Director Pharmacy

General Summary

Directs and oversees all activities within the pharmacy department. Establishes policies, procedures, standards and objectives for the provision of pharmaceutical care services; evaluates performance and maintains total quality management. Keeps current with all federal, state, and local regulations regarding the practice of pharmacy and hospital care of patients and implements changes as necessary to maintain compliance. Coordinates with other departments and clinical chiefs to provide optimal levels of pharmaceutical care to patients and pharmacy services to hospital staff. Encourages unity of thought and purpose among staff and promotes a shared vision. 

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Plans, organizes and directs staff in accordance to department’s and hospital’s mission, vision and values. Develops goals and objectives, establishes and implements policies and procedures for department operation. Reviews department performance, changes as needed to improve quality of services and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Keeps SJMC Administration, Medical Staff and Nursing informed of department mission, performance, needs, challenges, new drug regulations as well as other clinical, administrative and fiscal matters pertaining to assessment, fiscal analysis, regulatory compliance and continuous quality improvement (CQI).
2. Selects, trains/orients and assigns department staff through subordinate, supervisory and management staff. Develops competence assessments, performance standards, monitors compliance, and evaluates staff performance. Initiates or approves personnel actions such as merit increases, promotions, disciplinary actions and career/practice development incentives. Encourages career/practice development through such strategies as in-service education and outside conferences, providing opportunities for research and information sharing. Develops and maintains job descriptions and performance standards for all service line staff members. Attains and/or retains national accreditation for any applicable training programs. Provides educational guidance and consultation to professional staff of SJMC as needed. Empathetically leads staff and resolves grievances.
3. Develops, recommends and helps manage the departmental operating budget and ensures that the department operates within allocated funds and/or the strategic realities of the specific patient care environment at SJMC. Maintains departmental reports and statistics for administrative, planning, quality improvement and regulatory responses. Coordinates capital expenditures with finance’s assistance in the attainment of hospital financial, operational, and patient safety goals.
4. Evaluates pharmacy functions, practices, reporting mechanisms, record keeping and drug control. Introduces and demonstrates new technologies, care modalities, equipment and research findings to staff. Appraises the staff of the total care environment (professional/academic/fiscal/ethical) affecting their sphere of practice and mission. Interacts regularly with Medical and Nursing staff regarding pharmaceutical care and pharmacy operational issues.
5. Participates in administrative staff meetings and attends other meetings as assigned. Establishes and maintains communications within the Pharmacy department and with other hospital departments. Develops relationships with professional affiliations and others as appropriate.
6. Oversees coordination of services with departments responsible for facilities, supplies, compliance, safety, infection prevention and environmental control and aligns respective policies and procedures with objectives for the pharmacy department.
7. Participates, when appropriate, on local, state, and national boards and organizations to influence and affect change to the practice of pharmacy.
8. Provides oversight of clinical and administrative operations. Ensures safe utilization of drug supplies, handles inventory control, drug contracting and contract compliance, therapeutic interchange, regulatory compliance, narcotic control, drug distribution, and medication safety.
9. Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or area specific patient safety initiatives. Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority. Implements policies, procedure, and standards consistently in the performance of assigned duties. Develops effective working relationships and maintains good communication with other team members. Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

Job Specific Functions

Responsible for leading the pharmacy department’s regulatory compliance program and for designing and/or overseeing all medication safety related initiatives:

Representing pharmacy on hospital regulatory compliance committees and efforts.

1. Development and implementation of policies, procedures, process guidelines, and protocols to ensure the provision of safe, effective and economically efficient pharmacotherapy for all patients in the hospital, and ensuring compliance of organizational policies with applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, including but not limited to those of The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Maryland Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), and the Maryland Board of Pharmacy. 
2. Coordinating and participating in on-site, virtual, and paper audits as required by regulatory bodies and formulating any necessary responses. 
3. Coordinating creation and updates of Department of Pharmacy policies & procedures, and SJMC medication-related policies.
4. Designing and coordinating all performance improvement initiatives to promote safe medication use.
5. Providing consultative services to other system hospitals to assist in maintaining regulatory compliance as well as standardizing compliance and responses across the system.
6. Supporting a Just Culture for medication safety within pharmacy department.
7. Overseeing the Controlled Substance Diversion Detection and Prevention Program at SJMC.
8. Develops initiatives that focus on process improvement, patient safety, and employee engagement. Assures that lean concepts are applied to ensure safe and timely medication delivery. 
9. Develops and implements strategic plans to align and meet hospital and departmental goals.
10. Develops growth strategies to ensure optimal financial performance.
11. Development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives, fiscal controls, management of human and capital resources, formulary management, and risk management functions for the clinical pharmacy program. Direct supervision of clinical pharmacy staff who provide patient-focused pharmaceutical care.
12. Collaborates with physicians in establishing drug criteria for the safe, economical and appropriate use of medications. Coordinates the activities associated with the provision of safe, effective and economical pharmacotherapy for patients on anti-infective agents and for patients on other drugs, which are part of pharmacy monitoring programs.
13. Provides oversight of sterile preparation and distribution of both hazardous and nonhazardous medications in a USP compliant environment. Assures the delivery of quality pharmaceutical care services for the various patient populations served by the Department of Pharmacy.
14. Provides comprehensive oversight of unit-based automated dispensing cabinets’ management, code cart procurement, assembly, distribution and maintenance.

Qualifications

1. A Master’s, Doctorate, or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a college or university accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) is required. Licensure by the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy is required.
2. A minimum of five years of clinical pharmacy experience is required. In addition, a minimum of five years of administrative/managerial pharmacy experience is preferred. Completion of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) accredited residency program is preferred.
3. Highly proficient knowledge of health care management, administrative and operational principles and practices including budgeting, The Joint Commission and regulatory bodies, regulations and laws pertaining to procurement and dispensing of drugs/narcotics. Demonstrated knowledge of organizational problem solving and analytical skills are required to evaluate and resolve operational issues. Proficient knowledge of therapeutic pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, state and federal pharmacy law. Proficient knowledge of generally accepted pharmacy principles, practices and procedures; mathematics and statistics, chemistry and personal computer/patient/drug information systems.
4. Demonstrated superior capabilities in the operation of a pharmacy department including management skills in directing and supervising professional and management staff.
5. Highly effective written and verbal communication skills are necessary to work with clinical, upper management, administrative and other personnel from multiple departments.
6. Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs