Westchester Medical Center Work Values

Daily Duties at Westchester Medical Center:

WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER Valhalla, NY Hospital Pharmacist Oncology & IV Services 1996-2005 In collaboration with the oncology pharmacy manager ensured appropriate timely service delivery and support for multi-specialty oncology practice for both adult and pediatric patients. Responsible for providing pharmaceutical care for all age groups including geriatric and neonates. Guided all aspects of medication dispensing, monitoring, dug-lab tests, admixing and dispensing of IV and chemotherapy medications in compliance with hospital policies, established standards and applicable state regulations. Appropriately manage all medications storage to eliminate risk for adulteration, incompatibilities and safeguard medication integrity as essential part of individual patient’s medication regimen as well as patient’s safety management. Ensured all chemotherapies, hazardous substances, investigational, biologics and ancillary IV products are dispensed accurately, safely with ancillary and proper labeling according to USP guidelines. Reviewed chemotherapy and IV medication orders for appropriateness, accuracy, contraindications, allergies, frequency, duplicate therapy and formulary status. Interacted with health care personnel to provide information such as drug protocol, Chem spill kit, medication dosing calculations, proper IV-line delivery, filter application and compatibility information for IV administration of various drugs. Contacted physicians to clarify medication for dose, route, name, frequency and medication protocol. Interpreted, clarified and rectified chemotherapy and IV orders including medication reconciliation. Evaluated drug therapy appropriateness. Made drug therapy recommendations when needed to clinicians. Monitored all patients on specified target drugs, initiated pharmacokinetic dosing per protocols. Identified and reported adverse drug events and medication errors. Compounded all intravenous and specialty pharmaceutical products utilizing aseptic methods. Maintained Knowledge of proper use and handling of both sterile and hazardous medications. Handled all sterile and hazardous medications per established guidelines and regulations. Compounded sterile IV admixture including chemotherapy products per established aseptic standards including USP 797 guidelines. Dispensed all chemotherapy medications using accountability record to document and accurately pack medications with appropriate premedication plus other IV supplies. Strictly followed quality process and method approach to prevent errors, maximizing accuracy and treatment outcome. Accurately followed best practices for safe structured processes in chemotherapy drug ordering, double checking, dosing, recording diagnostic and lab values, adverse drug effects as well as maximum dosing parameters. Processed, admixed and dispensed all chemotherapy related medications with two checks system to assure accuracy. Maintained manual and electronic patient profile. Recorded medication regimen, protocols, doses, dispensing records. Performed all chemotherapy dosing related calculations such as area under the curve, body surface area, pharmacokinetics, including gender and other individual patient data. Maintained competence as well as vigilance in chemotherapy drug dosing calculations, therapeutic range for high -risk medications due to maximum benefits, high potential for severe side effects, dose limiting toxicities. Maintained understanding for double checking, labeling for accuracy, with expiration and auxiliary labels including rate and IV route of administration. Successfully monitored, evaluated, and modified orders in collaboration with clinicians. Demonstrated proficiency in safe chemotherapy regimen verification process to ensure accurate drug and dose for each individual patient. Performed daily quality assurance requirements including drug order inventory, IV , equipment calibration, laminar flow and Chemo hood scheduled daily maintenance. Managed patient load in an extremely fast -paced practice environment. Prepared and dispensed on demand and /or Stat IV doses for globulins, inotrope, monoclonal therapies, IV Hydration, electrolyte IV bolus, IV pre-medications, processed all IV and antibiotics orders to dispensed stat and first doses. Performed other duties as assigned. Managed all incoming calls. Interacted with health care personnel, provided information on drug protocol, patient care and pharmacy services related information. Worked with nursing personnel to promptly and accurately clarify compatibility information for planning IV administration of various drugs, suggested changes as needed in complex patients. Responded timely and accurately to drug information requests. Managed requests for Chemo-spill Kit and medication dose calculations. Participated in process improvement, provided information to pharmacy management on key issues for optimizing workflow processes both in pharmacy operations and patient care. Hospital Pharmacist Nutrition (TPN) & IV Infusion 2005-2009 Responsible in reviewing physician’s orders for assuring that medication orders are accurate, appropriate, safe and effective. Evaluated and Siemens provider verified orders for therapeutic appropriateness, proper dosing, optimal dosage form, drug interaction significance, frequency, allergy route, rate of administration, formulary status and redundancy. Interpreted, clarified, rectified medication and IV orders including medication reconciliation for inpatient and outpatient Addressed all medication order problems and documented all interventions results and communications with physicians and other authorized prescribers. Managed all phone calls. Consulted with and educated physicians and other health professional about drug use drug dosage drug substitution. Ensured adherence to hospital, pharmacy department policies and guidelines. Provided nutrition services to neonates, pediatric, adult and geriatric age groups. Focused on improving patient care services, cost effective and safe medication use, addressed and corrected all parenteral nutrition orders (TPN) incompatibilities. Successfully managed over 100 TPN patient load daily. Managed all Admixing requirements, stock requisition, daily IV equipment maintenance, including calibration for Baxa repeater Pump, Braun-Pinnacle and Baxter Automix-3 admixture systems, Recorded and maintained pharmacy temperature, and cleaning logs. Ensured that all pharmacy surface and , laminar flow hoods are cleaned per hospital policy . Managed order entry in CAPS Successfully implemented IV service expansion for all inpatient outpatient including departments for Operating Room Emergency Room and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Prepared, Supervised and ensured aseptic compounding of IVs including chemotherapy drugs, promoting accuracy, timeliness, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Provided STAT IV, inotropes, Globulin, compounded special IV narcotics, electrolyte solutions for neonatal, pediatrics, emergency department, operating room. and all outpatient clinics. Reviewed levels for batched IV medications, prepared, checked and put away checked batches, rotate stocks to avoid waste. , document all required information, Demonstrated strong knowledge of IV equipment, sterile technique, total parenteral nutrition, safe handling of hazardous drug preparation and precautions, signed all paperwork and product labels. Implemented all clinical initiatives. to comply with Pharmacy and Therapeutic committee. Managed and tracked all transplant IV orders per protocols. Prepared and dispensed all medications required to be prepared in aseptic environment. Total parenteral nutrition(TPN)with additives, irrigation solutions, ,oncology chemotherapy admixtures, pre-filled syringes, of parenteral solutions (pediatric and neonatal medications) double dilutions, large volume IV solutions with additives, ophthalmic preparations, allergen solutions for outpatient clinics , intrathecal medication syringes,, all other parenteral therapy required by patients or by other clinical departments, provided connection of adapters or devices to sterile iv bags. according to established standards. Compounded, solutions and other sterile products according to compounding standards and regulations. Demonstrated understanding of sterile compounding, USP 797. Implemented all drug use policies and formulary decisions of pharmacy, Provided specialized IV admixture with additives as well narcotic drips Unit dose batch preparation. Demonstrated Knowledge and proficiency in pharmacy practice including pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics... Provided oversight for technician drug preparation, distribution, and coordination of medication deliveries. Clarified orders when needed through direct and timely contact with the prescriber or designated practitioner. Documented encounter in Siemens clinical interventions. Monitor patients on specified target medications and initiate pharmacokinetic dosing protocol Identified, monitored, and reported adverse drug events and medication errors in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements Performed nursing unit inspections in assigned areas, assured proper maintenance and storage of medications. Corrected and reported discrepancies. Maintained records and inventories of dispensed controlled substances; investigational drug per protocol directed all workflow operations, including pyxis restock, oral and IV batch production, compounded medication checking, chemotherapy Collaborated with healthcare providers and patients to ensure accurate prescription records and solve clinical and therapeutic drug application issues. Supervised pharmacy technician responsible for preparation and medication delivery. Created and executed cost savings initiatives including therapeutic substitution, and IV to PO. Managed automated medication dispensing cabinets for stat dosing release as needed, for instructing nurses or medical providers for medication retrieval and inventory discrepancies documentation. Filled all operating room automated dispensing cabinet, rotated stocks, addressed and documented all discrepancies Dispensed controlled substances, maintained proper distribution and inventory records according with hospital policies, procedures and regulatory requirements. Timely and accurately Filled all medication stocks ordered by Nursing units and ancillary services per hospital policy and procedure. Performed inspection of all nursing units and ancillary service Ensured quality, proper storage, quantity, control safe use of these pharmaceutical supplies. Addressed, documented and corrected all discrepancies. Ensured handling and storage of all controlled substances Filled and checked all approved emergency drug boxes for adult, pediatric, throughout the hospital per compliance guidelines for ACLS. Supervised up to four technicians per shift

