Clinical Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship / Infectious Diseases

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, diversity, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

 

Clinical Pharmacist – Antimicrobial Stewardship / Infectious Diseases  

This pharmacist will join an established Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) consisting of pharmacists and physicians. This position will provide the opportunity to further develop and expand the existing ASP. This pharmacist will serve as a clinical resource to providers and nurses as well as the Department of Pharmacy Services.  This position, in conjunction with the stewardship team will identify opportunities to improve antimicrobial prescribing across the University of Utah Health system. Additional roles will include implementing stewardship interventions and tracking and evaluating the impact of these interventions for patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings.  This position works collaboratively with providers, nurses, and pharmacists as well as other teams across the system. This position will be responsible for Antimicrobial Stewardship and support for the General Infectious Diseases Consult service.  This position also offers the opportunity to teach learners (students, residents) and participate in clinical research. As a starting expectation, this would consist of a majority of in-person work.

 

The following outlines the responsibilities that are included but are not limited to the following functions:

 

• Develop inpatient and outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in conjunction with the physician and pharmacy ASP Co-Leaders.
• Provide rounding pharmacist support for the General Infectious Diseases Consult service
• Maintain existing protocols for approval of restricted antimicrobials, prospective audit and feedback of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and optimizing use of infectious diseases rapid diagnostics. Target interventions include documentation of stewardship recommendations using progress notes in the medical record.
• Participate in in-person “handshake rounds”/prospective audit and feedback with physician co-lead.
• Participate in antibiotic allergy de-labeling interventions which includes in-person patient discussion and education.
• Share antimicrobial stewardship pager duties with other team members. The antimicrobial stewardship pager is staffed 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm and takes calls for restricted antimicrobials and assistance with other stewardship related provider and pharmacist questions. This is split with the rest of the stewardship team.
• Develop new protocols and manage antimicrobial stewardship projects and initiatives.
• Analyze antimicrobial utilization data and other program outcome data and prepare and present reports.
• Mentor front line pharmacists regarding optimal infectious diseases care and antimicrobial stewardship, including participation in and leading quarterly stewardship-focused grand rounds.
• Participate in departmental and interdisciplinary committees to improve patient safety, therapeutic outcomes, and cost savings.
• Be responsible for the care of patients as well as the development of effective, professional relationships within the multidisciplinary team.
• Design and provide effective in-service education for physicians, nurses, pharmacy technicians, and other practitioners on antimicrobial use issues.

This position will strongly prefer candidates with PGY-2 Infectious Disease Residency and prior antimicrobial stewardship experience (2 years experience or more preferred). Data management skills also preferred in order to assess utilization and impact of antimicrobial interventions.

Responsibilities

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

• Ability and willingness to train department trainees (eg students, residents, new staff).

• Ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual