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Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

About the Role:

Job Summary

The Pharmacist for Ambulatory Care (the Pharmacist) is an energetic, organized individual who takes ownership and initiative in handling a wide range of duties from specific aspects of complex project coordination and implementation, to providing high level administrative and coaching support for staff regarding specific clinical care processes and safe medication practices. Close collaboration with providers, care management and population health staff is expected. The Pharmacist must be an excellent team player, have a proven history of positive medication safety improvements within a collaborative work environment, and be able to successfully provide guidance to a variety of clinical and non-clinical leaders through NGPG. Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Pharmacist will be responsible for designing, implementing and monitoring medication safety policies for NGPG that support safe prescribing practices and optimum patient outcomes. S/he will collaborate with providers on best practices in addressing patient medication needs, including patient education and self-management. The Pharmacist will be responsible for analyzing medication usage data, including prescribing practices and outcomes, variances in medication safety practices, and developing educational activities related to polypharmacy, pharmaceutical support for clinical pathways, and medication safety for the NGPG learning community, which is comprised of providers, clinic staff, practice administrators, operations leadership, and NGPG senior leaders.

The Pharmacist must demonstrate a creative ability to develop and lead educational offerings as determined by need and analysis, and to assist with other types of learning sessions and committee or other team meetings designed to support optimum patient outcomes and a high degree of medication safety in the ambulatory care setting. The Pharmacist will also assist with identifying opportunities for collaboration with the QUEST transformation team in order to improve processes that promote patient safety. 

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications: Georgia licensed PharmD. (Doctor of Pharmacy) Credentials required include at least one of the following: BCACP, BCPS, BCOP, BCPP, or CGP at the day of hire or be eligible for the exam. If eligible for the exam, will need to take and pass the exam within 12 months of hire date.

• Educational Requirements: Doctor of Pharmacy

• Minimum Experience: Two (2) to three (3) years recent experience as a pharmacist in a clinical setting (hospital or ambulatory care)

• Other:

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:

• Preferred Educational Requirements:

• Preferred Experience:

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent self-management and organizational skills and ability to work as a team-player

• High degree of professionalism and capacity to manage relationships with a wide variety of individuals in differing roles, e.g., senior management, Board members, physicians, employers, government, consumers, media

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with high degree of competency in manipulating and presenting large data

• Ability to be flexible, prioritize and manage multiple tasks concurrently with minimal supervision

• Strong administrative and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail

• Excellent computer skills including MS Office suite and experience with advanced software (e.g., Visio) preferred. Experience with RL a plus.

• Good understanding of investigation techniques (e.g., root cause analysis, FMEA) and performance improvement management methods (e.g., Lean Six Sigma)

• Must be able to assume a wide range of responsibilities, to work with staff who vary in their work styles, and to work under pressure. Must be willing to work irregular/extra hours and travel in- state as necessary. Provide timely response to requests and deadlines. Receive, process, and provide visual and verbal information. 

• Must demonstrate high integrity and be creative and able to work in a very fast paced, dynamic environment

• Maintains current awareness and understanding of standards, principles, trends, regulations, best practices, and pay for performance measures related to medication management, role and scope of pharmacist practice, and patient safety issues

• Uphold the principles and guidelines of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Obtain and analyze data pertaining to provider prescribing practices.

• Utilize prescribing data to assist in the following: Develop, implement, and manage a NGPG formulary. Develop an ambulatory antibiogram by clinic (or by region when warranted). Determines best use of medical-evaluation studies (by medication or therapeutic class, disease state or condition, a medication -use process (prescribing, preparing and dispensing, administering, and monitoring), or specific outcomes. Evaluate and improve medication-use processes with the goal of optimal patient outcomes. Collaborate with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to establish consistent and sustainable models for seamless transitions across the continuum of care.

• Leverage health information technologies to efficiently identify populations of patients for whom evidence-based comprehensive medication management is indicated.

• Develop, promote, and utilize resources and tools to facilitate identification of patients who require comprehensive medication management to optimize patient care and pharmacy practice in the ambulatory care setting.

• Develop education for patients and caregivers designed to improve self-management and patient safety, to include incorporating principles of health literacy and cultural sensitivity.

• Collaborate with care team to identify support needed to achieve optimal outcomes in performance measures involving, related to, or requiring medication practices.

• Demonstrate measurable and meaningful impact on individual patient and population outcomes.

• Conduct comprehensive medication reviews for polypharmacy, drug allergies, clinical effectiveness, cost effective drug selection, dose optimization, contraindications, adverse effects, potential drug interactions, therapeutic outcomes and adherence, and new formulary considerations.

• Serve as a credible, trusted resource for the identification, analysis, and promotion of safe medication practices. Review, investigate when warranted, and analyze medication variances reported through the electronic reporting system. Make recommendations for performance improvement based on analysis and trends related to medication variances. Implement and maintain a communication vehicle (i.e., newsletter, etc.) that furthers dialogue and learning among the care team about medication practices that are safe and effective.

• Serve as a resource to physicians, advanced practice providers and other clinical staff regarding inquiries related to clinical appropriateness, current regulatory and/or professional guidelines, and new drugs. Report and educate care teams on antibiograms and monitor effectiveness. Collaborate with providers when requested for consultation on individual patient care prescribing concerns or questions.

• Design, implement, and monitor an antimicrobial stewardship program for the ambulatory care setting, including Urgent Care.

• Collaborate with providers in designing and implementing medication-related shared decision-making tools for patient/provider use.

• Recommend best practices for efficiency and patient outcomes in achieving optimal outcomes for medication related pay for performance measures prescribed by CMS and NCQA (HEDIS measures).

• Collaborates with providers on the development and implementation of clinical pathways as applicable.

• Acts as liaison and oversees a pharmacy residency program for ambulatory care.

• Manages and directs all pharmacists in the ambulatory care environment that provide direct patient care activities (when embedded in the ambulatory care clinics and applicable).

• Participate in research that supports pharmacist value in contributing to improved health outcomes.

• Attends and participates in the review of panel patients by health plan partners, including HP2.

• Attends and participates in the Quality & Patient Safety Council.

• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 50 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 50 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Vision: Moderate, Frequently 31-65% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Occasionally 0-30%

• Standing/Walking: Occasionally 0-30%

• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%

• Intensity of Work: Frequently 31-65%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding, Driving

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals. 

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.