Pharmacy Informatics Specialist

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Department of Pharmacy has the responsibility for the implementation and coordination of drug control in the process of providing pharmaceutical care for patients of all ages within the Medical Center. The Pharmacy Informatics Specialist is responsible for the clinical and medication use procedural dimensions of the pharmacy information system, the integrated medical record, clinical documentation system, and the inpatient and ambulatory prescriber order entry systems. This employee is responsible for the coordination of the system with an intimate understanding of changing scientific and biomedical evidence, a dynamic medication distribution system, and maturing technology.

PRINCIPAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. *Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs and consistently demonstrates our core values.

2. *Acts as Pharmacy liaison in maintaining pharmacy drug databases, formulary drug files, billing formulas/methods, and data reporting aspects pertaining to pharmacy information and automation systems.

3. *Supports price updates in pharmacy information and automation systems with regard to contract updates, item price changes, and billing formula changes.

4. *Acts to carry out assigned priorities from the Provider POE team, Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system personnel, Pharmacy leadership, and Pharmacy Service Organization as it relates to CPOE implementation;

develops CPOE training materials, oversees drug product catalog development and assures systems are in place to maintain catalog consistency between Pharmacy and CPOE databases.

5. Assists with pharmacy patient billing audits as requested.

6. *Supports assessment, evaluation and testing plans for changes, upgrades, or new applications to pharmacy information and automation systems and their potential impact on other Medical Center information systems prior to implementation.

7. *Provides first line assistance for pharmacy computer down time support.

8. *Assists assigned pharmacy personnel in effectively communicating changes and upgrades in pharmacy information systems and automation to pharmacy staff members and medical staff members as applicable.

9. Provides support for the development of procedures for pharmacy information and automation systems.

10. *In collaboration with others, ensures the data integrity of pharmacy information and automation systems.

11. *Ensures that pharmacy information systems comply with State and Federal laws, Joint Commission and other regulatory standards for documentation.

12. Assists the Pharmacy Director, Pharmacy Managers, and Pharmacy staff by providing data derived from information and automation systems to make sound operational decisions.

13. *Responds to pharmacy department requests for statistical reports.

14. *Assists assigned pharmacy staff in the training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy billing staff and pharmacy clerical staff on pharmacy information and automation systems and applicable Medical Center information systems; develops pharmacy information system and automation training materials.

15. Works in collaboration with pharmacy staff, pharmacy managers, and medical center staff with order set development and order set entry into pharmacy information systems.

16. *Serves as a resource within the Medical Center for pharmacy information and automation systems.

17. *Assists pharmacy personnel in assessing pharmacy information system and automation needs and collaboratively develops hardware and software solutions for pharmacy services; conducts evaluations of future pharmacy software and hardware applications as requested.

18. Functions as a preceptor to pharmacy students as requested.

19. Covers pharmacist staffing assignments as requested by pharmacy management; maintains an ongoing working knowledge as defined in a staff pharmacist role.

20. *Adheres to safety, privacy, compliance and security procedures to promote a safe and secure environment.

21. *Participates in Pharmacy Department education and training programs as requested; attends all mandatory in-services and meetings.

22. Provides accurate month-end data (reports) to specified users of the data.

23. Performs other related duties as assigned.

(Essential Job functions are marked with an asterisk "*").

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Maintains clinical competency as required for licensure by the State of Nebraska; completes Nebraska state pharmacy continuing education requirements for licensure.

2. Knowledge of hospital pharmacy information and automation systems, hospital information systems, and financial systems.

3. Knowledge of Joint Commission, State and Federal regulatory standards and requirements.

4. Knowledge of hospital pharmacy drug distribution systems, IV additive programs and clinical pharmacy applications.

5. Knowledge of computer hardware equipment and software applications relevant to work functions.

6. Skill in the assessment of the safety, efficacy, and appropriateness of pharmaceuticals prescribed for patients.

7. Skill in mathematical computations required for the preparation, distribution and monitoring of pharmaceuticals.

8. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

9. Ability to maintain confidentiality relevant to sensitive information.

10. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment related to changing patient needs, pharmaceutical market changes and organizational initiatives.

11. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel, medical staff, volunteers, and ancillary departments.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Entry-level degree (B.S., Pharm.D) from a college of pharmacy required. Completion of a Pharmacy Informatics residency program by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists preferred. Pharmacist licensure in the State of Nebraska is required. Minimum of six (6) months work experience in hospital pharmacy information and automation systems functionality required.

OTHER CREDENTIALS / CERTIFICATIONS:

None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

(Physical Requirements are based on federal criteria and assigned by Human Resources upon review of the Principal Job Functions.)

(DOT) - Characterized as light work requiring exertion up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.