ASSISTANT CHIEF PHARMACIST

  DEFINITION

       Under direction, assists the chief pharmacist in planning,
  developing, organizing, and supervising a staff involved in providing a
  variety of pharmaceutical services, such as drug selection,
  compounding, and dispensing prescribed medication, bulk compounding of
  pharmaceuticals and stock preparation, and advice to medical
  practitioners on drug therapy and usage; does related work as required.

  DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

       The basic management responsibilities of the Assistant Chief
  Pharmacist include assisting in supervising and establishing the
  policies, procedures, and work schedules for the pharmacy operations,
  establishing and maintaining the necessary records control systems, the
  purchase or requisitioning of supplies and equipment, supervising the
  storage and preservation of drug stocks and equipment, maintaining
  balanced stock controls, developing cost analyses and forecasting and
  preparing budget estimates and requests.

       Overall responsibility for all of the major functions performed by
  the staff pharmacists is present in the Assistant Chief Pharmacist
  position, personal performance of any of them by the incumbent does not
  remove the position from this class provided that the Assistant Chief
  Pharmacist assists in directing all of the activities of subordinate
  pharmacists.

       The Assistant Chief Pharmacist serves as a top pharmaceutical
  authority. Consultative, advisory, and educational responsibilities are
  particularly important features of this class.  He has responsibility
  for serving as a top consultant on pharmaceuticals to professional
  committees.  This includes responsibility for serving on the committee
  on therapeutic agents and providing key guidance to members of the
  committee in the determination of pharmaceutical policy.  He  advises
  the medical staff on various prescribing practices which will
  facilitate coordinating the operation of the pharmacy with other
  services.  He maintains adequate technical references and keeps the
  medical staff informed on new developments in drug therapy.

       The educational services provided by the Assistant Chief
  Pharmacist may be more or less limited to orientation or refresher
  training sessions for the medical staff. He assists in planning the
  pharmacy contribution to and participates in the preparation of the
  presentations of these sessions.  The research activity is fairly
  limited, generally occurring in response to an individual physician's
  need, which may result in pharmaceutical research to meet the
  particular need.

       The Assistant Chief Pharmacist has continuous association with
  management and professional personnel to assist in determining the
  scope and nature of the pharmacy service needed.  He works very closely
  with key personnel and administrative staff in the planning and
  coordinating of the total pharmacy contribution to the facility's
  patient care program.

       He submits periodic reports to the supervisor regarding the
  pharmacy's activities and the needs and budget estimates for the
  pharmacy operation.  Supervision over the Assistant Chief Pharmacist
  consists of issuances of general instructions and guidelines, and
  periodic reviews to ascertain program results and effectiveness of
  coordination with the other health care services.

       The Assistant Chief Pharmacist assists in providing a balanced and
  efficient pharmacy service.  This includes responsibility for assisting
  in establishing and maintaining standards of service, and maintaining
  maximum efficiency and economy of operations through proper
  organization, management, and coordination.  He assists in making
  decisions and commitments for the pharmacy operation, except those that
  are outside the framework of established agency or department policies
  and procedures. He helps shape agency or jurisdiction wide pharmacy
  policies and procedures by making recommendations for revision or
  improvements as appropriate.

       Positions in this class typically assist in supervising all of the
  pharmaceutical service activities.  In addition, to assisting the Chief
  Pharmacist in planning the assigned work of the staff to meet schedules
  and deadlines for regular and peak loads and priority cases.  Assistant
  Chief Pharmacists also assist in developing plans for and making
  changes in the organizaiton and flow of work in order to achieve
  efficient and economical operations within allowable costs, staffing
  levels, and policies established by higher levels of management.

       The Assistant Chief Pharmacist not only insures that the work
  performed meets acceptable standards as to quality and quantity but
  also assists the Chief Pharmacist in establishing such work standards
  and preparing and issuing internal instructions and procedures for its
  accomplishment.

       The Assistant Chief Pharmacist has the authority to prepare formal
  and follow-up actions for most supervisory functions relative to
  subordinate employees.

       Positions in this class typically assist the Chief Pharmacist in
  directing all phases (or at least the preponderance) of the
  pharmaceutical service activities.  Generally, the responsibility for
  handling the total pharmaceutical program is divided or shared between
  the Chief Pharmacist and the Assistant who serves as the "alter ego" to
  the chief, and in his or her absence assumes all of the duties,
  responsibilities, and authority of the chief's position.

  EXAMPLES OF WORK:

       Together with the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, assists 
  the chief pharmacist in developing and maintaining written objectives,
  standards of practice, policies, a procedure manual, and an
  organizational plan for the pharmaceutical service.

       Assists in coordinating and integrating the pharmaceutical service
  with other patient care services in the facility to provide a continuum
  of care for the patient.

       Participates or ensures representation of the pharmaceutical
  service in staff committees, at least on a consultative basis.

       Maintains working relationships with the administration of the
  institution through conferences, written memoranda, and other methods
  of exchanging information.

       Assists in the development of and participates in staff
  orientation and staff education programs for the facility, and in
  documenting these activities.

       Provides pharmaceutical services to patients.

       Provides guidance and consultation regarding pharmaceutical
  services to patients, staff, and the public.

       Prepares, reviews, dates, and signs the pharmacist consultation
  sheet in each patient's medical records at least monthly, noting any
  findings, and recommendations in accordance with established standards.

       Provides reports to the chief pharmacist on the status of the
  facility's pharmaceutical services, an analysis of any incident reports
  relating to drug therapy, and results of the monthly inspection of all
  areas in the facility where medications are dispensed, administered, 
  or stored.

       Supervises pharmacists and related technical and non-technical
  staff.

       Explains and gives special instructions on different operations
  and answers technical questions.

