Basic Grade Pharmacist - UPMC Whitfield

Location: UPMC Whitfield Hospital
Job type: Permanent
Overview of role:
We are currently recruiting for a Pharmacist to provide effective, efficient, and safe pharmaceutical care to all patients under the care of UPMC Whitfield Hospital.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical

• Act at all times to ensure that the care and safety of patients is assigned the highest priority.
• Understand, model, and promote UPMC core values: Quality and Safety, Dignity and Respect, Caring and Listening, Responsibility and Integrity, Excellence and Innovation.
• Be fully conversant with best practice and relevant competency frameworks for the delivery of clinical pharmacy services.
• Take a lead role in the management of medicine shortages within UPMC.
• Support and participate in the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) required for procurement, storage, handling, and dispensing of medication and ensure that these are updated and implemented in line with changing practices locally, nationally and internationally, and in accordance with Pharmacy law.
• Contribute to the provision of medicines information and advice on drug availability and procurement to clinical staff.
• Support and participate in the development of medicines information resources for clinical colleagues and patients e.g. patient information leaflets, monographs, policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines.
• Contribute to the development of clinical guidelines as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
• Identify and address deficiencies in medications management systems and processes, where applicable.
• Highlight any discrepancies, incidents, or deficits in services to the Chief Pharmacist and/or Director of Pharmacy, as appropriate.
• Report and encourage reporting on incidents/near misses in to support management and mitigation of risk and to inform quality improvement initiatives.
• Audit compliance to good clinical practice standards in relation to medication.
• Develop and compile reports on Key Performance indicators (KPIs) for the Pharmacy service and ensure that these are disseminated to, and actioned by, appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner. These KPIs will include metrics describing capacity, workload, drug costs, quality and medication safety.
• As agreed with the Chief Pharmacist, provide expert support to colleagues in Finance and Hospital leadership to help manage the drugs budget, through regular reporting, analysis, and horizon scanning.
• Identify drug budget savings in collaboration with the MDT to ensure optimal and cost-effective use of medication.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, hospital committees and working groups as required.
• Co-ordinate service delivery with the other Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Technicians, to ensure a high level of efficient and cohesive teamwork within the Pharmacy service.
• Assist in the training, development, mentoring and motivation of staff to maximise performance and delivery of service objectives and priorities.
• Supervise and line manage staff within the Pharmacy service as required and appropriate.
• Support Pharmacy colleagues in enhancing their skills and assuming additional and advanced responsibilities.
• Ensure that all UPMC Human Resource policy and procedures are adhered to.
• Participate in collaborative relationships with academic and research partners.
• Undertake Pharmacy practice-based research, ensuring that all relevant GCP standards are adhered to.
• Carry out any other duties relevant to this role as designated by the Chief Pharmacist.
• Engage in continuous professional development appropriate to the role and in compliance with professional obligations.
• Participate in the Hospital’s accreditation process.
• Support and participate in the development and expansion of Clinical Pharmacy Services.
• Support and participate in the development of a UPMC-wide antimicrobial stewardship programme.
• Participate in the medication safety programme, including the monitoring, reporting and investigation of adverse drug reactions, medication incidents and errors.

General

• Work collaboratively with other members of the team to ensure that patient care is central to all activities of the Department of Pharmacy.
• Participate in service delivery as part of a professional, punctual and dedicated team.
• Create, promote, and maintain open communications and healthy working relationships.
• Ensure best pharmaceutical practice, having regard to legal and ethical requirements for the provision of the Pharmacy service.
• Maintain the principles of equity, accountability, quality, and safety in daily work.
• Work collaboratively with other Pharmacy Department staff to deliver and develop clinical pharmacy services to achieve stated goals and objectives, respecting the role of other Pharmacy staff in ensuring safe and effective care.
• Manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment.
• Have the skills necessary to evaluate information, judge situations, and make timely and effective decisions.
• Have the ability to manage time, deadlines and prioritise workload.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered.
• Possess the requisite specialised knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for
  the proper discharge of the duties of the role.
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development and role-specific learning.
• Ability to demonstrate:
  
  • excellent planning, organisational and resource management skills
  • excellent interpersonal and people management skills
  • experience of quality improvement initiatives

Equal Opportunity Statement and Benefits

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

At UPMC we provide a total rewards program that is not only market competitive, but fair and provides growth opportunities for all our colleagues.

Compensation – Competitive pay for the work employees do – base pay, performance related pay and premium pay where applicable.

Benefits – Fully paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents. Competitive Pension Plan, company funded Death in Service Benefit x 3 times. Critical Illness cover for all employees up to the age of 66.

Performance and Recognition – Rewards for performance that supports the goals and mission of UPMC through our annual ACES programme.

Work-Life Balance – Enhanced annual leave up to a maximum of 27 days. Flexible working opportunities to support you to work around external family commitments.

Development and Career Opportunities – Opportunities for each employee to reach their career goals through continued learning and/or advancement.

About UPMC

A $26 billion healthcare provider and insurer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based UPMC is inventing new models of patient-centred, cost-effective, accountable care. Working in close collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC shares its clinical, managerial and technological skills worldwide through its innovation and commercialisation arm, UPMC Enterprises, and through UPMC International.

Providing high-quality healthcare in the South East since 2006, UPMC’s operations in Ireland now include UPMC Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin, UPMC Kildare Hospital in Clane and UPMC Aut Even Hospital in Kilkenny. Outpatient care is available at the UPMC Carlow Outreach Centre, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre radiotherapy locations at UPMC Whitfield and in Cork, the UPMC Sports Medicine Clinic at SETU Arena, Waterford, TUS Moylish Campus, Limerick, TUS Thurles Campus, Tipperary, and the UPMC Concussion Network. The UPMC Institute for Health is located in Mayo and the Global Technology Operation Centre is based in Kilkenny. UPMC is the Official Healthcare Partner of the GAA and GPA.