Pharmacist III/Clinical Director of Pharmacy in Mexia, TX

Description

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

 

Functional Title: Pharmacist III/Clinical Director of Pharmacy 

Job Title: Pharmacist III 

Agency: Health & Human Services Comm 

Department: Pharmacy 

Posting Number: 6083 

Closing Date: 06/19/2025 

Posting Audience: Internal and External 

Occupational Category: Healthcare Support 

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-31 

Salary Range: $10,271.00 - $17,370.75 

Shift: Day 

Additional Shift:  

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 

Travel: Up to 5% 

Regular/Temporary: Regular 

Full Time/Part Time: Full time 

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt 

Facility Location: Mexia State Supported Living Center 

Job Location City: MEXIA 

Job Location Address: 540 CHAPEL DRIVE 

 Other Locations:    

 MOS Codes: 

230X,43PX,67E,SEI12 

 

 

 

 

 

Brief Job Description:

 

Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence. 

 

The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers

 

If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you!

 

The Pharmacist III (Clinical Director of Pharmacy) performs highly specialized and complex pharmaceutical services to improve drug usage and therapeutic outcomes for persons with developmental disabilities residing at a State Supported Living Center (SSLC) under the direction of the SSLC Medical Director. Directs, organizes and executes pharmacy operations. Supervises and assures the training and competency of pharmacy personnel. Plans, coordinates and oversees all aspects of pharmaceutical care, including inventory maintenance and medication order review. Supervises the dispensing of medications and directs activities involving medication delivery methods and proper storage of medications and supplies.  Interprets Federal and State licensing regulation and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all State and Federal laws governing pharmacy, as well as compliance Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) conditions of participation, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and the rules and regulations of the regulations of the Agency and SSLCs. Creates, revises and implements policies and procedures involving pharmacy operations throughout the SSLC. Participates as a member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and other committees, as appropriate and related to Pharmacy functions.  Provides in-service training to acquaint physicians, pharmacy staff, and nursing personnel with current pharmacy policies and procedures, meeting departmental and facility requirements.  Collaborates with the Clinical Pharmacist to conduct Drug Utilization Evaluations (DUEs) on commonly prescribed medications at the SSLC in order to enhance pharmaceutical care. Works in conjunction with the Clinical Pharmacist to ensure timely completion of drug regimen reviews of Individuals residing at the facility at regular intervals and provides consultation regarding medication management upon request.  Participates in Interdisciplinary Team approach focused on the individualized clinical care of residents.  Provides consultative services to clinical staff regarding patient care, and to SSLC employees injured in their course and scope of employment. Provides after-hours coverage for pharmacy services as needed. Responsible for required pharmacy reports and attendance at identified facility and state-wide committees. Meets facility fiscal requirements and budget goals. Establishes and maintains effective interpersonal relationships. Functions independently with minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment within the scope of practice outlined by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.  Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

 

Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

 

May serve in an on-call status on a rotating schedule as required to meet operational needs of the facility.

 

Ensures standards of practice are met and assures compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) conditions of participation, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and the rules and regulations of the Agency and SSLCs. Maintains current knowledge of local, federal, and state guidelines, procedures, rules, laws, and regulations relating to medication use. Interprets and monitors compliance of these standards. Provides in-service training to acquaint physicians, pharmacy staff, and nursing personnel with current pharmacy policies and procedures, meeting departmental and facility requirements. 

 

Plans and designs pharmaceutical care services for pharmacy staff. Reviews policies

 

and procedures, mission and goals of the pharmacy service. Revises as necessary and implements policies and procedures for pharmacy services which are consistent with current standards of pharmacy practice. Designs local processes in accordance with departmental operating instructions for pharmacy management and the fiscal manual to ensure compliance with SSLC indicators relating to pharmacy and medication use.

       

Supervises pharmacy staff. Ensures performance evaluations are completed on all staff based on agency

 

requirements. Ensures staffing levels are based on patient/service needs. Posts positions, conducts interviews, and completes the hiring process as required to ensure effective staffing. Ensures qualifications are verified, including primary source verification on licenses, registrations, and certifications. Uses the HHSC performance management system effectively to develop staff and takes disciplinary action as required or needed to ensure effective staff performance. Training is monitored on supervised areas to ensure compliance or actions are taken to correct deficiencies. Conducts annual reviews on direct reports; ensures reviews are completed on all supervised areas through monitoring. Ensures processes are in place to provide essential coverage to all supervised areas through effective scheduling and time monitoring. Provides after-hours coverage for pharmacy services.

       

Coordinates performance improvement activities for pharmacy services. Aggregates and analyzes data for performance improvement reporting via departmental and governing body reports, committees and performance improvement teams. Reviews all areas on identified indicators to ensure are requirements are being met. Communicates through proper channels departmental activities and issues that may arise. 

 

Supervises the dispensing of medications and directs activities involving unit dosing methods, ordering, receiving and properly storing medications and supplies. Maintains proper inventory controls. Coordinates pharmaceutical care activities by ensuring patients' drug therapy is monitored for contraindications, interactions (drug-drug, drug-food, lab-drug, drug-disease state), allergies, adverse reactions, and appropriateness through the following: medication order review, drug profile review, communication with medical and nursing staff.

