Pharmacist

Role Overview

Pharmacist at ALMOOSA HEALTH GROUP. The role encompasses dispensing, clinical review, patient counseling, and supervision of pharmacy operations within a hospital setting.

Role Purpose

To ensure all patients receive safe and rational drug therapy through accurate dispensing, clinical review of prescriptions, patient counseling, supervision of pharmacy staff, and provision of drug information to the healthcare team.

Key Responsibilities

Prescription Review & Clinical Services

• Review and interpret physician's drug orders for clarity, accuracy, rationality, dosage form, allergies, interaction, and incompatibility.
• Resolve questions regarding medication orders immediately or within a reasonable time period with the attending physician to avoid therapy delays.
• Refer unresolved discrepancies to the unit supervisor or head of pharmacy if necessary.
• Review patient profile to check appropriateness of treatment according to patient age, weight, diagnosis, renal and hepatic function.
• Perform IV admixture following strict aseptic technique, taking into consideration compatibility of additives with each other and with the main solution.
• Ascertain that prescribed flow rates are within patient tolerance.
• Provide dosage recommendations for elderly patients and those with renal impairment.
• Provide compatibility information and compounding of special prescriptions.

Dispensing & Preparation

• Dispense medicines and medical supplies according to in-patient physician's orders using the unit dose system or according to ASH valid and authorized out-patient prescriptions or narcotic and controlled prescriptions depending on specialized training provided.
• Carry out compounding of sterile and non-sterile preparations in accordance with training provided.
• Label all IV bottles going to in-patients with complete patient identification, content in mg, mEq, or percentage, flow rate, and expiration date and/or time as assigned.

Drug Information & Patient Counseling

• Provide drug information to all members of the healthcare team.
• Answer physician or nursing inquiries regarding drugs, including tablet identification, drug choice advice particularly for antibiotics, and intravenous drug administration information.
• Act as a source of advice and information to all medical and nursing staff regarding new medicines.
• Provide medication counseling to patients, especially those at discharge, on proper and safe use of medications.
• Deliver verbal or written information including proper use of insulin devices, inhalation devices, medication indication, common side effects, interactions, and proper storage.
• Refer any questions regarding poisons or overdoses to the poison center.

Inventory & Stock Management

• Maintain good pharmacy stock levels and follow non-available medicines, shortages, and out-of-stock medications.
• Inform physicians of out-of-stock situations and suggest suitable available alternatives.
• Prepare stock requests from wards.
• Review drug usage patterns and suggest control when needed.
• Advise unit supervisor or chief pharmacist on drug usage fluctuations, especially antimicrobials in accordance with hospital ASP and drugs in the emergency list.
• Make authorized cash purchases of critical drugs from the local market when needed.

Quality & Safety Assurance

• Ensure all patients receive safe and rational drug therapy.
• Demonstrate knowledge of all hospital policies and procedures including infection control, fire and safety, and quality improvement.
• Demonstrate knowledge of all pharmacy policies and procedures and participate in their development and implementation.
• Perform monthly inspection of nursing units and other drug user units to ensure medicines are kept under proper storage conditions.
• Discuss problems with head nurses and recommend solutions to pharmacy head.
• Assure drug dispensing areas and drug user units are devoid of all expired or deteriorated drugs and remove them to prevent them from reaching patients.
• Participate in quality assurance monitoring activities including medication administration monitoring, prescription review, and medication usage evaluation.
• Participate in medicines safety initiatives.
• Report drug incidents on the hospital OVR and participate in risk management activities to reduce risks associated with medication use.
• Develop standardized intravenous infusion guidelines for high-risk medication.

Staff Supervision & Training

• Supervise assistant pharmacists and other pharmacy personnel in the work area to assure effective manpower and accountability.
• Provide work direction for day-to-day activities and assure by constant observation that prescribed procedures are adhered to and standards are maintained.
• Train new pharmacists, assistant pharmacists, and pharmacy supportive personnel.
• Provide in-service education to members of the healthcare team.
• Teach doctors on topics such as accurate prescribing, antibiotic guidelines, and guidelines specific to the emergency department.
• Provide nursing staff training on subjects such as intravenous drug administration.

Patient-Centered Care

• Treat patients with compassion and provide person-centered care.
• Involve patients, families, and caregivers by providing education and resources for optimal support to promote recovery.
• Involve patients in decisions and help them take action to support themselves.
• Provide personalized coordinated care and support for patients and families.
• Treat people with dignity, compassion, and respect.
• Respect patient's right to privacy, which affirms that person's worth and dignity, shows respect, and builds trust.

General Duties

• Perform other miscellaneous related duties when necessary as requested by the chief pharmacist and pharmacy supervisor.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduation from accredited college of pharmacy.
• Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy.
• License to practice pharmacy in Saudi Arabia.
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Good command of English; Arabic preferred or highly desirable.
• Proper, effective, and compassionate communication.
• Demonstrate a high level of understanding, knowledge, and skills.
• Demonstrate expert clinical knowledge through problem solving and decision making.
• Interview patients and caregivers to collect pertinent information.
• Appropriate conversation with staff and patients.
• Positive attitude and ability to work under pressure and time constraints.

Additional Information

• Must have a positive and specific idea about the contribution planned to be implemented in the department.