Clinical Pharmacist – Ambulatory Care

Reporting to the Director of Pharmacy (MHO), the Clinical Pharmacist – Ambulatory Care provides comprehensive medication management and clinical pharmacy services for patients with chronic and complex health conditions. Working collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, care managers, and other healthcare professionals, the pharmacist develops individualized treatment plans designed to improve medication safety, adherence, clinical outcomes, and quality of life.

The Clinical Pharmacist practices under approved collaborative care agreements and evidence-based protocols. Primary areas of focus may include diabetes, hypertension, asthma, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), depression, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic conditions. This role also identifies barriers to care, coordinates appropriate resources and referrals, and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of ambulatory pharmacy programs.

Mission, Values and Service Goals

• Mission: We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.

• Values: Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.

• Service Goals: Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Responsibilities

Provides comprehensive ambulatory clinical pharmacy services by:

• Conducting comprehensive medication reviews and developing individualized, evidence-based treatment plans.

• Evaluating medication appropriateness, effectiveness, safety, adherence, drug interactions, allergies, contraindications, and therapeutic duplication.

• Establishing patient-specific treatment goals and monitoring progress through clinical assessment, laboratory results, medication history, and patient-reported outcomes.

• Identifying patients who may benefit from pharmacist intervention using clinical data, risk-stratification tools, utilization patterns, and provider referrals.

• Providing ongoing disease-management education, medication counseling, and lifestyle recommendations.

• Promoting medication adherence through education, refill management, follow-up, motivational interviewing, and shared decision-making.

• Performing and evaluating point-of-care testing, including A1C, lipid levels, and blood pressure, as permitted by policy and applicable regulations.

• Administering immunizations and other pharmacist-provided clinical services in accordance with approved protocols.

• Documenting assessments, interventions, care plans, outcomes, and follow-up recommendations in the patient’s medical record.

• Using telehealth, telephone outreach, and in-person visits to improve access to pharmacist-led care.

Manages medication therapy under collaborative practice agreements and approved protocols by:

• Initiating, modifying, or discontinuing medication therapy when authorized.

• Adjusting medication strength, dosage form, dosage, frequency, duration, or route of administration.

• Ordering, reviewing, and monitoring laboratory tests related to medication therapy.

• Evaluating therapeutic response and identifying adverse drug reactions or medication-related concerns.

• Communicating medication changes and recommendations to patients and members of the care team.

• Escalating complex clinical concerns to the appropriate physician or healthcare provider.

• Ensuring all medication-management activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, protocols, and the pharmacist’s authorized scope of practice.

Collaborates with patients and the interdisciplinary care team by:

• Partnering with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, care managers, and other healthcare professionals to optimize medication therapy.

• Providing evidence-based drug information and medication recommendations to the medical staff and other healthcare professionals.

• Reviewing medical records and identifying opportunities to improve safety, quality, affordability, and clinical outcomes.

• Coordinating referrals and connecting patients with appropriate clinical, financial, transportation, pharmacy, and community resources.

• Identifying barriers related to health literacy, language, financial limitations, transportation, insurance coverage, or medication access.

• Educating patients and families in a clear, respectful, and culturally responsive manner.

• Supporting continuity of care during transitions between inpatient, outpatient, specialty, and community-based settings.

Supports clinical quality, program development, and medication stewardship by:

• Collecting and analyzing clinical, operational, financial, and patient-outcome data.

• Evaluating the effectiveness of ambulatory pharmacy and chronic-disease management programs.

• Participating in quality-improvement initiatives designed to improve medication safety, patient outcomes, access, and resource utilization.

• Supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based protocols, clinical pathways, policies, and educational materials.

• Identifying opportunities to reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization and improve cost-effective medication use.

• Maintaining current knowledge of clinical guidelines, emerging therapies, pharmacy regulations, and best practices in ambulatory care.

• Participating in interdisciplinary meetings, committees, continuing education, and professional-development activities.

Supports safe medication dispensing when needed by:

• Reviewing and verifying prescriptions for clinical appropriateness, accuracy, dosing, interactions, allergies, and contraindications.

• Collaborating with prescribers to clarify orders and resolve medication-therapy concerns.

• Ensuring medications are prepared and dispensed accurately and in compliance with federal and state pharmacy laws.

• Supporting pharmacy workflow to ensure safe, timely, and accurate medication services.

• Complying with DEA, Indiana Board of Pharmacy, HIPAA, 340B, and organizational requirements, as applicable.

Performs other functions to maintain professional competence and support departmental effectiveness by:

• Maintaining required licenses, certifications, continuing education, and professional competencies.

• Completing other job-related duties, assignments, and special projects as directed.

Organizational Responsibilities

The associate:

• Attends and participates in department meetings and remains accountable for information shared.

• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies, and department-specific training within established timeframes.

• Completes annual employee-health requirements within established timeframes.

• Maintains all required licenses, certifications, and registrations in good standing.

• Maintains current BCLS/CPR and other certifications required by the position or department.

• Follows appropriate universal precautions, protective-equipment requirements, and ergonomic practices.

• Adheres to regulatory, accreditation, compliance, and survey requirements.

• Complies with organizational and departmental policies and procedures.

• Remains available to work additional hours, shifts, or schedules when required.

Commitment to the Beacon Way

• Leverage innovation everywhere.

• Cultivate human talent.

• Embrace performance improvement.

• Build greatness through accountability.

• Use information to improve and advance.

• Communicate clearly and continuously.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited college or university is required.

• Current Indiana pharmacist license, or demonstrated eligibility to obtain licensure in Indiana, is required.

• Successful completion of a PGY1 pharmacy residency is preferred.

• Completion of a PGY2 residency in ambulatory care or a related clinical specialty is preferred.

• Board certification as a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) or Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) is preferred.

• In lieu of residency training, two to three years of clinical pharmacy experience, preferably in ambulatory care, chronic-disease management, population health, or a physician-practice setting, is preferred.

• Candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy must have relevant clinical pharmacy experience.

• Experience practicing under collaborative care agreements and managing patients with chronic health conditions is preferred.

• Immunization certification and current BCLS/CPR certification are required or must be obtained within the department’s established timeframe.

Knowledge and Skills

• Thorough knowledge of ambulatory pharmacy practice, pharmacotherapy, chronic-disease management, medication safety, and current evidence-based treatment guidelines.

• Ability to assess medication regimens, interpret laboratory results, develop care plans, and monitor therapeutic outcomes.

• Strong patient-assessment, counseling, education, and motivational-interviewing skills.

• Ability to identify and address clinical, social, financial, and behavioral barriers to medication adherence.

• Strong data-collection, analytical, documentation, and quality-improvement skills.

• Ability to work independently within approved protocols while collaborating effectively with an interdisciplinary care team.

• Proficiency with electronic health records, pharmacy systems, clinical documentation tools, and relevant healthcare technology.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively with patients, families, physicians, healthcare professionals, and hospital staff.

• Demonstrated commitment to patient-centered care, medication safety, clinical excellence, and continuous improvement.

Working Conditions

• Works primarily in an ambulatory clinic, pharmacy, and office environment.

• May provide patient care through in-person, telephone, or virtual encounters.

• May occasionally be exposed to medications, biological materials, or other potentially hazardous substances.

Physical Demands

Requires the physical ability and stamina necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

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