Reporting to the Vice President Clinical Services/CNE, the Director of Pharmacy is responsible for providing leadership for medication management for all inpatients and outpatients across both sites at the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS). The Director plans, develops, manages, evaluates and optimizes the activities associated with medication management across both sites at BCHS. In collaboration with both clinical and non-clinical managers, directors, medical staff and front-line staff, the director establishes the strategic direction of medication management across BCHS.
As a member of the Hospital’s Leadership team, the Director will contribute to the achievement of the hospital’s strategic priorities, lead key corporate medication management initiatives, engage with internal/external stakeholders, address/manage risk/patient safety incidents, oversee/maintain policy development relating to medication management and ensure compliance with Accreditation Canada’s Medication Management Standards/ROPs and the Ontario College of Pharmacists medication management standards. This position requires a leader with a proven track record for leading and driving systems transformation through encouraging and supporting innovation and championing and orchestrating change, developing, and sustaining healthy work environments and effective teams while leading in a performance-driven culture.
The Director must demonstrate strong business acumen including oversight of the BCHS’s $13 million corporate drug budget. This leader is required to have exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills, considers and balances the interdependence of decisions on patients/stakeholders, and will challenge status quo. The director will take a proactive approach and will continuously address operational issues and opportunities for BCHS.
The director is also responsible for leadership & human resources management of the Pharmacy team which includes, supervisor, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants and students.
Primary Responsibilities
Quality Management
- Responsible for meeting all the standards and quality indicators as outlined by the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) Standards. Lead and participate in yearly OCP inspections
- Responsible for meeting all the standards and quality indicators as outlined by Accreditation Canada’s Medication Management Standards
- Chair of Medication Safety Committee; a corporate multidisciplinary committee ensures medication management processes are reviewed and evaluated
- Chair of Opioid Stewardship Committee
- Identify opportunities for improvement and ensure that they are addressed through sustainable quality improvement strategies to align with the organization’s strategic priorities.
Administrative/Leadership
- Create and monitor program and corporate medication management goals and objectives that align with the BCHS corporate priorities
- Maintain, review and communicate departmental and corporate policies relating to medication management. Ensures policies, procedures and standards set by the organization are in alignment with the legislative and regulatory bodies.
- Serve as a liaison between clinical programs, corporate programs, medical staff, and community.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators for hospital pharmacy and medication management
- Ensure that Senior Leadership, Chiefs, Directors and Managers are fully aware of utilization and performance issues, their impacts and the need for resolution
- Chair of Medication & Therapeutics Committee; a corporate multidisciplinary committee responsible for medication formulary management, review and approvals; policy and process overview
- Ensure reporting of medications dispensed in connection with the provision of MAID (Federal Regulation for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying)
- In alignment with the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act ensure that all staff and physicians follow mandatory narcotic and controlled drug processes
- Investigate suspected medication diversion
- Participate in Director On-Call coverage
Financial/Fiscal Budget Responsibility
- Accountable for planning, assessing, developing and monitoring the operating pharmacy department budget.
- Accountable for aligning departmental and organizational priorities with resources within the program
- Plan, assess and develop a multi-year pharmacy department capital budget and corporate capital budget for equipment relating to medication management (i.e. automated dispensing cabinets, infusion pumps, workstations on wheels, etc).
- Inventory control – establish, supports and monitors: including product standardization
- Manages service contracts relating to pharmacy equipment and medication management equipment (i.e. automated dispensing cabinets).
Human Resources
- Fosters a healthy working environment by creating a positive atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork in alignment with our mission, vision and values.
- Responsible for ensuring daily operations & objectives of the department(s) are appropriately staffed, scheduled and tasks/processes are coordinated.
Commitment to Safety
- Accountable to clarify staff expectations under the OHSA, provide/document performance feedback related to safety and performance manage as required.
- Ensure appropriate staff training is provided and compliance with mandatory training
Mandatory Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or PharmD, Master's degree preferred
- Registered in good standing with the Ontario College of Pharmacists
- Minimum 5 years of inpatient hospital pharmacy experience
- Minimum 1 year of hospital pharmacy experience leading projects, accreditation preparedness, supporting Ontario College or Pharmacist inspection or practice lead
- Minimum 5 years of leadership experience required
