Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Palliative Care Clinic

The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Palliative Care Clinic is responsible for providing clinical pharmacy services to patients in the adult palliative care ambulatory clinic and will work closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and pharmacists to provide comprehensive patient care for outpatients. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialist will also be responsible for counseling patients starting new therapies; performing clinical assessments; performing adherence and toxicity checks for patients on active therapy; answering drug-information questions; and assisting with drug access.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Practices as a pharmacist in accordance with all federal, state, DFCI and Joint Commission policies, regulations, and standards.
2. Ensures medication orders and/or prescriptions for appropriateness, accuracy and completeness based on patient-specific parameters and clinical data.
3. Provides clinical consultation and evidenced based recommendations for treatment plans, supportive care, dose adjustments and monitoring plans to clinicians regarding pharmacotherapy needs for patients based on literature, clinical practice guidelines and institutional standards.
4. Collaborates as a member of the pharmacy and interdisciplinary team through patient care related meetings including rounds, huddles, and case conferences as applicable.
5. Provides comprehensive education to patients and caregivers receiving oncology related therapy including participation in the oral anticancer education program and review and maintenance of patient education materials.
6. Documents clinical care activities in the EHR and effectively communicate all changes in care plan to the staff involved in patient care.
7. Participates in scholarly and educational activities according to departmental expectations (e.g., in-services, drug use evaluation, resident precepting, clinical research, quality/process improvement, presents continuing education programs, guideline development).
8. Participates in clinical administrative duties such as pathways, beacon validation and active patient management, formulary request process and presentation to P&T committee(s), evaluate off label/exception review, REMS programs and other departmental or strategic initiatives.
9. Participates in the development of policies, procedures, teaching documents, education and/or monitoring tools, workflow design, and other initiatives that will improve and/or expand the program.
10. Other duties and projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with others inside and outside the department (i.e., patients, providers, other institutions).
• Ability to effectively work within a collaborative team-focused environment.
• Ability to use all technology required to perform primary job functions.
• Ability to prioritize and adapt to changes; accepts additional responsibilities based on the changing needs of the work setting.
• Ability to accurately assess drug therapeutic appropriateness based on patient-specific parameters and clinical data.
• Ability to utilize references and/or drug information sources.
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills (ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgement).
• Ability to resolve common problems within their scope of practice and to escalate appropriately when needed.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

The Clinical Services Pharmacist II must meet the following requirements to be hired and maintain their position in the Pharmacy Department at DFCI.

Minimum Education:
All Pharmacists require a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of Pharmacy.

Minimum Experience:
PGY2 residency in area of specialty (preferred) or PGY1 plus 2 years of clinical specialist experience (such as oncology, palliative care, anticoagulation) or 5 years of clinical specialist experience (such as oncology, palliative care, anticoagulation) required.

License/Certification/Registration Required:
Must be licensed to practice pharmacy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pharmacists must attain board certification in their specialty area within 18 months of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
None

Patient Contact:
Yes