 

Provides clinical consultation in regard to medication management, both prospectively and retrospectively, including but not limited to, appropriate use of as needed medications, follow up of lab values related to medication use, assessment of appropriate drug selection compatible with diet texture, monitoring for drug allergies, potential drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interactions.

 

Performs focused drug reviews on persons receiving psychoactive medications, including, but not limited to monitoring for potential drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interactions, identifying and addressing psychiatric polypharmacy, collaborating with staff psychiatrist to ensure appropriate parameters (laboratory tests, weight, EKG/diagnostic tests) are being monitored as recommended by evidence-based standards.   Attends Behavior Support Plan team meetings, Psychoactive Medication Management meetings, and Neurology Clinic upon request.  Attends and actively participates in Individual Support Plan meetings upon request.

 

Provides clinical consultation in regard to medication management, both prospectively and retrospectively, including but not limited to, appropriate use of as needed medications, follow up of lab values related to medication use, assessment of appropriate drug selection compatible with diet texture, monitoring for drug allergies, potential drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interactions.  Performs focused drug reviews on persons receiving psychoactive medications, including, but not limited to monitoring for potential drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interactions, identifying and addressing psychiatric polypharmacy, collaborating with staff psychiatrist to ensure appropriate parameters (laboratory tests, weight, EKG/diagnostic tests) are being monitored as recommended by evidence-based standards.   Attends Behavior Support Plan team meetings, Psychoactive Medication Management meetings, and Neurology Clinic upon request.  Attends and actively participates in Individual Support Plan meetings upon request.

 

Assists Clinical Pharmacist with completion of Quarterly Drug Reviews on all residents at the SSLC to maximize drug therapy and ensure regulatory compliance.  Collaborates with the Clinical Pharmacist to conduct Drug Utilization Evaluations at least quarterly on commonly prescribed drugs and prepares a verbal and written report for the facility's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.  Utilizes the Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee's Medication Audit Criteria and Guidelines or comparable evidenced based audit criteria to conduct DUE/DUR audits on resident records.  Remains current on evidenced based pharmacy practice and incorporates appropriate current literature into the DUE process. 

 

Serves as Liaison between Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee and the facility at a minimum monitoring the Minutes of Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee. May represent facility on Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee and/or other state workgroups related to clinical pharmacy practice upon request. Tracks and trends all adverse drug reactions (ADR) at facility assuring that they are reported to the Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee and FDA as appropriate.  Reports summary report of Adverse Drug Reactions to facility's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.   Serves on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and other committees, as appropriate, that are related to Pharmacy functions. Participates in the statewide pharmacy director's meeting

Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.  Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

 

Knowledge of Texas State Board of Pharmacy rules, Federal Drug Administration regulations, and other comparable rules/regulations related to the practice of pharmacy within the State of Texas and CMS/HSCS certified ICF-IID facilities.

 

Knowledge of pharmacology principles.

 

Knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to the receipt, storage, and dispensation of drugs.

 

Knowledge of principles and techniques used in institutional pharmacy practice.

 

Knowledge of federal and state laws pertaining to the practice of pharmacy.

 

Knowledge of procedures and laws pertaining to institutional pharmacy operations.

 

Extensive knowledge of drug products, pharmacokinetics, and disease state management.

 

Knowledge of on-line/internet-based reference materials and skills for conducting focused Literature Reviews related to the practice of clinical pharmacy

 

Skills in conducting and participating in Drug Utilization Evaluations or comparable medical research or Quality Assurance reviews including basic knowledge of statistics and demonstrated ability to collate and analyze data.

 

Skills in the operation of applicable pharmacy computer software.

 

Skills in reviewing and interpreting laboratory reports.

 

Skills in written and oral communication.

 

Skills in using a personal computer, email, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and office equipment.

 

Ability to develop policies, procedures, and budgets.

 

Ability to evaluate drug therapies.

 

Ability interpret and apply policies, laws, and rules.

 

Ability to plan, assign and supervise the work of others.

 

Ability to review medication orders for safety and accuracy.

 

Ability to prepare and maintain detailed records, files and reports; to type accurately based on work requirements.

 

Ability to work with information systems, automated, and technical equipment.

 

Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook) to prepare all written communications.

 

Ability to maintain effective working relationships.

 

Ability to develop and maintain liaison relationships with medical and nursing staff providing timely information pertaining to pharmaceutical supplies, drug usage and compatibility, state and federal regulations regarding drug controls, etc.

 

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

 

Licensed Pharmacist by Texas State Board of Pharmacy. 

 

Initial Screening Criteria:

 

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in pharmacy. Doctorate in Pharmacy is preferred.

 

Two (2) years of experience in pharmaceutical work, clinical pharmacy practice is preferred.

 

One (1) year of experience of supervising the work of others is required; pharmacy management is preferred.

 

Additional Information:

 

Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).

 

Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

 

All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.

 

Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.

 

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

 

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor's Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

 

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

 

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

 

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework.  Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.

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