What they like about Westchester Medical Center:

Organizations with strong, centralized leadership are particularly attractive to you. You require a work environment with leadership that aggressively seeks to expand and grow the business and does so in a visible and decisive manner. In general you prefer to work in an environment in which there is a strong link between leadership, its actions, and a strong set of company-wide values.

Tags

New York, Patient Relations Patient Education Medication Disbursement Drug Interactions/Utilization Cost Reduction and Avoidance Compounding USP797/800 Workflow Management Customer Service Relationship Building Drug Information Quality Assurance and Control Regulat, Prescription Dispensing Inventory Control Project Management Business Development Problem Resolution Drug Interaction Drug Disease Management Siemens EPIC McKesson Pharmacy Systems and Automation Pyxis Medication Management Care Fusion Pysis-Connect Medic, therapy assessment, care planning and medication reconciliation, care planning, medication reconciliation, inpatient pharmacist, SQL

Skills

Cost Reduction and Avoidance  Compounding USP797/800 Workflow Management, Team Leadership, Customer Care Experience, , Possess verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal relationship skills and problem solving skills, Develop and maintain business relationships via effective, proactive communication.Translate business stakeholder goals into actionable plans that include scopes and timelines., Comprehensive medication therapy management Medication Utilization Review . IV Infusion Post Hospital Care Project Management Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to instill trust, drive engagement and effective collaboration, Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, Certificate Medication Therapy Management, Certificate Leadership and Mangementt, Pharmacy System Automation Siemens EPIC Mckesson Pharmacy System & Automation Pyxis Medication Management Care Fusion Pyxis- Connect Medication Management bar-Coding CPOE Microsoft Suite, Pharmacy System Automation Siemens EPIC Mckesson Pharmacy System & Automation Pyxis Medication Management Care Fusion Pyxis- Connect Medication Management bar-Coding CPOE Microsoft Suite MySQL, Ability to work independently without supervision, Have hospital experience with PharmD

These are some of the questions we asked our climbers about their experiences with Westchester Medical Center: