PHARMACIST - MEDICATION REFILL PROGRAM
POSITION SUMMARY
Develop and manage a pharmacist-led medication refill authorization program across the Torrance Memorial Physician Network in collaboration with the network Medical Director. As an integral part of the TMPN care team, the Refill Pharmacist independently evaluates and authorizes medication refills, conducts comprehensive medication reviews, and collaborates with physicians to provide seamless medication support to TMPN patients.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Refill Authorization & Medication Review (70%)
- Independently review and authorize medication refill requests for established patients
- Process refill requests received via phone, patient portal, EHR messages, and pharmacy faxes
- Conduct comprehensive medication reviews assessing appropriateness, safety, adherence patterns, and monitoring needs
- Verify medications against active medication lists and resolve discrepancies
- Ensure patients have appropriate follow-up appointments scheduled before authorizing long-term refills
- Review laboratory values and monitoring parameters for medication safety
- Coordinate with external pharmacies to resolve access barriers, insurance issues, and supply problems
- Identify drug therapy problems and recommend interventions to providers
- Document all refill decisions and clinical assessments in HER
Program Development & Implementation (20%)
- Define scope of practice including medication classes, patient populations, and authorization criteria
- Develop inclusion/exclusion criteria for pharmacist-managed refills
- Create standardized workflows integrated with Cerner EHR system
- Build efficient processes for triaging, reviewing, and responding to refill requests
- Establish quality metrics and performance monitoring systems
- Develop policies, procedures, and clinical protocols for refill authorization
- Train clinic staff and providers on pharmacist-led refill workflows
Clinical Collaboration & Patient Care (10%)
- Collaborate with providers on medication therapy optimization
- Escalate complex cases or medications outside scope to appropriate prescribers
- Communicate recommendations and interventions clearly to care teams
- Support medication adherence initiatives and patient education
- Assist with medication access programs and prior authorizations
- Participate in quality improvement projects related to medication management
- Coordinate care with population health and care management teams
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- PharmD from ACPE-accredited program
- Completion of PGY1 pharmacy residency
- Active California pharmacist license in good standing
- Strong clinical knowledge across multiple disease states and medication classes
- Excellent independent decision-making and clinical judgment
- Proficiency with EHR systems (Cerner strongly preferred)
- Strong understanding of medication access, insurance, and pharmacy operations
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work efficiently in high-volume environment
Preferred:
- Board Certification in Ambulatory Care (BCACP) or Pharmacotherapy (BCPS)
- Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APh) certification
- 3-5 years ambulatory care or primary care pharmacy experience
- Experience managing refill authorization programs
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
This role is an on-site position. California resident strongly preferred.
Facilitates pharmaceutical care services, direct patient care programs, medication utilization systems within assigned services and care areas to assure drug utilization activities are aligned with patient care needs, evidence-based best practices, and regulatory standards
· Designs and implements stewardship activities and restriction/surveillance programs
· Tracks and evaluates assigned pharmacy programs for operational, quality, and financial efficiency and routinely benchmarks against local and national best practices
· Actively identifies practice related issues which require evaluation and facilitate quality improvement initiatives, or healthcare provider education as needed to advance practice
· Develops and oversees policies and procedures for drug purchasing, drug usage, drug distribution, and drug control
· Assures pharmacy is an integral part of the health-care delivery system and facilitates enhancement and expansion of pharmacy services/programs
· Delivers direct patient care and clinical practice, including decentralized and service-based programs
· Maintains proficiency in decentralized pharmacy services and clinical pharmacy programs
· Works as an active member of multidisciplinary team and collaborates with healthcare providers within decentralized patient care areas to provide patient-centered care
· Identifies high-risk patients and implements interventions to improve quality and safety
· Makes appropriate evidence-based, patient-centered medication recommendations
· Participates in the management of medical emergencies
· Provides discharge medication review, reconciliation, and counseling as appropriate
· Maintains proficiency in health system computer systems and medication ordering systems
· Provides accurate, safe, timely, and appropriate medication therapy based on patient age and needs
· Completes critical patient monitoring and reviews patient profile/chart to identify, prevent, or mitigate drug-related problems, improper drug or dose selection, sub therapeutic dosage, over dosage, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, failure to receive drugs, untreated indications, medication use without an indication, and treatment failures
· Communicates effectively and appropriately with healthcare providers and caregivers (physicians, nurses, etc.) and assures continuity of pharmaceutical care between shifts and among staff
· Actively participates in stewardship activities and restricted medication programs
· Facilitates experiential education and practice advancement
· Maintains proficiency in preceptor roles and actively emulates education/mentorship skills
· Identifies, designs, and implements improvements in the medication-use system to advance patient safety, maximize therapeutic outcomes, or control costs
· Support issue resolutions, communications and solutions development that impact pharmacy benefit and day-to-day operations to ensure lines of business deliverables are met
· Provide oversight for the development, implementation, coordination, and assessment of programs to improve quality and cost-effectiveness
Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required:
- Prior experience in presenting pharmacy program recommendations, performance, value and observations to executive leadership highly preferred
- Prior experience in pharmacy benefit strategy and solutions development with understanding of pharmacy levers and market place requirements highly preferred
- Must be proficient in MS Office, particularly MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
Education
· Requires a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree
· Requires at least 4 years of experience in a managed care setting focused on Medicare
· Requires a currently active and unrestricted California Registered Pharmacist (RPh) license
Qualifications:
- Possesses excellent presentation, verbal and written skills with ability to understand and convey complex ideas to audience with diverse backgrounds
- Possesses strong business acumen with proven experience in strategy development and planning
· Must possess a dependable automobile, current California Driver License, and insurance.
· Willing to travel to various locations (approximately 50-mile radius from office)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $136,989.00 - $234,603.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Family leave
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Prescription drug insurance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
