MAJOR DUTIES

The primary purpose of this job is to serve as pharmacist-in-charge of the outpatient pharmacy operations. This involves immediate responsibility for the professional and administrative management of the functions of the main hospital Outpatient Pharmacy, PX Refill Pharmacy and the Troop Medical Clinic Pharmacies, including supervision of a staff of approximately 5-12 employees comprised of Pharmacists, GS-660-11, Pharmacy Technicians, GS-661-05 and Pharmacy Technicians (OA) GS-661-04. Position also requires personal performance of staff pharmacy work as required.

1. Performs supervisory responsibilities.

a. Plans work. Keeps informed of outpatient pharmacy support requirements and identifies changes in services and operations which must be made to accommodate changing needs. Factors which contribute to changes are turnover of approximately one-third of the total military physicians each year and periodic changes in the number and kind of medical specialties. Establishes and implements efficient and effective systems to best support needs with available resources. Develops plans for and conducts or assigns other staff pharmacists to provide orientation/overview of outpatient pharmacy operations to students who rotate thru the pharmacy. Establishes priorities and schedules personnel to provide adequate coverage for the operation. Keeps Chief, Pharmacy Service informed of present and projected resources needed to accomplish program objectives and workload and any current or potential problems. Gathers statistical information and compiles periodic or special reports on Outpatient Pharmacy operations and provides justifications for budgetary, personnel, equipment and space requirements. Maintains physical layout of equipment and fixtures to allow efficient and effective flow of work and insures that equipment is properly utilized and maintained.

b. Assigns and reviews work. Makes assignments of work for each shift and schedules personnel to meet workload. Establishes overall objectives, deadlines, projects and work to be accomplished. Establishes standards of performance. Continuously monitors and reviews all aspects of the outpatient pharmacy activities for quality and quantity of work performed by assigned personnel, effective and economical use of equipment and adequacy and effectiveness of pharmacy services provided. Reviews and audits narcotic control, outpatient/TMC prepackaging, bulk drug compounding, and drug storage/refrigeration to provide quality assurance. Assists with evaluation of adverse reactions detected and follow-up action taken; patient satisfaction; medication errors; and need for clinically oriented drug information. Reports findings to Quality Management (QM) Committee and Chief, Pharmacy Services. Corrects deficiencies and provides information for personnel necessary to correct deficient practices. Develops information on and augments -supporting beneficial outcome of programs.

c. Performs personnel management responsibilities. Interviews applicants for vacancies and provides recommendations for selection to Chief, Pharmacy Service. Provides orientation to new employees. Establishes training plans and provides training for personnel employed in developmental positions or to improve job performance and/or maintain self development. Provides input to Chief, Pharmacy Service on performance of employees and provides written evaluation on their performance while assigned to outpatient pharmacy. Recommends recognition of high level performance through the Incentive Awards Program. Maintains discipline and issues oral or written reprimands to employees and makes recommendation of more serious disciplinary action to Chief, Pharmacy Service. Provides advice, counsel or instruction to subordinate employees on both work and administrative matters. Hears and resolves complaints and grievances from employees and refers more serious complaints not resolved to Chief, Pharmacy Service. Maintains control of leave and attendance of subordinate employees, insuring accurate documentation of employee absences.

d. Evaluates and coordinates functions. Researches, evaluates and synthesizes pharmaceutic information from numerous sources, researches trends in drug usage, devises methods to satisfy difficult therapeutic requirements, using these activities to lead to development and adoption of new methods or criteria for services. Provides advice and consults with medical staff and/or hospital committees on the chemical, biological, pharmacological and therapeutic properties of the full range of drugs and medical substances or agents. Maintains effective liaison with all professional and administrative disciplines affecting Outpatient Pharmacy activities. Serves as Pharmacy member on various hospital committees such as Drug Utilization Review, for which professional pharmacy involvement is required, to provide clinical/pharmacy/manger input. Compiles and maintains data on usage of antibiotics, controlled substances, non-formulary items and other drug utilization review programs for use by the Infectious Disease Committee, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Pharmacy.

2. Oversees or personally performs outpatient pharmacy functions for the full range of pharmaceutical products provided in the medical treatment facility (MIF) to include controlled, investigational, highly potent, and other drugs requiring special handling.

a. Reviews the prescription, patient medication profile, and patient record to determine appropriateness, safety and completeness of medication, authenticity of prescriber, possible drug interactions, history or likelihood of adverse reaction, and any special aspects or considerations in dispensing the prescribed pharmaceutical.

b. Compounds or oversees the compounding of drugs as prescribed, either individually or in bulk. Determines formulation to be used, dosage forms, quantities, concentrations, number of doses, etc.

c. Insures correct labeling, handling, storage, and dispensing of pharmaceutical products. Reviews prescriptions set up by pharmacy technicians from volume or prepackaged stores. Insures proper item, quantity, and labeling before authorizing release.

d. Conducts necessary patient education concerning the medication, its administration, signs of reaction, and related matters. Counsels patients on course of treatment, likelihood of success, possible adverse consequences, and related matters.

e. Performs periodic inspections of drug storage facilities to insure correct handling, accountability, etc. of controlled substances.

f. Insures equipment is properly setup and operated, components and additives are correctly identified, quantities computed and measures, and compounding properly performed.

g. Participates with physicians in determining course of treatment for unusually complex or difficult cases. Advises on the use of various drugs and drug therapies to include investigational and limited use items.

h. Reviews efficiency of drug regimen. Advises on alternatives and cost effectiveness.

i. Reports and documents medication errors and/or unusual occurrences.

Performs other duties as assigned.