Clinical Pharmacist Hematology Oncology

The Clinical Pharmacist in Hematology Oncology is a licensed pharmacist responsible for ensuring optimal drug therapy by designing therapy, monitoring, and dispensing medications in accordance with SOPs, ACLS, PALS, and USP guidelines. The pharmacist serves as a medication expert, directs support staff, and ensures medication management complies with hospital, state, and federal requirements.

Responsibilities

• Verify and check prescriptions/orders following safe medication practices.
• Review prescription orders for accuracy and completeness.
• Provide medication evaluation during verification, considering patient‑specific factors, potential adverse reactions, and drug‑drug or drug‑disease interactions.
• Assess and optimize drug therapy by designing medication regimens that meet patient needs.
• Develop, review, assist, and maintain protocols and regimens with the Oncology Infusion Center and Inpatient Hematology Oncology unit in accordance with evidence‑based practice and governing bodies such as the Children Oncology Group and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
• Utilize the facility formulary whenever possible to ensure cost‑effective care.
• Provide drug information education to patients or caregivers as needed.
• Mentor and assist in training pharmacists, interns, and residents; teach pharmacy and multidisciplinary staff on chemotherapy regimens, validation, preparation, treatment, and monitoring.
• Rounding with the Hematology/Oncology Infusion Center and Inpatient Hematology Oncology unit; perpetually monitor assigned patients, identify potential issues, and collaborate for remediation.
• Manage the daily pharmacy workload within the Oncology Infusion Center and Inpatient Hematology Oncology unit.
• Directly supervise pharmacy staff throughout the shift (technicians, students, residents, interns) to ensure safe and accurate preparation, dispensing, and delivery.
• Know all SOPs governing pharmacy staff to mitigate harm to patients and staff.
• Accurately document medication monitoring, adverse reactions, and interventions in the electronic health record (EPIC, DoseEdge, Omnicell).
• Maintain documentation compliant with state and federal drug control laws.
• Inspect medication storage and prep areas and raise concerns to Nurse and Pharmacy leadership.
• Identify medication or operational issues requiring remediation; escalating to direct manager.
• Contribute to adding new hematology/oncology products and modalities to formulary via the P&T committee.
• Function as Charge Pharmacist as needed.
• Perform other job‑related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience Required

• BS degree in Pharmacy
• CITI training to cross‑cover investigational studies related to Oncology

Education and/or Experience Preferred

• PharmD
• Experience as a Hospital Pharmacist
• Completion of PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency
• Completion of PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Practice Residency

License and/or Certification Required

• State of Connecticut Pharmacist License
• BLS

License and/or Certification Preferred

• Board certification in area of specialty
• Advanced training/certification in area of specialty

Knowledge

• Medications, their doses, indications, monitoring parameters, potential risks and contraindications with drug‑drug and drug‑disease interactions.
• Medication preparation and delivery process.
• Common disease states affecting pediatric populations and their risks and treatments.

Skills

• Critical thinking and problem solving.
• Utilizing available resources such as medication and disease guidelines to answer questions and guide patient therapy.
• Teaching and learning.

Abilities

• Appropriately assess and manage competing priorities.
• Collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment with individuals of varying levels of education, healthcare experience, and licensure.
• Show empathy and support others within the work environment.
• Communicate clearly both orally and written.