The Information Systems Pharmacist (IT Clinical Pharmacist) is an expert in human factors, patient safety, and the use of technology to optimize care delivery processes and effectively communicate patient care activity. The IT Clinical Pharmacist specializes in the medication process, from ordering to administration, and is responsible for effective process design, development, and implementation of the Electronic Medical Record and Clinical Decision Support. As well, this role supports pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other clinicians as the resource for requests related to the Guthrie System EMR changes and additions.
The IT Clinical Pharmacist demonstrates independent decision making as appropriate in the evaluation of requests for system improvements and determines feasibility and advisability of system changes. The IT Clinical Pharmacist works closely with clinicians, departmental leadership, Quality, Patient Safety, Accreditation and Licensure Departments and Information Systems staff to clarify needs, prioritize requests, design workflow to fit with electronic systems, and execute change and facilitate adaptation to the Electronic Medical Record.
Ensures the coordination of the pharmacy services with the information technology to provide optimal patient care outcomes. Facilitates the development, implementation, and maintenance of systems that promote desirable patient outcomes through the use of safe, cost‐effective drug therapies.
Responsible for performing clinical appropriateness of the pharmacy information systems which includes but not limited to the evaluation and design of a system as well as planning and monitoring of the pharmacy information systems testing. Clinical staff/IT role requires flexibility to incorporate a systems perspective in collaborating the pharmacy operations, clinical practices and information system to ensure establish seamless pharmacy‐IT vision with a goal of better patient care outcome.
Education, License & Cert: Graduation from an ACPE accredited School of Pharmacy with a BS or Pharm D Degree. Additional training in healthcare management or information system is preferred.
Currently licensed to practice Pharmacy in New York State.
Experience: An internship, residency, or prior experience in a health system is preferred, but not required.
At least one year of experience in a clinical setting in order to:
1. acquire a higher level of professional knowledge in pharmacy
2. develop specific expertise in services including education, quality improvement, and drug therapy monitoring
3. acquire in‐depth knowledge of departmental policy and procedures
4. Develop suitable supervisory and interpersonal skills.
5. Have competency in hands on working with information systems
Essential Functions: Information Systems role:
Provides information systems support to the pharmacy‐related activity.
1. Responsible for order set management:
a. Development and maintenance of overall principles for safe design and use of order sets, with a focus on medications
b. Co‐ Chair Guthrie Order Set Committee
c. Development and maintenance of standard order set clinical content
d. Identified leader as resource for requests for changes, additional orders and order sets
e. Shepherds clinical authors through the approval process outlined by the P&T, Decision Support, and Clinical Advisory committees
f. Collaborates with specialty authors to develop order sets based on order set standards, patient safety principles, and evidence‐based practice guidelines.
2. Support EHR Epic Modules
a. Willow
b. Beacon
3. Support Omnicell software
4. Responsible to maintain Smart Pump drug libraries across the system.
5. Responsible as thought leader for maximizing technology design to achieve the best clinical outcomes. Leads the organizational design, implementation and evaluation of Clinical Decision Support for medication related concerns.
6. Content expert on the literature related to the use of the Electronic Medical Record and Clinical Decision support to meet organizational quality and patient safety goals for medication related concerns.
7. Participates in development, monitoring and evaluation of decision support for continuous improvement, particularly for medications
8. Partners with clinicians to identify and facilitate advanced clinical decision support implementation within the electronic medical record in order to meet clinical goals.
9. Participates in quality projects and on assigned committees to provide expertise on using the clinical information system to achieve goals
10. Participates in functional testing for human factors issues before and after system upgrades and improvements
11. Problem solves application issues and works through barriers to achieve results by collaborating effectively with users and the Information Technology staff.
12. Communicates effectively with all members of the healthcare delivery team, leadership, and the EPIC implementation team.
13. Accountable for the successful utilization of order sets and clinical decision support to drive best practices for medication related orders.
14. Effectively communicate thoughts, feelings and /or information’s to a specific group as well as knowledgeable use of presentation devices
15. Demonstrates proficiency in conducting, coordinating and publishing research in HealthCare Informatics
a. Supervises design, build and maintenance of pharmacy’s clinical information systems and databases.
b. Serves as resource for help with system analysis of pharmacy’s clinical information systems.
c. Provide leadership in pharmacy information systems selection and evaluation processes. Participates in needs assessment, and requirement definition.
d. Participate in planning related to future direction of pharmacy information system efforts.
e. Facilitate communication between users, Information Services department, vendors and administration to identify system needs, modifications and/or issues.
f. Jointly with other members of the pharmacy department, works on development of policies and procedures related to pharmacy’s clinical information systems.
g. Oversee the development of system documentation and training materials related to clinical information systems.
h. Maintain a high‐level understanding and working knowledge of clinical pharmacy information systems, its functions and relationships to other information systems.
i. Works closely with members of pharmacy department, including the System Director of Pharmacy to identify, establish, improve and implement information system activity inline with pharmacy practices.
j. Work closely with a staff by directing tasks and performing necessary training.
Other Duties: 1) Perform other duties as required such as to:
a) Contributes to publication of the Pharmacy Newsletter and dispenses medications in emergent situation if necessary.
b) Maintains membership in organizations that enhance professional growth.
c) Performs, as necessary, other clinically‐related supervisory duties, as they apply to pharmacy information systems.
2) Processes outpatient prescriptions according to state and federal laws, and departmental policies and procedures.
3) Routinely reviews assigned areas of the pharmacy inventory to ensure adequate stock levels and arrangement, and to remove drugs that are out‐dated or no longer utilized.
4) Routinely inspects assigned hospital departments and nursing units where medications are stored to ensure proper storage conditions according to departmental and JCAHO standards.
5) Performs additional duties as assigned; including, but not limited to, drug usage evaluation, quality assurance/control, drug file maintenance, drug information, etc.
The pay range for this position is $58.19 - $92.17/hr
Joining the Guthrie team allows you to become a part of a tradition of excellence in health care. In all areas and at all levels of Guthrie, you’ll find staff members who have committed themselves to serving the community.
The Guthrie Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit, integrated, practicing physician-led organization in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Our multi-specialty group practice of more than 500 physicians and 302 advanced practice providers offers 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities. Guthrie Medical Education Programs include General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and Orthopedic Surgery Residency, as well as Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship programs. Guthrie is also a clinical campus for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
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