Staff Pharmacist

Requisition #: 49302

Status: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8AM - 5PM

Onsite or Hybrid: Onsite at West Hollywood facility

Bilingual (English/Spanish): No

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Staff Pharmacist, under the supervision of the Pharmacy Manager, is responsible for ensuring accurate and safe dispensing of medications, providing direct patient care through clinical pharmacy services, and supporting the daily operations of the pharmacy in compliance with all California Board of Pharmacy regulations, 340B program rules, and internal APLA Health policies. The staff pharmacist will optimize medication regimens for APLA Health patients via MTM. MTM services will be provided as an extension of both APLA Health clinic and APLA Health pharmacy services. The Staff Pharmacist plays a key role in supporting patients, clinic staff, and the pharmacy team to ensure the highest standards of care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accurately dispense prescription medications and perform required checks to ensure patient safety and medication appropriateness.
• Provide patient counseling on new and refill prescriptions, including education on drug interactions, side effects, and adherence.
• Support the clinical management of high-risk patients through medication therapy management and adherence interventions.
• Develop familiarity with APLA Health policies, procedures, and protocols as they relate to drug distribution.
• Responsible for understanding and compliance with 340B program rules and regulations at the pharmacy level. Overall strong understanding of the 340B program including patient and covered entity eligibility requirements, claims processing, and compliance with HRSA audit requirements.
• Conduct drug utilization reviews to prevent drug-drug or drug-disease interactions and identify duplicative therapies.
• Understanding and compliance with DEA, Board of Pharmacy, patient assistance programs (internal and external).
• Serve as administrator for various pharmacy software and regulatory platforms. Perform routine pharmacy assessments.
• Assume responsibility for pharmacy medication inventory including ordering and return of expired controls drugs in accordance with state and federal laws. Ensure pharmacy employs adequate security of medications and responds promptly to any security disruptions.
• Ensure appropriate Prescription processing and verification, coordination of prescription delivery, (including mail order and home delivery) insurance claim transmission issue resolution, and workflow maintenance.
• Perform drug utilization reviews of patient profiles to prevent drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, and duplicative therapies, and to increase medication adherence. Ensure documentation of all patient counseling, clinical encounters, and coordination of patient care in appropriate medical record
• Provide patient counseling on all aspects of medication use in accordance with California and federal laws.
• Provide direct patient care in the form of clinical pharmacy medication management, particularly to high-risk patients,
• Provide other clinical pharmacy services to ensure continuation of care, including responding to refill requests and prior authorization requests.
• Consult with APLA Health prescribers to ensure appropriateness of therapy and medication safety.
• On-call duties on a rotating schedule with other staff.
• Answer pharmacy phone calls, return calls to patients.
• Communicates with pharmacy staff and Pharmacy Manager as appropriate to disseminate information and resolve issues.
• Provide pharmacy patients with an outstanding experience that promotes consistent usage of pharmacy.
• Participate in regularly scheduled and ad hoc pharmacy inventory count(s) as directed.
• Knowledge of and ability to perform pharmacy technician duties in the case of an absence or crisis including opening/closing procedures.
• Addresses prescriptions errors promptly and ensures compliance with Quality Improvement program
• Conduct comprehensive medication reviews (CMR's) as part of APLA Health's MTM initiative. Key elements include medication reconciliation, adherence evaluation, patient education, and therapeutic recommendations or modifications in collaboration with providers.
• Document clinical recommendations, responses to therapy, and patient care notes in a clear, concise, timely, professional manner. Encounters are documented to ensure proper billing of MTM services through various payers. Update patient's list of active medications and allergies in electronic health records, including prescriptions, OTC, and supplements.
• Contribute to reports summarizing success of MTM services as measured by improved patient adherence, lowered medication costs, improved clinical outcomes, and patient personal goals and satisfaction.
• Other duties may be assigned based on the needs of the clinic or pharmacy, including support for clinic staff on clinical inquiries or various tasks surrounding drug distribution.
• Participate in clinical discussions
• Maintains pharmacy housekeeping, maintenance, and appearance for the safety, health, and well-being of patients and team members.
• Oversees cash handling and point-of-sale operations.
• Participate in OSHA, HIPPA and other required APLA Health and pharmacy specific trainings.
• Assists the Pharmacy Manager in pharmacy employee and intern training, supervision, professional development, assessment, and evaluation including recommendations for promotion and disciplinary actions.

OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED TO MEET BUSINESS NEEDS.

REQUIREMENTS:

Training and Experience:

• Doctor of Pharmacy degree or equivalent (certification by the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Committee (FPGEC) issued by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) with a minimum of (5) five years of related experience and training.
• Valid Registered Pharmacist license from California Board of Pharmacy.
• Certification in immunization delivery
• Current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• AAHIVP Certification within 3 years upon hire.
• Power of Attorney for Cll ordering obtained upon hire.
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Medicaid (Medi-Cal), Ryan White CARE Act, and ADAP experience a plus.
• Interest in working with the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV/AIDS required.

Knowledge of:

• Pharmacy operations
• Pharmacy software
• State and federal pharmacy rules and regulations
• 340B regulations and requirements, strongly preferred
• Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Office procedures

Ability to:

• Effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
• Effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Work independently with minimal supervision
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Work effectively as part of a diverse team
• Learn quickly
• Prepare reports and analyses
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals and organizations
• Work in a dynamic, rapidly changing and fast-growing environment
• Advocate on behalf of APLA Health and its patients
• Maintain strict patient confidentiality.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee is mostly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee may be required to climb ladders or stairs, be in high spaces, and/or balance, stop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The position requires daily use of a personal computer and requires entering, viewing, and revising text and graphics on the computer terminal and on paper. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess a valid California driver's license; proof of auto liability insurance; and have the use of a personal vehicle for work related purposes.

COVID vaccination and booster required or medical/religious exemption.

Equal Opportunity Employer.