Facility: North Fulton Hospital

Job Summary:

The Director of Pharmacy shall provide oversight, direction, strategic planning and coordination for the operational, clinical, financial and related services provided by North Fulton hospital.
The Director of Pharmacy will be positioned to collaborate with the other directors in the system to ensure the best decisions are made regarding policies, procedures, and systems that support safe, effective and efficient medication use. This will include leadership in the design, operation and improvement of the organization's medication use process.
Services shall comply with the policies and procedures established by the WellStar Health System, federal, state and local laws governing the practice of pharmacy, and the standards and requirements established by the regulatory agencies (e.g. TJC, Medicare, State Board of Pharmacy, etc.) supervising the provision of health care. The Pharmacy Director reports directly to the VP-COO, who reports to the SVP and Hospital President. The role has two direct reports, an Operations Manager and a Clinical Pharmacy Manager, and 37 FTEs total.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Medication Use: Responsible for the creation and development of an evidence based, best practice medication use system at assigned facility, Department of Pharmacy, with impact considerations for the WellStar Pharmacies across the system.
- Assures daily operations meet quality, safety and operational standards to optimize the patient centered care model and provide optimal patient care and an optimal patient experience
- Investigates evidence based practice to identify solution strategies for complex medical dilemmas
- Translates organizational relevance to unit specific efforts
- Serves as expert resource to other departments for medication use issues
- Ensures pharmaceutical related systems operate effectively and efficiently across the continuum of care
- Works with physicans as needed on drug utilization issues and projects 15% Strategic Planning: Involvement in the hospital’s strategic planning for patient-centered care. Utilizes his/her expertise to improve patient care and patient safety.
- Develops departmental strategic plans for patient-centered care and works with leadership to facilitate achievement of department goals
- Integrates best practice standards to optimize resources and patient care outcomes
- Establishes relationships with others through a shared vision for patient centered care
- Serves as professional role model
- Serves as mentor in the development of peers and staff
- Serves as liaison with medical staff and other departments
- Participates in committee meetings impacting pharmacy services
- Consults with WellStar leadership on matters involving the pharmacy
- Participates in hospital-wide committees sharing strategic objectives 10% Technology: Optimizes the use of information system and technology in the WellStar system to lead the hospital to maximize safety, efficacy, and efficiency of the medication use system.
- Serve as liaison to other departments/divisions within the facility to foster collaboration in an effort to achieve facility objectives
- Functions as a leader in WellStar CPOE initiative through collaboration with medical staff
- Provides leadership at the hospital level for planning, purchasing, implementing, and maintaining information systems supporting patient care.
- Knowledgeable in drug information platforms 10% Quality and Performance Improvement: The Director will be involved with all performance improvement committees/activities.
- Monitors clinical and performance outcomes via benchmark analysis and facilitates accountability via defined expectations and goals
- Actively participates in all PI committee/activity for the facility. Will include participation in the Infection Control Committee
- Communicates relevant PI activities across the facility to foster a continued learning environment for all staff
- Communicates issues and concerns, both internal and external, to the Director of Operations and Sr. Management
- Assumes other responsibilities as required to maintain high quality pharmacy services 10% Drug-Utilization: Takes a leadership role in the hospital system to develop drug-utilization and formulary initiatives.
- Participate consistently in Pharmacy department based committees and teams, including but not limited to Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Pharmacy Operations Council, Medical Executive Committee, etc.
- Reviews, edits, and approves ancillary departmental policies and procedures relating to medication use
- Ensures the use of cost-effective pharmacotherapy 25% Financial: Leads the hospital pharmacy financial initiatives.
- Develops operating and capital budgets using sound business principles
- Monitors financial performance and is accountable for variance analysis and resolution
- Ensures appropriate charge capture and patient billing through oversight and system monitoring
- Ensures resource utilization is constantly monitored to be responsive to changing patient care/procedure volumes 10% Regulatory: Responsible for the Pharmacy Department’s compliance with Regulatory Agency rules, regulations and standards (e.g. Georgia State Board of Pharmacy, Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency, DEA, FDA, TJC, etc.):
- Review pharmacy department operations and regulatory documentation to ensure compliance with requirements as established by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy, TJC, and other agencies regulating the practice of pharmacy
- Review activities related to pharmacy and develop action plans to address deficiencies as they relate to Georgia State Board of Pharmacy, TJC, and other agencies regulating the practice of pharmacy
- Prepare for and participate in surveys/reviews conducted by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy, TJC, and other agencies regulating the practice of pharmacy
- Adhere to and enforce the rules and regulations established by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy, TJC, and other agencies regulating the practice of pharmacy
- Identifies high risk areas for regulatory compliance
- Supports organizational national patient safety goal and core measure initiatives
- Promote safe work environment and delivery of services 10% Human Resources: Manages the hospital pharmacy’s human resources.
- Oversight of recruitment efforts for staffing of the department to include interview, selection, hiring, and on boarding of new staff members. Sets clear expectations regarding performance and measures of success.
- Monitors managerial performance and provides coaching and counseling as indicated for improved performance. Evaluates staff fairly, consistently, and objectively.
- Encourages appropriate utilization of all available skills to achieve the highest level of quality, productivity and efficiency. Facilitates creative, efficient, and flexible utilization of human resources.
- Creates an environment of mutual trust, respect, and empowerment to foster ethical leadership
- Creates accountability for employee morale and customer satisfaction
- Lead employment and physician engagement initiatives for the Pharmacy
- Provide guidance to Pharmacy Department Coordinators/Managers concerning personnel issues, including hiring, promoting, counseling, or terminating personnel
- Develop programs to assist in the recruitment/retention of quality pharmacy team leaders and members
- Facilitates constructive communication throughout all levels of the department, encourages feedback from employees and accepts this communication as a productive method of enhancing employee satsifaction 10%

Required Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited School/College of Pharmacy required Required and
PharmD preferred Preferred and
Advanced Management degree (MBA or MHA) preferred Preferred and
Completion of a Pharmacy Residency Program preferred Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• Reg Pharmacist

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):

Actively licensed and in good standing (no restrictions) with the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy required Required

Required Minimum Experience:

Knowledgeable and experienced in the specialized functions of a hospital pharmacy. Required and
Minimum 7 years in hospital pharmacy practice Required and
Minimum 3 years in a supervisor/manager/director of hospital pharmacy role Required and
General knowledge of hospital financial systems (responsibility reports, budgetary process, billing programs, etc). Required and
Knowledge of healthcare reimbursement Required and
Expereince with 340B Drug Pricing Plan highly desireable Required and
Knowledge of the various pharmacy technologies available. Required and
Knowledge of computerized pharmacy systems; preferably hospital pharmacy based computer systems Required and
Knowledge of Federal and State laws and regulatory guidelines governing pharmaceutical practice and the use of controlled substances. Required

Required Minimum Skills:

Demonstrated leadership qualities.
Ability to supervise both exempt and non-exempt employees.
Ability to work with other Hospital and System leaders
Ability to address Medical Staff Leaders on issues pertaining to pharmacy
Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written)
Strong customer service attitude
Moderate computer skills (Microsoft Office).
Ability to think/act independently as required by situation – adept at change management