Position Summary

The Pharmacy Operations Manager oversees and maintains the effective everyday function of the pharmacy department in accordance with established policies and procedures and state and federal regulations. Specific areas of oversight include compounding practice, hazardous medication handling, and controlled substance diversion monitoring. Ensures that established institutional guidelines and policies are adhered to. Actively participates in the professional development of staff. Serves a liaison between the pharmacy and medical and nursing departments. Has authority in the absence of the Director of Pharmacy to make departmental decisions. Performs all other duties as assigned by the Director of Pharmacy.

Essential Functions

1. Supervises the activities of Clinical Pharmacists and Certified Pharmacy Technicians/Interns

a. Monitors compliance with established policy and procedures

b. Oversees scheduling of pharmacy staff

c. Manages and approves time-off requests

d. Provides guidance and redirection to staff in cases of policy and procedure lapses and non-adherence

e. Develops and implements staff corrective action plans as required

f. In the case of staff shortages, may function in the capacity of Clinical Pharmacist.

2. Monitors Drug Distribution

a. Ensures efficient and accurate drug distribution to patient care units, surgical areas, and outpatient clinics

b. Monitors compliance with established drug distribution quality assurance measures, including barcode scanning compliance, outdating activities, and stock out incidence.

c. Ensures that staff conduct timely ADS refills and outdated medication removal

d. Monitors code card tray exchange program.

3. Maintains the pharmacy in state of regulatory compliance

a. Ensures controlled substance handling, storage, and inventory activities comply with state and federal laws and regulations

b. Implements mechanisms to actively monitor for controlled substance diversion. Ensures clinical pharmacists complete follow up on controlled substance discrepancies in a timely fashion.

c. Coordinates the MEE Controlled Substance Oversight Committee.

d. Ensures that pharmacists and technicians adhere to institutional controlled substance policies and procedures

e. Reports all suspected controlled substance diversion to the Director of Pharmacy

f. Reviews results from all controlled substance audits and quality assurance mechanisms for accuracy.

g. Reports anomalies and lapses in recordkeeping to Director of Pharmacy

4. Assists and promotes staff development
1. Coordinates the interviewing, hiring, and training of pharmacy staff.
2. Communicates and trains pharmacy staff on updates made to pharmacy policies
3. Ensures pharmacist complete monthly regulatory competency assignments
4. Participates in pharmacy management meetings with the Director of Pharmacy
5. Precepts APPE students, provides administrative pharmacy rotation experiences.
6. Assists in training pharmacists and technicians on features of the pharmacy system
7. Reviews medication errors with staff members and devises corrective action plans to avoid recurrence
8. Communicates changes in clinical practice and pharmacy procedures

5. Participates on institutional committees and task forces
1. Serves as a voting member on the MEE Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
2. Coordinates CSOC committee meetings
3. Coordinates the MEE Hazardous Medication Committee
4. Participates on other institutional committees as needed

6. Engages in professional self-development.

1. Completes required continuing education credits annually.
2. Attends professional meetings (at least one annually).
3. Attends classes, conferences, or other meetings to enhance professional knowledge.
4. Attains / maintains professional certifications (ex. BCPS (Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist))

7. Promotes Professional Behavior and Development

a. Assists in training and orientation of new employees and students.

b. Provides outstanding customer service to patients and employees.

c. Demonstrates empathy and kindness to fellow coworkers and internal and external customers

d. Effectively troubleshoots problems (including systems downtime) and implements short-term solutions as required based on professional judgment.

Organizational Requirements:

1. Communicates appropriately using good interpersonal skills.

2. Serves, manages, and supports internal and external customers.

3. Participates in performance improvement activities.

4. Participates as a team member and is accountable for own work responsibilities.

5. Motivates staff to provide effective clinical care to all patients

1. Complies with all State and Federal rules, regulations and laws which govern the practice of pharmacy.

2. Charge and credit all medications appropriately, as per departmental and institutional policies.

3. Completes annual MEE/MGB regulatory compliance training

Minimum Education and Experience

Graduate of an accredited College of Pharmacy with a PharmD degree and 3 years of pharmacy management experience OR

Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) plus 5 years of hospital management experience

Licensed as a Pharmacist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in good standing

Working Conditions

Works within the Pharmacy Department and routinely will be on patient care areas to deliver medication information and assess medication usage data.

Occasionally exposed to infectious diseases, carcinogenic, hazardous and sensitizing medications and chemicals

Works under constant time constraints and deadlines.