Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Clinical Pharmacist performs additional procedures for the majority of time in a specialized oncology practice.  Responsibilities include providing individualization of drug therapy utilizing patient information to develop therapeutic plans, providing in-service education to other health care professionals within the Agency, providing drug information to patients, physicians, nurses and other health care professionals both internal and external to the Agency and providing instruction/supervision to pharmacy students and/or pharmacy residents. The Clinical Pharmacist also prepares and dispenses medication and other pharmaceuticals.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.Provides individualization of drug therapy to patients through methods such as receiving patient charts, assessing clinical response through patient contact and collaboration with other health care providers and creating an individualized therapeutic plan.

2.Interacts with patients and the health care team to ensure appropriate medication therapy and to develop therapeutic plans through methods such as developing discharge plans for inpatients and medication calendars for outpatients, assisting, as part of the care team, with the formulation of a therapeutic plan for the use of supportive care medications and assessing patient comprehension of that plan, answering patient’s questions and assisting with formulation of a therapeutic plan for the use of alternative and complementary treatments, and monitoring of patient compliance with therapeutic plans.

3.Prepares and dispenses medications and other pharmaceutical supplies to ensure appropriate medication therapy and to ensure practices and standards are in accordance with relevant federal and provincial legislation.

4.Provides verbal and written drug information to physicians, nurses and other health care professionals within the Agency, to the lay public, pharmacists and other health care professionals external to the Agency and to patients through individualized counselling.

5.Assists, as part of the care team, with the provision and/or financial support of non-BCCA benefit medications required to optimize the therapeutic plan through methods such as providing information and interacting with patients, health care providers and representatives from outside agencies regarding options such as compassionate release programs or obtaining financial support through emergency aid.

6.Provides instruction and/or supervision of pharmacy students and/or pharmacy residents through methods such as mentoring.

7.Provides in-service education and staff development to pharmacy staff and other members of the health care team through methods such as oral and poster presentations.

8.Provides education to individual patients, patient support groups and the general public through methods such as oral or poster presentations or patient counselling.

9.Directs the activities of pharmacy technicians and/or provides information to nurses and other health care professionals and housekeeping staff external to the Agency on the procedures for the handling of cytotoxic drugs including the use of the Biological Safety Cabinets and aseptic techniques through methods such as providing in service presentations or developing written procedures.

10.Maintains professional competence and expertise in the pharmaceutical profession through methods such as on-going review of current pharmacy and medical literature, attendance at in-service or other educational programs and through contact with peer professionals.

11.Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy with current registration as a Licensed Pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.
•    Completion of a Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program and one (1) year of recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.  

Skills and Abilities

•    Knowledge and competency in aseptic techniques, use of biological safety cabinets, procedures for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs, strategies for drug information provision and critical review of medical/paramedical literature, and strategies for individualizing drug therapy in patients.
•    Demonstrated ability to organize work and work independently.
•    Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
•    Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Demonstrated physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
•    Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment.
•    Demonstrated skills in CPR techniques.