Clinical Pharmacist

Function

Pharmacy

Facility

Life Head Office

Position

Clinical Pharmacist

Introduction

A vacancy exists for a Renal Clinical Pharmacist based at Head Office in Johannesburg, with travelling capacity. The clinical pharmacist will provide clinical pharmacy services to renal dialysis patients to support the Renal Integrated Care Product. The role reports to Lindie van Tonder - Lead Clinical Pharmacist - Renal, with a dotted reporting line to the Head of Product Development – Renal.

The successful candidate will coordinate and drive best practice evidence-based pharmacotherapy and provide pharmaceutical care to renal dialysis patients. The candidate will be responsible for the implementation of guidelines and processes to enhance medication safety and patient outcomes.  Implementing patient education initiatives and providing pharmacotherapy advice to the multidisciplinary healthcare team are key components of this role, and they are in line with the Group framework and company objectives. The delivery model encompasses clear clinical pharmacy leadership, strong multidisciplinary team participation, and pharmaceutical care coordination, thus enhancing safe, cost-effective patient care and optimal outcomes. The role will additionally entail working closely with renal care coordinators and renal unit managers to meet their needs in terms of medication-related support.

Critical Outputs

Effective clinical pharmacy services

• Provide expertise to ensure the provision of patient-centered, professional clinical pharmacy services with a focus on renal disease management.
• Drive implementation of available management information and tools to enable business units to achieve strategic objectives and international standards for patient care.
• Support renal care coordinators and other key stakeholders in optimising medication therapy to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• Facilitate medication access by assisting with formulary navigation, financial considerations, and adherence strategies for renal patients.
• Drive the delivery of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as medication reconciliation, clinical interventions, intervention acceptance rates, adverse event reductions, patient counselling and patient adherence metrics.
• Provide clinical pharmacy input and leadership for cost-of-care management initiatives and projects.
• Develop evidence-based medication-related tools, guidelines, and protocols aligned with business unit requirements and priorities.

Continuation of care

• Travel to various units to provide on-site support, training, and patient care interventions.
• Ensure consistent clinical pharmacy services across multiple outpatient renal care settings and collaborate with on-site care coordinators to address site-specific medication safety and adherence challenges.

Professional collaboration

• Establish and maintain collaborative and influential relationships with doctors, care coordinators and other key functional stakeholders.
• Provide health professionals with specific drug information, evidence-based guidance, and training to support optimal patient management.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing clinical insights on medication therapy and patient progress.

Systems, communication, and reporting

• Lead the rollout and optimisation of CMS (Clinical management system) and medication surveillance in the units as required.
• Prepare for and actively participate in internal stakeholder meetings, including presentation of progress and gaps.
• Prepare and present progress reports, gap analyses, and patient safety initiatives at internal stakeholder meetings.
• Monitor and escalate pharmacotherapy-related concerns, ensuring prompt resolution of medication-related safety and efficacy issues.

Patient medication safety

• Drive improvements in medication safety management, ensuring proactive risk assessment and intervention to prevent adverse drug events in renal patients.
• Develop and implement drug administration protocols and renal-specific medication safety guidelines
• Support medication reconciliation and transitions of care processes, ensuring continuity of care from hospital to outpatient settings.
• Educate patients and caregivers on medication adherence strategies, potential side effects, and renal-specific medication considerations.

External stakeholder relationships and industry visibility and profile

• Represent the organisation at conferences, professional pharmacy societies, and stakeholder meetings to share best practices in renal clinical pharmacy.
• Conduct benchmarking against local and international best practices to drive innovation and improvement in renal pharmacy services.
• Engage with external partners, including community pharmacies and medical aid providers, to enhance the continuity of care for renal patients.

People engagement

• Work closely with pharmacists in feeder hospitals to ensure smooth transitions of care and optimise medication management.
• Lead training workshops, collaborative ward rounds, and inter-professional educational initiatives to enhance renal pharmacotherapy knowledge and skills.
• Participate in strategic planning and national/regional clinical pharmacy initiatives to drive consistency in renal pharmacy services.
• Mentor and develop hospital-based clinical pharmacists, supporting their growth in renal pharmacotherapy expertise.
• Provide leadership in developing team-based approaches to medication safety, quality improvement, and patient-centered pharmacy services.

Requirements

• Pharm plus MSc (Med) Pharm, M. Pharm (Clinical Pharmacy), or Pharm D postgraduate degree (or in the process of completing).
• Relevant operational experience and application of clinical pharmacy masters in a hospital setting.
• Current registration as a practicing pharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council. Proof of CPD compliance.
• Contribution to appropriate industry conferences and journals would be a distinct advantage.
• Computer proficiency and basic skills in Microsoft Excel.
• Drivers’ license, own transport, and ability to travel.
• Willingness to comply with company infection prevention policies including bare below elbow

Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Innovative thinking
• Strong leadership qualities
• Problem-solving, analysis and judgement
• Resilience, drive and energy
• Engaging diversity and managing change
• Influencing skills
• Performance and excellence orientation
• Strong work ethic
• Business insight and organisational awareness
• Building relationships and networking
• Customer responsiveness
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to motivate and develop people

Email

careers@lifehealthcare.co.za

Closing date

Wednesday, March 12, 2025