordance with requirements of all regulatory and governing bodies.
• Completing mandatory education from a system and department level is appropriate.
• Provides patient counseling and drug information and documentation as appropriate.
• Completes other duties as they are assigned within the scope of their licensure as requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree
• Residency completion or three (3) years of clinical experience
• Active Texas Pharmacist License in good standing
• Board Certification required within 3 years of hire 
• BLS Certification issued by the American Heart Association
• ACLS Certification issued by the American Heart Association