Infusion Pharmacist

Position Summary

The Infusion Pharmacist (Oncology/Infusion Center) will be responsible for the provision of pharmacy services and education in the ambulatory pharmacy settings for the Infusion Center Pharmacy.

Infusion Pharmacist responsibilities include providing pharmacy services (distributive and clinical) to patients seen at the GWU MFA Ambulatory Infusion Center pharmacy. Responsibilities also include supervising the preparation of intravenous and oral anti-cancer therapies. Additional responsibilities include participating in pharmacy staff development and quality initiatives.

Clinical faculty responsibilities include serving as a preceptor for student pharmacists. Scholarly activities, including presentations and publications, are an expectation as well.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide and oversee pharmacotherapy primarily for hematology/oncology patients, but also GI, rheumatology, neurology, and nephrology patients.
• Ensures the safe and effective use of medications, particularly chemotherapies, by verifying the safety/accuracy of medication orders by authorized prescribers through computerized order verification.
• Optimize treatment plans to align with appropriate clinical pathways and GWU MFA's policies, procedures, and formulary.
• Assess for optimal drug product selection, dosage regimen design, effective administration and provide drug therapy monitoring services.
• Provides evidence-based drug information to patients, physicians, nurses and other clinical staff where appropriate and upon request.
• Comply with policies for safe handling of chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs.
• Assist with the establishment of safe practices for infusion therapy handling.
• Operate computer terminal for infusion preparations.
• Demonstrates proficiency in pharmacy distributive services.
• Improve efficiency and maintain compliance to all legal and regulatory standards.
• Ensure the highest level of focused patient care and customer service.
• Assess drug interactions, allergy alerts, duplication of therapy and potential therapeutic interactions.
• Optimize Beacon builds to ensure safety and efficacy in harmony with clinical practice guidelines and GW MFA formulary.
• Maintain a courteous and professional composure with patients, visitors, and all staff.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic pharmacokinetic principles.
• Compounds and supervises technical staff in the compounding of intravenous admixture solutions and chemotherapeutic agents.
• Contacts prescribers as needed with therapeutic alternatives to optimize the patient's care.
• Apply problem identification/resolution skill and solid therapeutic knowledge to pathophysiology, drug information, drug interactions, untreated indications, improper drug selection, subtherapeutic dosage, overdose, failure to receive medication, adverse drug reactions, medication without indication and other areas for defined patient population.
• Apply problem identification and resolution skills and solid therapeutic knowledge to clinical research studies requiring pharmacist participation.
• Identifies and participates in opportunities for departmental improvement (i.e., innovative ideas, expense reduction, or USP 800 projects.)
• Maintain up to date knowledge of hazardous drug management as recommended and implement corresponding processes to ensure compliance with recommendations of USP 797/800, and any applicable DC regulatory or accrediting organization requirements.
• Remain accountable for cleaning and inspection of hazardous drug storage/mixing areas.
• Under protocol, initiates, adjusts, monitors, and recommends modifications in drug therapy based on information obtained through objective monitoring parameters, review of drug profile, and the patient medical record.
• Interpret laboratory monitoring of drug therapy, including serum drug levels, electrolytes, and other drug-related lab testing.
• Performs drug utilization review, comprehensive medication review, and/or medication reconciliation.
• Documents clinical activities accurately and according to policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• A Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited institution.

Licensure

• Current and valid license as a Registered Pharmacist in the District of Columbia or eligibility for D.C. licensure through Reciprocity or board examination
• License must be obtained within the first four (4) months of employment

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years of dedicated clinical oncology experience, preferably in an outpatient setting.

Physical Requirements

• Stand, bend, reach, and walk for long periods of time in an office setting.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull over 100 lbs. as part of the role.
• Regularly exposed to healthcare setting that may require personal protective equipment.
• Requires manual dexterity to operate computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine, and other equipment.

About GW MFA

MFA physicians provide comprehensive patient care, offering one practice for the whole person with 52 medical and surgical specialties. As members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, MFA providers are teachers and mentors for medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers, preserving the rich tradition of academics, research, and healing. In addition to maintaining a closely integrated alliance with The George Washington University and The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH), which is separately owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), the GW MFA has active referring relationships with 12 area hospitals.

The GW MFA's leading healthcare presence in the DC metro region is complemented by a network of community-based practices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Given its geographic location in central NW Washington, DC, and proximity to more than 175 resident embassies, the MFA continues to evolve its international clinical outreach.