At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.
About Duke HomeCare & Hospice
Pursue your passion for caring with Duke HomeCare & Hospice, which offers hospice, home health, and infusion services across the region, as well as serves as the home forthe Duke Caregiver Support Program. Team members work closely with a patient's physician to provide comprehensive, individualized care in the comfort of their home or at our inpatient hospice facility in Durham, NC.
Work Location : Duke Homecare and Hospice - Durham, NC
Working Hours:
- Day shift
- Weekdays/ Some Weekends
- PRN hours
General Description of the Job Class
- Provide pharmaceutical care services to the patients of the Duke University Health System including, but not limited to oversight, monitoring, preparation, dispensing and proper documentation of patient medication therapy as well as providing drug information, patient information and oversight of information and dispensing systems; ensure compliance with Federal, State and local laws and regulations as well as proper storage and documentation. May also advise physicians on matters pertaining to drug usage and control; participate in the development and delivery of continuing education programs for Pharmacy, Patient Care Services, Medical Staff and students.
Duties and Responsibilities of this Level
- Review and monitor patient's medication therapy and orders written by appropriate caregivers for safety and efficacy considering specific patient conditions and health status; advise patient care team of issues with, or possible enhancements to, patient's medication therapy and document such interventions. Prepare, label and dispense medications for patients in accordance with physicians' prescriptions; ensure compliance with Federal, State and local laws and regulations pertaining to the dispensing of drugs and narcotics and the maintenance of required records.
- Maintain appropriate records of dispensing and oversee and maintain the systems that charge or credit for medications and medication treatments.
- Provide drug information and educate caregivers, patients and students regarding medications and their proper use and monitoring. Oversee and monitor all aspects of the medication process; collect data and present reports and recommendations regarding issues with the medication systems.
- Ensure that appropriate medications are available for patients and properly procured, prepared, stored and maintained.
- Supervise the process and technical personnel who assist in preparation, maintenance and dispensing of drugs and supplies.
- Provide support, education and oversight for investigational medications for patients; provide information regarding their preparation, labeling and availability within the medication system; maintain appropriate and required records and documentation for investigational drugs.
- Provide specialized pharmaceutical services to improve drug usage and therapeutic outcomes including advising physicians on issues concerning drug therapy, the inherent toxicity of drugs and side effects, as well as assisting in the prescription of appropriate doses.
- Contributes to the education of students and pharmacy residents.
- Maintain liaison relationships with medical and nursing staff; provide timely information pertaining to pharmaceutical supplies, drug usage and compatibility, state and federal regulations regarding drug controls, and Joint Commission standards.
- Conduct and evaluate medication histories, assess compliance and suggest modifications so as to achieve desired outcomes; instruct patients in the proper use of prescribed drugs; participate in patient care rounds with multidisciplinary teams to evaluate patient progress.
- Individualize medication regimens using sound principles, accounting for pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic variations in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination with responsibility for establishing and continually improving the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients within areas of direct responsibility and assisting others in the department with the same.
- Conduct and participate in research including, but not limited to, performing as the primary investigator or co-investigator for research programs which will impact on the delivery of quality care or examine the pharmacoeconomic impact of providing care to the patients in the Duke Health System.
- Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
Major Job Functions
- Adheres to policies and procedures.
- Coordinates and facilitates new referrals/admissions through collaboration with nursing, admissions, operations, and sterile products.
- Reviews, receives, verifies all new patient orders; documents the same on the respective order form.
- Assists the physician and other healthcare professionals involved in planning and implementing patient care in the home to ensure safe and effective drug therapy.
- Conducts initial and ongoing assessment of specific patient drug and disease information to identify real and potential drug-related problems or needs.
- Assists the physician and nursing staff in setting therapeutic objectives for drug therapy and establishing parameters for monitoring the safety and efficacy of drug therapy.
- Monitors the outcomes from drug therapy by collecting, evaluating, and interpreting the results of laboratory data, clinical data, and other pertinent patient information.
- Communicates the results of therapeutic drug monitoring activities to the physician, nursing staff, and other appropriate persons; makes appropriate recommendations designed to enhance the outcomes associated with drug therapy.
- Programs infusion control devices as indicated.
- Provides consultations and answers inquiries from patients, families, physicians, and other healthcare professionals regarding drugs and their use.
- Maintains thorough and appropriate documentation in the patient/clinic record of all clinical activities and communication with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
- Supervises, coordinates, directs, and/or participates in the preparation of sterile admixtures, dispenses all pharmaceuticals and related supplies and equipment in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and standards of practice governing the profession of pharmacy.
- Processes and checks medications, supplies, and equipment prior to dispensing from the pharmacy.
- Maintains pharmacy records in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Checks prescription labels and compounding documents for appropriate content.
- Adheres to the prescription or medication order
- Verifies strength, quality, and purity of compounded preparations
- Ensures packaging, labeling, and dispensing consistent with applicable state agencies and boards of pharmacy laws and regulations.
- Maintains clinical skills and knowledge of pharmacotherapy by reviewing literature and attending inservices, seminars, and conferences.
- Participates in on-call rotation as required.
- Performs marketing support functions as requested.
- Participates in orientation/training programs for new personnel and current staff.
- Participates in Performance Improvement Program.
- Performs other duties as needed.
- Attends regular staff meetings.
- Maintains confidentiality of patient information.
- Displays a neat, clean, professional appearance at all times.
- Exhibits an attitude promoting harmony and goodwill in the workplace.
- Promotes Duke Health culture by providing quality, comprehensive services to all customers through a team approach.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to communicate clearly in oral and written form.
- Extensive knowledge of drug products, medical therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and disease states. Ability to work with information systems, automated and technical equipment.
- Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with various members of health care teams
Level Characteristics
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy Degree OR BS Pharmacy Degree
Experience
- With a BS Pharmacy degree, two years of pharmacy practice experience, or acceptable board certification, or completion of an accredited residency program and demonstrated ability to achieve positive patient outcomes in a similar environment is required.
- With Doctor of Pharmacy degree, no experience is required.
Degrees, Licensures, Certifications
- Licensed Pharmacist or eligible to practice pharmacy in North Carolina
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
