Pharmacy Intern, As Needed)

About the Role

Under the direct supervision of a licensed and registered pharmacist, the pharmacy intern will learn the operational and clinical skills required to become a successful pharmacist. The pharmacy intern will assist Pharmacists in all aspects of the medication distribution process, including but not limited to drug preparation and distribution, medication counseling and patient education, and triaging inventory issues.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation, dispensing, and distribution of non-sterile medications.
• Ensure compliance with all pharmacy laws and regulations, including USP-795/800.
• Assist in ordering, receiving, unpacking, and storing pharmaceuticals in appropriate locations.
• Maintain inventory of pharmacy stock.
• Maintain controlled substances records, receipts, and disposition.
• Maintain Pyxis medication levels and accuracy of medication placement.
• Perform monthly unit and section inspections to identify expired and soon-to-expire medications.
• Prevent, detect, and resolve medication-related problems.
• Assist with organizational tasks on an as-needed basis.
• Assist with the preparation, dispensing, and distribution of sterile medications.
• Ensure compliance with all pharmacy laws and regulations, including USP-797/800.
• Maintain all required IV documentation of all compounded sterile product activities.
• Assist with answering drug-related questions as related to IV therapy and management in a timely manner.
• Maintain current knowledge of infusion drugs and therapies and aseptic technique, as well as infusion devices, products, and supplies.
• Administer vaccinations when applicable if certified.
• Collaborate with the healthcare team to optimize individual patient outcomes.
• Perform medication reconciliation.
• Perform discharge counseling, including first-dose teaching, and drug-drug/drug-food interaction counseling.
• Counsel patients on prescription and OTC medications and durable medical equipment.
• Assess patient education and adherence to medications.
• Develop and recommend appropriate therapeutic plans.
• Identify and resolve drug-related problems and ensure proper communication to the entire healthcare team.
• Assess patients' progress to achieving desired medication treatment goals.
• Perform on-call pharmacy-related duties as required.
• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes.
• Complete projects pertaining to:
• Compliance
• Safety
• Informatics
• Drug diversion
• Drug information
• Assist investigators and IDS pharmacists in record-keeping, training technical staff, and working in compliance of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
• Participate in ongoing performance improvement projects.
• Ensure patient care is maintained through compliance with the policies, rules, and regulations established by the Board of Pharmacy, and other applicable regulatory bodies.
• Review written prescriptions to determine ingredients needed and to assure that overdoses have not been prescribed under the direction of a Registered Pharmacist.
• According to standard formulas, weigh, measure, or mix ingredients; and fill prescriptions from bulk stock.
• Fill bottles, capsules, or other package forms with measured amounts of medication to prescription specifications.
• Label containers, showing identification data and directions for prescription use.
• Assist the pharmacist/technician/messenger, according to assignment, including stocking and maintaining inventory levels in all work areas, and delivering medications as well as drug cart exchanges.
• Assist with delivering, packaging, and labeling medication bags under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
• Participate in Pharmacy and/or Hospital Committees, and QA assignments as directed.
• Perform various rotating functions in dispensing, product formulation, and unit dose distribution.
• Gather and compile workload and other statistics.
• Fill bottles or other package forms with measured amounts of medications as instructed in the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
• Maintain work area in a clean and organized condition.
• Remain abreast of departmental communications via e-mails, staff meeting minutes, and distributed literature.
• Fulfill reading assignments.
• Comply with all regulatory bodies and requirements including HIPAA, NYS Law, JCAHO, and Hospital Policy and Procedures.
• Serve as intermediary between patient care units and pharmacy.
• Monitor preventive maintenance of all equipment in the assigned area.
• Take suitable action(s) or provide answers to questions of routine pharmacy procedures.
• Interact with physicians, nurses, and other hospital personnel and refer questions or concerns to the proper authorities.
• Coordinate the orientation of trainees and new employees to the technical functions of the assigned areas.
• Maintain all licensures and registrations as viable and current, and on file with the Pharmacy Department.
• Maintain all Continuing Education Credits on file with the Pharmacy Department.
• Interact with patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees in a considerate, helpful, and courteous manner.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Display a positive attitude within the department and across departmental lines in support of the hospital’s programs and mission.
• Promote effective working relations and work effectively as part of a department/unit team to facilitate goals and objectives.
• Maintain confidentiality of all hospital and patient information.
• Present a neat appearance in proper attire and identification as required by position and hospital policy.
• Foster mature professional relationships with fellow employees.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Basic knowledge of computer applications (i.e., MS Word, E-mail, etc.).
• Must understand basic Pharmacy terminology.
• Decision Making and Judgment: Professional competence and common sense.
• Computer: Ability to input and retrieve vital information pertinent to patient care.
• Automation: Understanding of automated devices and operations.
• Compound and dispense pharmaceuticals, including sterile, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition accurately.
• Monitor/review medication profile for contraindications, drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions, drug-laboratory test interactions, allergies, appropriateness of drug, therapeutic duplications.
• Provide clinical consultations and clarification to practitioners. Suggest appropriate, cost-effective therapeutic alternatives to medical staff, as needed.
• Document all clinical activities and interventions accurately and completely.
• Partake in pharmacokinetic services and drug dosing per institutional protocol(s).
• Participate in quality improvement and medication use review activities of the department. Collect data; conduct quality monitors and inspections; and maintain logs, records, and other documentation as assigned.
• Research: Understand and adequately interpret and apply federal and local laws, regulations, institutional policies, and guidelines to protect human subjects and ensure institutional compliance. Maintain adequate dispensing records/medication returns and justified variances effectively.
• Office Management: Competency in handling routine office queries and back-office functions with minimal supervision. Assignments completed timely.

Qualifications

• Pharmacist Intern: Active and in good standing (Required).
• Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision.
• Ability to set priorities, make critical decisions, and respond quickly to emergency requests.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment.
• Work knowledge: Understands all aspects and phases of assigned work.
• Application: Attention and application to work – steady, industrious worker.
• Punctual and dependable; reports to work as scheduled.
• Interest in Work/Department/Hospital: Expresses interest in work; seeks assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing).
• Adhere to institutional and departmental policies.
• Comply with all requirements related to risk management, patient safety, medication safety, environmental safety, and infection controls.
• Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Communication Skills: Reads, writes, and speaks clearly, concisely, and grammatically.
• Maintain a neat, professional, well-groomed appearance. Observe department dress code.
• Foster a team environment and assist co-workers as needed.
• Initiative: Ability to originate or develop ideas; resourceful.
• Acceptance of Responsibility: Willingness to accept additional tasks; seeks new and challenging assignments.
• Teach ability: Ability to grasp new ideas and methods.
• Leadership: Ability to lead and train others and get results through teamwork.