The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, is seeking a  Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist to join our team. The Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist position provides pharmaceutical care services in clinical roles within Acute Care and operational roles within Acute Care and Ambulatory Care settings to pediatric patients within Stead Family Children’s Hospital. This role will support upholding the highest standards for a safe, effective, and efficient medication distribution system as well as clinical review and / or order verification of patient orders. This position is part-time (85%). Pharmacists at University of Iowa Health Care are involved in all aspects of patient care including, but not limited to, therapeutic drug monitoring, admission and discharge medication reconciliation, medication education, and precepting pharmacy learners including pharmacy students and PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents. They collaborate on a daily basis with other healthcare providers including, but not limited to, licensed independent practitioners, medical students and residents, nurses, and social workers and care coordinators. Pediatric Clinical Pharmacists will be part of integrated pharmacy team encompassing ambulatory and acute care services. Clinical Pharmacists will have a primary work location (Acute or Ambulatory), but will provide coverage in both areas.

Position Responsibilities :

Provides Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

Therapeutic drug monitoring refers to the utilization of drug serum concentrations, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics to individualize and optimize patient responses to drug therapy. It requires a complete understanding of the patient, his or her physiologic conditions, and comprehension of each particular disease state. The integration of physical finding, patient-specific pharmacokinetic variables, pathophysiologic changes, and serum chemistry allow for the attainment of rational therapeutic decisions and optimization of drug therapy.

• Evaluate medication orders and prescriptions to ensure the appropriateness of the following : Indication for useDose / frequencyRoute of administrationDrug interactionsDose adjustment for organ dysfunctionPhysical and therapeutic incompatibilitiesDrug side effects and adverse reactionsPresence of duplicate therapiesPotential drug misuse or abuseUse of the most cost-effective therapy
• Assure pharmacokinetic assessment of drug dosing on appropriate patients through : Clinical assessment of patientsDevelopment of desired therapeutic goalsPreparation and communication of formal dosing recommendations
• Communicate with prescribers about patient medication needs
• Identify and evaluate adverse drug reactions
• Provide drug information to other healthcare professionals
• Confirm / clarify patient drug allergies noted in medical record
• Complete medication histories on all patients and reconcile home medications against the admission medications
• Evaluate patient compliance with prescribed medication therapy and identify problems that may lead to partial or non-compliance
• Review and reconcile all medications upon patient transfer between clinical services
• Review daily therapeutic monitoring information for all patients served by the patient care unit (and other patient care units covered by the pharmacist’s health care team)
• Identify high risk medication therapy and review as appropriate per Selective Monitoring System (SMS) protocol
• Complete required competency exams as required by the Department
• Utilize appropriate resources and coordinate the resolution of financial concerns / burdens with Department financial counselors

Documents Patient Care Activities Performed

The active participation by a pharmacist on the health care team requires efficient communication of activities to all those participating in the care of patients. Provision of pharmacy-related services requires the sharing of information with other members of the health care team through documentation within the patient medical record and on-line department reporting system as well as through available intradepartmental venues which provide adequate documentation of such services to departmental and hospital administration.

Coordinates Patient Communications / Interactions

The provision of Pharmaceutical Care requires that patients have an understanding of the services which they receive from their pharmacist. The pharmacist must personally acknowledge responsibility for each patient’s pharmaceutical care from admission to discharge, ensure appropriate continuity of care and proper medication utilization.

Spearheads Patient Care Initiatives

The pharmacist must become the patient’s advocate for all efforts centering on drug therapy. The pharmacist must be in a position to positively influence therapeutic decisions which will affect patients and their care. Participation in hospital-wide programs intended to improve care (e.g. the Medication Use Evaluation program, protocol antibiotics and Adverse Drug Reaction Program). These programs promote the rational, safe and cost-effective use of medications at UIHC promoting high value patient care services. The clinical pharmacist should actively support and promote the value of these programs to other healthcare professionals.

Provides Educational Services

A crucial responsibility of the Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist is the education of fellow staff, other healthcare providers, and patients about drugs and their appropriate usage. New and future pharmacy practitioners are continually exposed to the day-to-day activities of the practicing clinical pharmacist; therefore, the clinical pharmacist must serve as a role model for these staff and students. The educational process must also transcend professional boundaries, as the Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist interacts with and serves as an information resource for other members of the health care team. Lastly, the Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist takes great care to instruct all patients about the need for an appropriate use of prescribed medications.

Participates in Research

The Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist should participate in research activities as appropriate, including providing support for Investigational Drug Service orders and prescriptions. This research can take on many forms including developmental, evaluative, and / or clinical research. It may be intradepartmental or multidisciplinary in format. Presentation and / or publication of research findings are encouraged.

Learning and Professional Development

Seeks opportunities to enhance one’s own knowledge, skills and abilities as they relate to one’s current position and / or to prepare for potential future roles and overall career development that contribute to the mission and goals of the institution.

Responsibility and Accountability

Represents the interests of the University and of unit leadership in the use of resources to meet service and productivity demands within unit goals and budgets; strives to promote continual process and quality improvement.

Supervision Received - Supervision is received from a Pharmacy Supervisor or other designated official

Supervision Exercised - Functional and administrative supervision is exercised over support staff and students.

Education Requirements :

Experience Requirements :

Desired Qualifications :

Position and Application details :

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission :

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential / education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

For additional questions, please contact Jenna Lueth at [email protected]

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Compensation

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