       Assists in establishing work schedules and assigns pharmacists to
  specific areas of responsibility in the supervising, dispensing, or
  pharmaceutical preparation functions of the organization.

       Assists in planning, organizing, and supervising the day-to-day
  activities relating to the services provided and ensures adherence to
  the policies established by administration and the standard practices
  of the profession and governmental regulations or laws.

       Places orders for supplies with wholesalers or salesmen and
  approves bills for payment of supplies, equipment, etc.
       
        Maintains formularies, sources of information on preparations,
  standard compendia on pharmaceuticals, reference texts and journals 
  for use by qualified personnel.

       Consults with and advises medical staff concerning information
  obtained on medications such as warnings issued on drugs,
  incompatibility of certain drugs, or contraindications of drugs and
  other pharmaceuticals.

       Assists in establishing and maintaining systems of record keeping
  and inventory such as a system for maintaining adequate controls over
  requisitions and dispensations of all pharmaceuticals, including
  control file of narcotics, poisons and habit-forming drugs received and
  issued; and a system for inventory of pharmacy stock to determine stock
  needed and to assure the use of stock before expiration date.

       May assist pharmacists in compounding and dispensing medications
  to fill written prescriptions and medication requests.

       Assists in preparing budget information and other periodic reports
  as required by administrative staff.

       Assists in the preparation and submission of the department
  budget.

       Assists in ordering and receiving, storing, and issuing
  pharmaceuticals, medical, and surgical supplies.

       Assists in determining the adequacy of security, and the physical
  area of the pharmacy.

       Assists in supervising the storage, handling, and documentation of
  drugs in all areas of the institution(s) and in the control of all
  drugs and biologicals used in the facility.

       Assists in supervising necessary inspections of all pharmaceutical
  supplies on all nursing units at least monthly in order to assure that
  medications are properly labeled and that medications being used have
  not deteriorated nor in any way become unfit for use.

       Assists in determining necessary staffing and training of pharmacy
  personnel as dictated by the volume of work.

       Is responsible for the actions of all subordinate employees under
  his direct supervision.

       Assists in supervising the work operations and/or functional
  programs and recommends the hiring, firing, promotion, and/or
  disciplining of employees in the pharmacy.

       Assists in ensuring the maintenance of adequate and accurate
  records.
       Sees that the pharmacy is maintained in a clean, sanitary,
  orderly, and safe condition.

       Assists in ensuring that in-service education is provided to the
  professional staffs on drugs and biologicals, including information on
  drugs, incompatabilities, new drugs, drugs sensitivities, and drug
  interactions.

       Assists in formulating, suggesting, and administering written
  policies and procedures governing the prescribing, storing, dispensing,
  controlling, and disposing of all drugs and biologicals in compliance
  with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

       Assists in ensuring that a pharmacist reviews each patients
  medical record and drug regimen on a monthly basis for drug-drug
  interactions, drug-food interactions, drug-laboratory tests
  interactions, adverse drug reactions and the efficacy of drug therapy,
  documenting, and reporting any irregularities.

       Assists in ensuring that records of controlled drugs are
  maintained in sufficient detail for accurate reconciliation.

       Assists in directing the proper custody and handling of controlled
  drugs in accordance with pertinent federal and state laws and
  regulations.

       Assists in ensuring adequacy, quality, and cost of drug inventory.

  REQUIREMENTS:

       LICENSE:

           Possession of a current and valid license as a registered
  pharmacist issued by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy.

           Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license
  valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than
  employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties 
  of the position.

       EXPERIENCE:

           Four (4) years of experience as a registered pharmacist in
  providing hospital or institutional pharmaceutical services.

       KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

           Knowledge of the professional and institutional phases of
  pharmacy, including various drug distribution systems and controls,
  state and federal statutes regulating the profession, personnel
  management, budget control, general administration and departmental
  organization and management, efficient purchasing of supplies,
  inventory control, record keeping, and professional and departmental
  interrelationships.
           Knowledge of the space, equipment, and supply needs of
  institutional pharmacies.

           Knowledge of the accepted policies and procedures related to
  the selection, distribution, and the safe and effective use of
  pharmaceuticals in an institutional setting.

           Knowledge of drug management problems in the care of patients.

           Ability to plan and integrate pharmacy policies, program, and
  procedures.

           Ability to coordinate pharmaceutical services with related
  institutional services.

           Ability to provide drug monitoring services in keeping with
  each patient's needs.

           Ability to accept responsibility for the operation of a
  pharmacy department and delivery of pharmaceutical services, where
  inefficiency may result in serious consequences to the health of large
  numbers of patients, may be hazardous to personnel, and impose great
  financial losses on the institution or governing body.

           Ability to select, train, and supervise pharmacy employees,
  meet and deal with various representatives of manufacturers,
  wholesalers, state, federal, and accrediting agencies.

           Ability to use proper judgment in formulating and suggesting
  policies and procedures, delegating responsibility, preparing suitable
  reports.

           Ability to interpret and administer existing state and federal
  regulations, institutional and department policies and procedures.

           Ability to give suitable assignments, instructions, and
  guidance to subordinates, evaluate their job performance and take
  appropriate personnel actions as necessary.

           Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of record
  keeping systems, drug distribution sytstems, inventory maintenance
  systems, and personnel management systems.

           Ability to monitor and evaluate the quality and approprateness
  of the pharmaceutical services provided to patients and to resolve
  identified problems.

           Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
  manual recording and information systems used by the agency, 
  office, or related units.

           Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in
  English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  American
  Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable 
  forms of communication.

           Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as
  long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after
  reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.  
  If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the 
  employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
00409
L
C
  
N/A
30
-

This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 9/29/1993