Clinical Specialist Pharmacist - Infectious Diseases and OPAT

The Clinical Specialist Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy, provides expert-level clinical pharmacy services to patients receiving antimicrobial therapy across the continuum of care. The pharmacist is responsible for developing, implementing, and supporting a standardized OPAT service and providing comprehensive medication management within ambulatory Infectious Diseases specialty practices.

The position promotes safe, effective, evidence-based, medication use; improves transitions between inpatient and outpatient care; strengthens medication monitoring; supports antimicrobial stewardship; and increases clinical capacity within the Infectious Diseases practice. The pharmacist collaborates with Infectious Diseases physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, case managers, microbiology personnel, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team.

Provides an expert level of consultation, guidance, and direction for appropriate infectious disease clinic, and outpatient antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) affiliated medication use. In conjunction with a team of infectious disease providers, provides complete care to the patient through consultative services, antimicrobial stewardship and outpatient antibiotic therapy and multidisciplinary patient care planning meetings. Optimizes the outcomes of patients with infectious diseases by providing evidence-based, patient centered drug therapies, and monitors for drug-related problems and medication cost containment. Supports CMS mandates related to drug interactions or complications and for systems to promote antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance. Provides pharmacokinetic consultations as required. Detects, monitors, documents, and reports adverse drug reactions and medications errors. Monitors drug therapy to evaluate appropriateness of use, dose, dosage form, regimen, route, therapeutic duplication, and drug interactions. Communicates ongoing patient information and efficacy and safety of treatment regimen(s) to all care providers. Provides in-service education, performs patient and caregiver education, and counsels patients regarding medication therapy and compliance. Leads and participates in interdisciplinary committees, protocol development, and education of pharmacists, nursing and physicians. Coordinates current patient issues and therapy recommendations with pharmacy and infectious disease staff. Supports research activities of the respective specialty team. Participates actively in all respective area of specialty team meetings, which include discharge management, scientific research and educational teaching conferences. Keeps abreast of changing protocols and clinical pharmacy standards as they pertain to infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship.

Graduation from a Pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Completion of a Post-Year Graduate 2 (PGY2) residency in a specialty practice area AND current, active board certification in area of specialty (EXCEPTION: current PGY2 candidates required to obtain board certification in area of specialty within 12 months of hire); OR, Post-Year Graduate 1 (PGY1) residency in a specialty practice area AND a minimum of two (2) years’ post-pharmacist licensure experience within the last seven years with at least 50% of time spent in specialty practice activities as defined by BPS AND current, active board certification in area of specialty; OR, If no residency training, then a minimum of four (4) years’ post-pharmacist licensure experience within the last seven years with at least 50% of the time spent in specialty practice activities as defined by BPS AND current, active board certification in area of specialty.

Other Qualifications: Demonstrated knowledge of Joint Commission, Federal and state regulations governing general Pharmacist practices and for acute care facilities.
Demonstrated knowledge of Pharmacist practices and principles. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to patients as well as other practitioners. Demonstrated skill in applying professional Pharmacy methods and techniques.

Preferred: Prior experience in assigned area of specialty (e.g. Transplant, Infectious Disease, Hematology/Oncology) experience preferred.

License/Certification: Current license from AZ State Board of Pharmacy.
Requires Board Certificated Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP) or Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) and preferred PGY2 in either area. (EXCEPTION: current PGY2 candidates required to obtain board certification in area of specialty within 12 months of hire.)