At MemorialCare Health System, we believe in providing extraordinary healthcare to our communities and an exceptional working environment for our employees. Memorial Care stands for excellence in Healthcare. Across our family of medical centers, we support each one of our bright, talented employees in reaching the highest levels of professional development, contribution, collaboration and accountability. Whatever your role and whatever expertise you bring, we are dedicated to helping you achieve your full potential in an environment of respect, innovation and teamwork.

Position Summary

6 Month temporary assignment with possible extension

The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist is responsible for improving therapeutic outcomes for our patients through safe, rational and cost-effective pharmaceutical care, education and research.  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist maintains competency in drug therapy and disease-state management in order to provide this care and improve patient care outcomes.  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist provides drug information to physicians, nurses and other health care workers to improve the quality of medication prescribing and administration.  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist assists with medication reconciliation, identifies potential medication safety issues and works actively to prevent medication errors. The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist educates patients and families to improve compliance with drug therapy as required.  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist directs the work of ancillary personnel as necessary. The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist also contributes to the future of the profession and the pharmacy services within the hospital by teaching pharmacy students and post graduate pharmacy residents.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities of the Job

• Medication Order Management:  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist reviews medication and IV therapy orders and patient profiles; is able to identify the appropriateness of prescribed therapy relative to individual patient requirements and current departmental policies and procedures; and takes appropriate action to clarify or change inappropriate or incomplete medication and IV therapy orders.
• Communication: The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist communicates appropriately with clear and concise information to physicians, nurses and patients to improve the safety or effectiveness of a patient’s medication or IV therapy.
• Drug Information:  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist demonstrates a solid working knowledge of common drugs, indications, dosages, monitoring parameters, pharmacokinetic principles, common medical conditions, clinical diagnoses, and the cost complication of common treatment regimens.  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist demonstrates the ability to conduct a thorough patient medication history, to be able to enter it correctly into the electronic medical record,  and is able to accurately review a medication history obtained by a pharmacy technician.
• Drug Therapy Management:  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist demonstrates competency in drug therapy guidelines; makes appropriate decisions and changes in pharmacy-regulated drug and IV therapy within current policies and guidelines; and/or makes appropriate recommendations to physicians or other prescribers when indicated.
• Financial Management:  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist demonstrates proficiency in the area of pharmacy operations, patient care and patient safety activities which measurably improves patient care outcomes, reduces, overall cost of care, and/or improves the efficiency of delivering pharmacy services at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center.
• Supervision, Collaboration, and Teaching:  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist directs the daily activities of pharmacy technicians and other ancillary personnel; works collaboratively with all health care team members in an appropriate and effective manner in order to optimize the productivity of the pharmacy; and participates in training/orientation of new staff, residents and students in service area.
• Documentation:  The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist documents any medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and interventions on behalf of patients in order to meet regulatory requirements, lead to process improvements, and determine optimal use of department resources. 
• The Clinical Pharmacist Specialist performs other duties as assigned.