Infectious Diseases / Antimicrobial Stewardship Specialist

The ID Clinical Pharmacist Specialist is responsible for the provision of safe, effective, appropriate, and cost-efficient medication therapy to patients in the area of Infectious Disease. In collaboration with the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) ID physician champion, medical staff, clinical pharmacists, infection prevention, and clinical microbiology staff, the ID Clinical Specialist Pharmacist will be a resource dedicated to enhancing the quality of medication use through antimicrobial stewardship. The ID Clinical Specialist Pharmacist is responsible for development,
implementation, and documentation of the ASP for all CHI St. Vincent Central Arkansas facilities. The ID Clinical Specialist Pharmacist will also assist other hospital personnel in the development of infectious disease related clinical pathways, protocols, policies and procedures, and provide advanced education to students, residents, pharmacists, and
other health care professionals. Precepting of PGY1 Pharmacy Residents is required.

Skills:

• Shall possess the personal characteristics necessary for successfully fulfilling his/her responsibilities. These characteristics include good communication skills, initiative, attention to detail, flexibility, cooperation, and a commitment to continuing education to upgrade his/her skills.
• Should be knowledgeable about pharmaceutical preparations; drug therapy review and evaluation; drug information sources, retrieval and interpretation; medication use evaluation; use of evidence based protocols;adverse drug reaction reporting and evaluation; disease state management; and formulary management relative to all patient age groups served at CHI St. Vincent. He/she should model the CHI St. Vincent Core Values and shall be committed, by personal actions/examples and leadership direction, to the unceasing improvement of care and quality via the organization's performance improvement initiatives. He/she shall also adhere to/serve as a role model as it relates to compliance with regulatory body/agency mandates
• Must demonstrate the ability to precept residents’ learning experiences as described by:

1. the use of clinical teaching roles (e.g. instructing, modeling, coaching, facilitating) at the level required by residents
2. the ability to assess residents’ performance
3. recognition in the area of pharmacy practice for which they serve as preceptors
4. an established, active practice in the area for which they serve as preceptor
5. maintenance of continuity of practice during the time of residents’ learning experiences
6. on-going professionalism, including a personal commitment to advancing the profession

• Must have training in: applicable EHR, on-line drug information resources, pharmacokinetics, pharmacy automation, and computer applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

PRIMARY CUSTOMERS: Patients, Medical Staff, Nursing, and Pharmacy Residents

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: Incumbent has access to restricted or confidential patient or other highly sensitive business information and must comply with the terms of CHI Policies as they apply to their job role. Reports to Pharmacy Clinical Manager.

AGE GROUPS: __x_ Neonate/infant (Birth - 1 mo) __x_ Infant (1mo-1yr) __x_ Toddler (1yr-3 yrs) __x_ Preschool (3 yrs-6yrs) _x__ School Age (6 yrs-13yrs) _x__ Adolescent (13yrs-18 yrs) _x_ Adult (18 yrs-64 yrs) _x_ Older Adult (65+yrs)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Perform prospective and retrospective antimicrobial review, provide feedback, and (when indicated) intervene.
2. Participate in the development and updating of infectious disease-related protocols and ordersets according to evidence-based infectious disease guidelines to improve antibiotic decision-support for clinicians relating to the selection, dose, duration, and monitoring of antimicrobials.
3. Collaborate with other members of the ASP to establish models and auditing procedures and provide prescriber feedback to ensure optimization of antimicrobial prescribing practices.
4. Represent antibiotic stewardship to front-line prescribers and administrative leaders.
5. Actively contribute and provide leadership in related committees or initiatives relating to antimicrobial stewardship.
6. Participate in the preparation of reports intended to document the impact of the ASP on quality, safety, and cost of antimicrobial use.
7. Work to ensure optimal compliance with anti-infective related clinical pathways and guidelines.
8. Analyze prescribing and utilization patterns utilizing internal and external databases to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
9. Design and implement strategies and activities for enhancing performance in antimicrobial medication utilization.
10. Participate in the review of requests for restricted antibiotic use.
11. Assist in developing annual quality and financial goals for anti-infective utilization.
12. Participate in the conduct of didactic and experiential training of present and future physicians and pharmacists in principles of antimicrobial stewardship.
13. Precept and provide effective training to pharmacy residents thru learning experiences. Attend and participate  in all activities designated by the Residency Advisory Committee.
14. Prepare residents to perform exemplary pharmacy services to improve patient care outcomes.
15. Contributes to formulary management and works with health care providers to ensure formulary compliance.
16. Educates, mentors, and evaluates pharmacists, pharmacy residents, and/or pharmacy students to develop and improve skills necessary for providing pharmaceutical care.

17. Develops and provides educational programs, learning modules, and knowledge assessment tools.
18. Educates other health care professionals regarding medications to promote optimal patient care via in-services, educational programs, face-to-face interactions, etc.
19. Reviews, interprets, and evaluates all medication orders for patients in all age groups.
20. Maintains patient medication profiles in an automated pharmacy information system.
21. Consults with and advises medical, nursing, and other healthcare providers regarding the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of medications.
22. Routinely monitors the patient’s total drug therapy for effectiveness, side effects, adverse reactions, toxicities, drug interactions, and incompatibilities.
23. Documents pharmacist intervention activities such as clinical consultations, recommendations on drug product selection, dosage adjustments, appropriate drug therapy, and cost avoidance as part of the justification for the position/service.
24. Prepares and/or verifies the appropriate preparation of medications to be dispensed using the correct technique, as required.
25. Provides drug information and discharge counseling to patients, as required.
26. Keeps abreast of all laws, regulations, and practice site policies regarding hospital pharmacy practice and represents the institution in working with regulatory agencies to facilitate required changes.

Education:
Doctorate of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D.) from an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy

Experience:

• Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY2 Infectious Disease residency OR
  Completion of an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency with two or more years of pharmacy practice experience with an emphasis in infectious diseases and/or a leadership role in an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program OR
  Have a minimum of five years of pharmacy practice experience with an emphasis in infectious diseases and/or a leadership role in an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program 
• Must have demonstrated an ability to precept APPE rotations and PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residents
  
• Role model for pharmacy practice, as evidenced by:
  • Documented record of improvements in and contributions to pharmacy practice.
  • Demonstrating ongoing professionalism and contribution to the profession.
  • Representing pharmacy on appropriate committees of the pharmacy department or within the organization.
    

Licensure or Certification:

• Licensure by the State of Arkansas or evidence of eligibility of reciprocity
  
• Board of Pharmacy Specialties Certification Highly Recommended.
  
• MAD-ID Certification or SIDP Certification required if PGY2 Infectious Disease residency not completed.
  
• Completion of 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
• Completion of 2 hours of preceptor development continuing education every two years (as part of the aforementioned 30 hours). Not applicable for applicants not currently serving in a preceptor role, but must be completed within first 6 months of hire.