GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The PHARMACIST assures appropriate drug therapy for the patient and monitors services to verify that the facility/institution is meeting legal and accepted pharmacy requirements. The PHARMACIST also provides clinical dispensing and educational organization and direction to supportive personnel.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a single classification and not currently part of a series of classes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Positions in this class are responsible for providing pharmaceutical care for their patients. Their duties and responsibilities may include some or all of the following:

1. Clinical and Educational Duties. Typical tasks: prepares medication histories for the patient's permanent medical record; monitors drug therapy by direct involvement with the patient and routine evaluation of the patient's drug regimen, medical problems and laboratory data; communicates relevant findings and recommendations, such as therapeutic alternatives to other clinicians; educates and counsels patients; participates in management of medical emergencies, adverse drug reactions, and acute and chronic disease states; provides written consultations in such areas as drug therapy selection, pharmacokinetics and nutritional support; initiates and participates in research, including clinical drug investigations; controls medication administration and drug distribution in patient-care areas; detects and reports adverse drug reactions; participates in the education of health-care practitioners; participates in drug-use evaluations and other quality assurance programs.
2. Dispensing. Typical tasks: interprets physicians' prescriptions and exercises professional judgment to determine appropriateness of the medication's indication, dose, route and frequency; reviews prescription for drug interactions and allergies; transcribes and fills medication orders for inpatient and outpatient clients; prepares intravenous solutions including chemotherapy agents; daily performs routine entries of drug prescriptions into the computer terminal or pharmacy profile; checks and verifies for accuracy all unit dose trays, new orders, and transcribing prepared by the pharmacy technician.
3. Records and Inventory. Typical tasks: maintains logs and documentation records of pharmaceuticals (e.g., controlled substances, manufactured and compounded products, preparation of unit dose products, investigational drugs); maintains dispensing records and monitors patient medical records; monitors inventory lists to note dated and outdated medications and to requisition drugs and supplies as inventory indicates; produces and monitors computerized records for various departments (e.g., medication administration records, physician's orders); evaluates product selection (bioavailability) information, and selects product to be purchased; purchases product or delegates responsibility to others.
4. Miscellaneous. Typical tasks: inspects medication stations for proper storage, temperature and security of drugs; attends institutional committee meeting (e.g., infection control, code 99, nursing advisory, pharmacy and therapeutics, quarterly health care, quality assurance).

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class have regular contact, in person and by telephone, with health care team (e.g., physicians, nurses, psychologists, dieticians) to review and solve problems, and offer therapeutic alternatives involving patient's drug regimen. There is also regular in person contact with patients and families to provide counseling concerning the safe and proper administration of their medications. In addition, in-services are provided to the staff of other departments (e.g., medical, nursing, dental, food services, physical medicine). In accordance with regulations and standards of the State Board of Pharmacy, adequate professional oversight of pharmacy technicians, interns, and externs is also provided by employees in this class.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class receive general supervision from a pharmacy director/manager or designee as mandated by the Board of Pharmacy. Employees in this class work independently and with minimal supervision, accepting responsibility and liability for work performed. Employees in this class follow State Pharmacy Board rules, State and Federal rules and regulations, and agency policies and procedures as guidelines for packaging, handling and distributing medications.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Positions in this class are primarily found in hospitals, clinics or other health care facilities. They require the willingness to work in the environment associated with the position's location and purpose. In addition, they require the willingness to maintain a sympathetic and understanding attitude towards mentally ill, mentally retarded, handicapped, and/or physically ill patients. Some positions require the willingness to work overtime, on-call and/or rotating schedules.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A current Pharmacist's license issued by the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy.