Clinical Pharmacist - Acute Care, Cardiology

The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Pharmaceutical Care, is seeking a full-time Clinical Pharmacist, to join our Acute Care team. The clinical pharmacist is responsible for all aspects of pharmaceutical care for adult patients in the adult internal medicine population. The primary areas for this position will be intermediate care and internal medicine focused mostly in cardiology, orthopedics and trauma. This position may also encounter and/or be trained to general internal medicine, neurology, pulmonology, etc. This position will have rotating shifts including weekdays, weekends and evenings. Clinical pharmacists at UIHC 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. In addition to all members of the pharmacy team, 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.

Position Responsibilities:

Provides Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

1. Evaluate medication orders to ensure accuracy and appropriateness
2. Assure pharmacokinetic assessment of drug dosing on appropriate patients
3. Communicate with prescribers on patient medication needs
4. Identify and evaluate adverse drug reactions on patients
5. Provide drug information to other healthcare professionals
6. Confirm/clarify patient drug allergies noted in medical record when needed
7. Complete medication histories on all patients and reconcile home medications against the admission medications
8. Review and reconcile all medications upon patient transfer between clinical services
9. 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)
10. Identify high-risk medication therapy by defined admission criteria and review as appropriate
11. Complete required competency exams as required by department 

Documents Patient Care Activities Performed

1. Document medication error information into standard reporting system
2. Identify, evaluate, and take steps to avoid adverse drug reactions on all patients
3. Update patient allergies and patient-specific height and weight information when needed
4. Review and ensure correct medication histories are entered into the medical record
5. Provide and document medication counseling to patients for targeted populations
6. Document therapeutic drug monitoring assessments and recommendations 

Coordinates Patient Communications/Interactions

1. Perform medication history and reconcile home medications with inpatient orders
2. Discuss drug allergy history
3. Conduct patient teaching classes (where appropriate)
4. For targeted high-risk populations, provide medication counseling at discharge 

Spearheads Patient Care Initiatives

1. Coordinate medication orders written during assigned hours of duty
2. Follow-up on medication system problems
3. Carry out, through interventions and education, protocol antibiotic and DUE initiatives
4. Participate in multi-disciplinary initiatives
5. Serve on intra- and inter-departmental committees as required
6. Coordinate discharge planning activities 

Provides Educational Services

1. Serve as preceptor for pharmacy students on clinical rotations sponsored by the UIHC Department of Pharmaceutical Care
2. Present in-service educational programs to staff nurses, physicians, and other members of the health care team
3. Present at and participate in other educational programs sponsored by the Department of Pharmaceutical Care, the College of Pharmacy, other UIHC departments, and state and national organizations
4. Coordinate/conduct patient medication education classes (where appropriate)