Infectious Disease Specialist, Pharmacy, 32-Hour, Days, 7:00AM-3:30PM, Every third weekend

Hours:  32-Hour, Days, 7:00AM-3:30PM, Every third weekend

Essential Functions

• In conjunction with the infectious disease service, coordinates and maintains the antimicrobial stewardship program, including:  
• Overseeing daily prospective audit of antimicrobials as jointly determined by the Medical Chief of Infectious Disease, and Pharmacy management
• Weekly/biweekly review of every patient on IV antibiotics to tailor antibiotics down regardless of the type of antibiotics-most likely on Mondays as many unnecessary antibiotics are continued over the weekend.
• Assisting in the development and maintenance of an antimicrobial formulary approved by the medical staff.
• Working with the infectious disease service to evaluate appropriate use of restricted antimicrobials, including rounding with the ID service, with a goal of reviewing active inpatient antibiotics to decrease inpatient stay and facilitate discharge.
• Developing guidelines, policies, and other monitoring and intervention strategies for antimicrobial use and streamlining prophylactic, empiric, and definitive antimicrobial therapy for inpatients, as well as promote and enhance patient outcomes through safe, effective, cost-efficient and appropriate medication therapy use for patients receiving antimicrobials.
• Assess the feasibility of canceling unnecessary urine culture orders/blood culture, including C. diff testing and wound cultures orders before being resulted (individual review of cases to see whether the order was clinically appropriate and then intervene)
• Antibiotic inpatient discharge review--reviewing charts based on discussions during rounds, to assess whether switching antibiotic therapy to oral antibiotics/stopping antibiotics is appropriate to facilitate discharge.  This involves the pharmacist attending ICU/Watkins 1/Watkins 2 discharge rounds and then coming up with a list to review and recommend.  Post review, recommendations will be given through an agreed channel to the provider/nursing/care management.  Final decision will be taken by the provider.
• Incorporating Antimicrobial Stewardship principles at the Heywood medical group (HMG), including reviewing antibiotic prescription practices for different HMG practices, to asses specific stewardship recommendations after reviewing the individual practice.
  Acts as the point person for HMG Group to assist in outpatient antibiotic decisions.
  Assess inpatient order sets and order practices to avoid trigger tests. In addition, streamline Meditech Expanse/Athena orders to enhance Antimicrobial Stewardship and provide evidence-based practice.
• This would require joining monthly primary care physician meetings to give recommendations and to provide education to this group.
• Provide and promoting education to Heywood Healthcare patients on antibiotics
• Provide education, training, and competency assessment for performance improvement to pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the appropriate use of antimicrobials  
• Compiling data and metrics on antimicrobial use  
• Reporting data and findings to the Antimicrobial Stewardship, Infection Control and Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committees. Achieve mandated new and revised requirements for Antibiotic Stewardship that apply to all Joint Commission accredited hospitals and critical care access hospitals. The 12 elements of performance are included in the “Medication Management” (MM) Chapter (Standard MM.09.01.01) Spearhead and develop ongoing Quality  Improvement projects related to Antibiotic Stewardship. Example, implement Pharmacist-driven Beta-Lactam Allergy Assessment that would prevent worse clinical outcomes and decrease side effects.
• To remain as an Antibiotic Stewardship expert and resource person for Heywood Hospital, Athol Hospital and HMG , expected to remain up to date and stay in good active standing with the Board of Pharmacy Specialties and licensing.
• While every effort will be made so that the duties of this job description can be fulfilled, due to the nature of the Heywood Pharmacy department, there will be times when fully performing the staff pharmacist role per the full job description of a staff pharmacist, will be necessary. In addition, this will require being part of the staff pharmacist rotation on weekends and holidays, and primarily performing the staff pharmacist role on those shifts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is required.

• Five (5) years of relevant experience is required.
• A Pharmacy Practice Residency can substitute for three (3) years of  the required experience.
• A Specialty Residency can substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.

• Preferred  degree combined with both a Pharmacy Practice Residency and Specialty Residency can substitute for all required  experience (strongly preferred). 

Minimum Licenses and Certifications

• Licensed Pharmacist by the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy is required.

• Current ACCP Board Certification in Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy (BCIDP).