About the role
- The Float Pharmacist oversees all aspects of pharmacy operations, with a primary focus on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Reporting to the Pharmacy Manager, the Float Pharmacist manages daily operations—interpreting, dispensing, administering, and distributing medications and devices—while ensuring compliance, operational efficiency, and the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical care. While on duty, the Float Pharmacist supervises staff, upholds regulatory and accreditation standards, collaborates with site providers to improve patient outcomes, and partners with site leadership to implement pharmacy policies, streamline operations, and maintain high standards of patient safety and satisfaction—playing a key role in expanding services for underserved populations.
What you'll do
- Manage daily pharmacy operations—interpreting prescription orders, packaging, labeling, dispensing, administering, and distributing medications and devices—while maintaining efficient, protocol-driven workflows.
- Oversee inventory management, procurement, and medication distribution in alignment with 340B program requirements, and maximize the 340B program to ensure cost savings for eligible patients.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations—including DEA regulations, state guidelines, and FQHC-specific requirements—and implement and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for accuracy and efficiency.
- Review and verify prescriptions using pharmacy systems—confirming correct medications, accurate data entry, counts, and potential interactions—and keep the pharmacy neat, orderly, and compliant with bloodborne pathogens exposure-control requirements.
- Supervise, train, and coordinate pharmacy staff—assigning roles, prioritizing tasks, handling opening and closing procedures, delivering new-hire orientation and cross-training, and partnering with scheduling to ensure adequate coverage.
- Collaborate with healthcare providers on medication therapy management (MTM), chart review, and other clinical services—clarifying prescriptions, dosages, refills, interactions, and allergies and suggesting alternatives.
- Counsel patients on medication usage, side effects, interactions, contraindications, generic and cost-effective alternatives, and OTC products, referring them to a medical provider as needed, and ensure access to affordable medications through effective 340B utilization.
- Address patient needs by minimizing wait times, communicating delays, resolving issues and complaints, and assisting with services such as blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring.
- Prepare, maintain, and submit all records, reports, and documentation required by state and federal law and business operations.
- Conduct or participate in audits (e.g., state inspections, insurance reviews, controlled-substance audits, peer reviews) to ensure regulatory and safety compliance, and safeguard patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA.
- Monitor and report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and other quality indicators, and develop and implement quality-improvement initiatives to enhance pharmacy services.
- Stay current in pharmacy and healthcare through continuing education, required training, and industry literature.
- Uphold pharmacy hours at the assigned site, remain on-call during lunch unless a second pharmacist is on duty, and volunteer a minimum of two Saturday shifts annually.
- Support the hospital's mission, vision, and values and comply with all policies, procedures, and applicable federal and state regulations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree or Bachelor's degree in pharmacy from an accredited institution.
- Certification/Licensure: Active Pharmacist License in good standing with the state Board of Pharmacy and valid BLS certification.
- Computer and Equipment: Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Teams) and pharmacy management software, technology, and equipment.
Preferred Qualifications
- 3–5 years of experience in a pharmacy setting, with at least 2 years in a supervisory position.
- Comprehensive understanding of pharmacy laws and regulations, particularly those relevant to FQHCs.
- Experience in a healthcare environment.
- Familiarity with the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
- Current immunization certification.
- Strong leadership and operational management skills.
- Exceptional communication, interpersonal, organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
- Commitment to compliance, ethical standards, and serving underserved populations.
UNITAS provides clinical staffing and consulting solutions, including contract staff augmentation, permanent talent recruiting, consulting, and clinical coaching. Our extensive experience includes Pharmacy Benefit Management, Long-Term Care, Retail Pharmacy, Hospital, and Leadership, enabling us to connect the best clinical talent with outstanding companies. We know clinicians because we are clinicians!