Description
GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT
The Department of Quality and Patient Experience (QPE) implements programs designed to transform the delivery of primary care across the Mass General Brigham (MGB) system in a way that enhances the patient experience, health outcomes, and quality. One of the key goals is ensuring that our patients with chronic diseases (for example hypertension or diabetes) are supported in achieving clinical outcomes known to reduce morbidity and mortality from these conditions. Pharmacists can play a key role in this goal by offering higher touch services (medication prescribing, monitoring, education) to patients that are struggling with chronic disease management. Working with primary care providers, population health coordinators, high-risk nursing programs, and community health workers, the pharmacist has the potential to positively impact patients through virtual and in-person appointments.
In collaboration with the QPE Primary Care team, the Lead Ambulatory Pharmacist will assist in the design and implementation of a system-level, chronic disease management, clinical pharmacy program. They will be responsible for prescribing medications under specific collaborative drug therapy management agreements (CDTM) and for the optimization of drug therapy by identification, resolution, and prevention of drug related problems and improving therapeutic outcomes. They will monitor medications in accordance with the laws and regulations governing credentialed pharmacists and the practice of pharmacy by the appropriate state and federal agencies. They will work relatively independently, and within the limits of established pharmacy/ambulatory care practice site policies and procedures, as a member of the patient care team. The Lead Pharmacist will report to QPE Primary Care with regular touchpoints and a dotted line relationship to MGH Pharmacy team. The Lead Ambulatory Pharmacist will lead a team and supervise up to four direct reports. The direct reports will include pharmacists and other support personnel.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
* Assists the QPE Primary Care team in the design and implementation a system-level, chronic disease management, clinical pharmacy program. This may include developing disease management protocols, designing and refining the clinical and operational model for the program, understanding credentialing requirements for the pharmacy team and developing processes for billing for visits and services as appropriate.
* Initiates, modifies, and/or discontinues medications associated with disease states for which the pharmacist is credentialed to prescribe under a CDTM agreement and for which a supervising physician has referred the patient for management.
* Works in collaboration with pharmacy and medical director leadership to develop and maintain disease state management policies and procedures.
* Collaborates with clinical team members to improve chronic disease management outcomes.
* Actively seeks system solutions to improve care and contributes to the growth and improvement of this program.
* Provides patient-centered counselling and education to patients, families, and caregivers and ensures equity in access and communication for patients with varied language and health literacy.
* Reviews and monitors patient medication regimens for appropriateness based on current clinical and institutional guidelines as well as patient-specific criteria.
* Identifies, documents, resolves, and works to prevent drug therapy related problems. Documentation includes clinical interventions, adverse drug events and drug therapy profile reviews.
* Attends and participates in additional teaching, research, and quality efforts within the department as well as in collaboration with other departments within MGB. This includes but is not limited to journal club review, in-services, and M&M rounds.
* Serves as a preceptor for clinical pharmacy internship and externship students and/or residents.
* Attends, participates in, and conducts continuing education programs and conferences to keep current with developments in the profession and to maintain license.
* Works in collaboration with pharmacy and practice leadership to develop and maintain informatics builds when appropriate.
* Oversees the orientation and training of new personnel.
* Provides information and consultation to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, regarding appropriate drug therapy related to specific chronic disease areas of focus. Gives advice on drug interactions, side effects, and allergies.
* Supervises and verifies the accuracy of all work completed by supportive personnel assigned to the area. This includes providing feedback on the annual performance appraisal for support personnel, including Pharmacy students.
* Maintains skill and competency level to comply with departmental and practice Quality Assurance standards.
* Completes required additional continuing education requirements including completion of at least one hour of pain training every 2 years and additional 5 contact hours of CE in the area of credentialing yearly.
* Maintains active credentialing status as well as MA controlled substance license and completes all required documentation in a timely manner.
* Performs all other responsibilities as assigned.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
* Must have exceptional oral and interpersonal communication skills, to communicate effectively with patients, members of other healthcare disciplines, and other Pharmacy staff. Must be comfortable working with interpreters as needed. Proficiency in a non-English language is valued.
* Must be able to properly motivate and supervise support personnel.
* Priorities and organizes work while under stress and with time constraints. Must pay attention to detail and have critical thinking and decision-making skills.
* Must be able to set and change priorities, and accept additional responsibility as needed.
* Must be able to respond positively to new approaches and changes in the work environment.
* Evaluates medical information and retrieves biomedical literature using appropriate search strategies and interprets biomedical literature with regard to study design, methodology, statistical analysis, significance of reported data, and conclusions.
* Must be able to train and mentor employees.
* Ability to work collaboratively as a member of the patient care team.
* Must be capable of working independently, able to exercise discretion, and maintain strict confidentiality.
EDUCATION, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or REGISTRATIONS
* Must have a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college of pharmacy.
* Must be eligible for licensure to practice pharmacy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
* Must meet all Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy requirements to enter into a collaborative drug therapy agreement including Massachusetts Controlled Substance Registration license, National Provider Index number, and a Drug Enforcement Administration Registration number
* PGY-1 Pharmacy residency and PGY-2 Ambulatory Care residency (or equivalent experience) required
* Board Certification by examination in area of specialty is required within 18 months of hire
* 3-5 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist in health-system; supervisory or leadership experience preferred
Licenses:
Required:
* Eligible for licensure to practice Pharmacy in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Must meet all Massachusetts Controlled Substance Registration license, National Provider Index number.
Certifications:
Required:
* Board Certification by examination in area of specialty is required within 18 months of hire.
Registrations:
Required:
* Need Drug Enforcement Administration Registration number
EXPERIENCE
Required: 3-5 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist in health-system; supervisory or leadership experience preferred
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
Direct: Pharmacist and other support personnel. 4 FTE's.
Non-Employees: Pharmacy Interns
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
* Demonstrates fiscal responsibility by effectively using Mass General Brigham resources
* Responsible for assessing feasibility and implementing billing for CDTM service
WORKING CONDITIONS
* Standard business environment with frequent travel between MGB Healthcare institutions
* General day hours with flexibility to meet the demands of the position, including attending evening and early morning meetings
The information contained in this document is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities or skills of individuals so classified.
