Lead Specialist Clinical Pharmacist -ePMA (e-Care)

Job overview

The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has recently invested in the e-Care (EPMA) Medicines Management Team, and we are expanding – could you come and join us?

We are a Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) Trust with a fully integrated electronic prescribing and medication record system known as e-Care, using Cerner Millennium. It is used across the Trust in every aspect of the patient’s care, and supports the pharmacy department to improve and monitor the care that we deliver.

The e-Care Medicines Management Team consists of a dedicated project manager, specialist pharmacists and specialist pharmacy technicians. It sits within a wider e-Care team consisting of IT specialists, nurses, doctors and other specialist staff.

What you can expect from us

• A supportive, friendly team
• A rewarding role in a busy, fast-paced, team environment
• Career progression – training and education related to CPD/revalidation
• Access to a range of employee benefits
• Quality of life and super location in Suffolk

Main duties of the job

The right candidate will work alongside our existing Lead Pharmacists to jointly co-ordinate the activity of the e-Care Medicines Management team.

This will include:

• Hands on build work within the e-Care system
• Clinical project management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Business as usual (BAU) maintenance
• Delivery of training and education on the medicines elements of the system
• Input into national and international forums
• Day-to-day management of the team itself

There is also a clinical element to the role, with some of the time dedicated to providing a clinical pharmacy service and participating in the department’s late and weekend working on a rostered basis.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job summary

To provide and oversee, in conjunction with the Chief Pharmacist, Deputy Chief Pharmacists and the Trust IT team, the clinical development of the medicines management component of the Trusts e-Care (ePMA) system in order to increase and maintain the effectiveness and quality of pharmaceutical patient care.

Lead and develop the e-Care Medicines Management Team in terms of technical skills, ensuring appropriate competence levels amongst the team are met and maintained.

Lead the e-Care Medicines Management Team on technical aspects of project implementations and transitions to Business as Usual (BAU) states.

To work with IT and Cerner colleagues to ensure the appropriate prioritisation of pharmaceutical and medicines management issues within the e-Care system.

To liaise with key stakeholders both within and outside of West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Represent West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Medicines Management Team at regional, national and international level when required.

To provide a clinical pharmacy service to allocated wards and the dispensary.

Job responsibilities

EPMA (e-Care)

• Act as Lead Specialist Pharmacist in the e-Care Medicines Management Team, delivering and overseeing the medicines management and pharmaceutical aspects of the Trusts e-Care system, and providing a leadership role for junior members of the team.
• Act as the Pharmacy department’s link with the Trust/Cerner e-Care team.
• In conjunction with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist ensure that the available Pharmacy resources are suitably trained and developed to ensure the effective provision of a comprehensive pharmacy service.
• Develop appropriate procedures and materials to facilitate the training of staff members in e-Care.
• In conjunction with the Pharmacy system manager ensure that the e-Care drug dictionary is maintained and updated.
• In conjunction with other Trust clinical pharmacists ensure that all e-Care content and functionality is up to date and fit for purpose.
• In conjunction with the Chief Pharmacist and IT/Cerner prioritise and plan any medicines management developments to the e-Care system.
• Where appropriate, make complex and significant clinical decisions affecting the implementation and functionality of the e-Care system.
• In conjunction with the Trust Medication Safety Officer review any e-Care related medication incidents to ensure that system related risks are highlighted and minimised.
• Develop and participate in medication related audit within the Medical Directorate.
• Lead on development and maintenance of system interfaces with e-Care.
• Plan, undertake and report audits regarding medicines management within e-Care as appropriate.
• To act as line manager to Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians within the e-Care medicines team.

Clinical Services

• Provide a clinical pharmacy service to allocated wards and the dispensary as rostered.
• Liaise with nursing staff and advise on appropriate action in respect of patient treatment.
• Take responsibility to educate and train medical and nursing staff on relevant matters.
• Participate in Pharmacy pre-registration and rotational pharmacist training programme.
• Liaise with nursing staff and advise on appropriate action in respect of patient treatment.
• Confirm patient medication history using appropriate resources and document as required.
• In conjunction with medical and nursing staff review patient medication and modify to maximise outcomes.
• Monitor prescribed medication to ensure compliance with agreed policies and Trust formulary.
• Record interventions.
• Ensure that clinical conditions are understood in relation to agreed therapy.
• Monitor appropriate biochemical results and advise medical team regarding necessary drug and dose modification.
• Pre-check patient TTO’s, and advise medical staff on appropriate changes.
• Clarify any ambiguity on prescriptions.
• Identify patients requiring medication related counselling and refer to counselling technician or provide counselling directly as appropriate.
• Advising medical staff of any problems identified as part of the counselling process.
• Identify compliance issues and propose solutions to patients, medical and nursing staff.
• Ensure that if patients own drugs are brought into the Trust that they are utilised effectively.
• Minimise the non-administration of medicines.
• Liaise with ward based Pharmacy technicians, where in place, to ensure appropriate supplies are made.

Additional Duties

• Carry out pharmaceutical duties associated with the clinical checking and dispensing and final checking of all types of prescriptions for in-patients and out-patients, including supervision and checking the work of other pharmacists and technical staff, OTC sales, cash handling.
• Carry out pharmaceutical duties on wards as appropriate to the level of service agreed for that clinical area. This may include some or all of the following, depending on the level of service required: prescription screening, medication supply, medication history taking, therapeutic drug monitoring, TTO screening, patient counselling, liaising with ward technicians to ensure comprehensive pharmaceutical service delivered, liaising with all levels of medical, nursing and other professional staff to resolve any patient centred pharmaceutical problems.
• To participate in flexible working hours in accordance with Trust policy.
• To give professional advice on pharmaceutical matters to medical, nursing and other professional staff.
• To attend relevant training courses as appropriate.
• To undertake other reasonable duties within the framework of the post as directed by the Chief Pharmacist.
• To act as an ambassador for the pharmaceutical service at West Suffolk Hospital.
• To be involved in the training and education, as appropriate, of all other members of the Pharmacy team.
• On an ad hoc basis be available, by mutual agreement, for the provision of pharmaceutically related training sessions to nursing, medical, other professional groups and patient groups.
• To record, as stated in departmental procedure, pharmaceutical interventions.
• As part of Trust medicines management highlight any new changes in clinical practice to the Chief Pharmacist as necessary.
• Participate in the department’s appraisal process.
• Participate in the department’s seven day extended hours, late, weekend and bank holiday working roster.
• Adhere to GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals.