Oncology Pharmacist

Ensures the quality and accuracy of pharmaceutical services by reviewing physician orders, dispensing medications, and maintaining precise medication profiles to prevent adverse reactions. Provides drug information to healthcare professionals, supervises pharmacy staff, and conducts patient education. Maintains organizational efficiency by overseeing medication preparation, conducting quality improvement activities, participating in regulatory compliance, and managing inventory. Ensures adherence to safety standards, facilitates insurance approvals, and handles financial transactions.

Quality and Accuracy:

• Reviews physician’s orders and prescriptions to ensure the appropriateness of drug therapy.
• Dispenses and compounds chemotherapy medications according to established protocols and safety guidelines.
• Ensures accurate dosage calculations and proper labelling of all oncology medications   
• Inputs physician’s medication orders into Pharmacy Patient Medication Profile and maintains this profile and related records.   
• Monitors patient medication profile to prevent drug interactions and allergic and adverse drug reactions.  
• Provides drug information and communicates with prescribers, nurses and other staff regarding drug therapy or safe drug handling.  
• Supervises Senior Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and other support staff in the performance of assigned duties.   
• Performs patient teaching functions on appropriate use of medications.   
• Monitors and oversees that the Pharmacy is kept in a neat, clean and orderly fashion   
• Performs quality control checks per departmental procedures.

Quantity and Organizational Skills:

• Prepares and supervises the preparation of extemporaneously compounded medications, including products requiring aseptic techniques.
• Prepares and supervises the preparation of cytotoxic drugs, requiring an aseptic technique.   
• Clarifies any physician’s medication order with the physician and transcribes the physician’s telephoned orders onto the physician’s order sheet for Counter-signing by the physician.   
• Supervises and maintains the routine pick-up and delivery of medication and the unit dose cart fill and cassette exchange process.   
• Conducts orientation and educational programs as required
• Provides training to healthcare professionals, pharmacy staff, and patients on the safe and effective use of oncology medications.
• Stays updated on the latest developments in oncology pharmacy and share knowledge with the healthcare team.   
• Conducts quality improvement tasks in conjunction with other staff members.
• Participates in Quality Assurance (QA) activities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and best practices in oncology pharmacy.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of policies and procedures related to oncology pharmacy services.   
• Participates in assigned hospital committees.
• Reports adverse drug events and medication errors promptly.
• Participates in root cause analysis and contributes to the development of strategies to prevent future occurrences of adverse drug events.    
• Gathers and analyses data for selected drug utilization reviews.   
• Performs all duties in a professional, effective and confidential manner.
• Submits and follows up on insurance approvals for outpatient oncology prescriptions
• Oversees the excess, expiry and obsolete stock.
• Maintains stock returns for credits and outstanding orders.
• Ensures the follow-up for Defective products. 
• Participates in cycle count as part of inventory management such as investigation of stock variances. 
• Dispenses medications with proper labelling and instructions regarding the usage, dosage and information on side effects as well as precautions. 
• Conducts inspections of medication storage and drug administration to ensure it is in line with laid down standards. 
• Ensures that the patient billing process is adhered to.
• Process cash and card transactions in line with American Hospital Dubai's Finance policy.    
• Assists in main pharmacy duties including inventory bi-annually, as and when required.   
• Performs all other duties as required or assigned.    
• Maintains a high level of performance on chemotherapy and other drug preparations utilizing the proper aseptic technique.   

• Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy/PharmD/Doctor of Pharmacy
• Current active home country registration
• Dubai Health Authority (DHA) License

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of five (5) years post-graduate experience in a Hospital of which at least two (3) years of experience in handling chemotherapy drugs.
• Knowledge of reconstitution and preparation of chemotherapy and other drugs (stability, incompatibility, appropriate dilutions).
• Knowledge of safe handling of chemotherapy drugs (precautions, disposing of waste, handling of spills).
• Knowledge of indications, action, side effects, adverse effects and appropriate use of all medications, specifically medications used in Oncology.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical and medical terminology, abbreviations and symbols.
• Knowledge of and ability to formulate policies and procedures specific to the preparation and safe handling of chemotherapy drugs as per Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) requirements.
• Ability to review orders for chemotherapy/cytotoxic drugs, taking into consideration patients' clinical conditions (creatinine clearance, etc.).