UCLA Pharmacist: Roles, Responsibilities, and Opportunities
UCLA Health stands as a beacon of healthcare excellence, comprising four award-winning hospitals and over 270 community clinics throughout Southern California. The institution prides itself on its commitment to patient-centered care, fostering a nurturing work environment, and offering diverse career paths for healthcare professionals. Pharmacists at UCLA Health are integral to this mission, playing multifaceted roles that directly impact patient safety and outcomes. This article delves into the various pharmacist positions available at UCLA Health, highlighting their responsibilities, required qualifications, and the overall impact these professionals have on the organization.
The Vital Role of Pharmacists at UCLA Health
Pharmacists at UCLA Health are more than dispensers of medication; they are clinical experts, collaborators, and patient advocates. They ensure safe, effective, and patient-centered care across various inpatient settings. They work under supervision, prepare and dispense medications, maintain and review patient medication profiles, and counsel patients on appropriate drug use. They collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other health professionals to ensure optimal therapy and prevent misuse or medication errors. Their expertise is crucial in optimizing medication regimens, reducing adverse drug events, and improving clinical outcomes.
Float Pharmacist: Ensuring Seamless Coverage
A Float Pharmacist at UCLA Health provides essential coverage across inpatient settings, ensuring consistent pharmaceutical care.
Responsibilities of a Float Pharmacist
The responsibilities include preparing and dispensing medications, maintaining and reviewing patient medication profiles, and counseling patients on appropriate drug use. They collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other health professionals to ensure optimal therapy and prevent misuse or medication errors.
Qualifications
A Pharm D. degree is a prerequisite for this role.
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Work Details
The position, Job #26302, is located in Los Angeles, CA. The work hours include varied shifts, depending on department needs, including weekends and holidays. The employment type is 2 - Staff- Career, with career duration. The salary range is $85.87-100.58 Hourly. The bargaining unit is UPTE - HX.
Inpatient Pharmacist - IVAS: Precision in Medication Management
The Inpatient Pharmacist - IVAS role is focused on the precise preparation and dispensing of pharmaceuticals within the inpatient pharmacy setting.
Responsibilities of an Inpatient Pharmacist - IVAS
The responsibilities include preparing and dispensing many types of pharmaceuticals to fulfill orders in the inpatient pharmacies. They float between medication reconciliation and inpatient pharmacy departments to ensure seamless and efficient medication management. They collaborate closely with other members of the health care team to help prevent inappropriate or misuse of medications.
Qualifications
A Pharm D. degree is a prerequisite for this role.
Work Details
The position, Job #24492, is located in Los Angeles, CA. The work hours include varied 10-hour shifts, depending on department needs, including weekends and holidays. The employment type is 2 - Staff- Career, with career duration. The salary range is $85.87-100.58 Hourly. The bargaining unit is UPTE - HX.
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ED Pharmacist: Providing Comprehensive Emergency Care
The ED Pharmacist plays a critical role in providing pharmaceutical care within the emergency department and its associated areas.
Responsibilities of an ED Pharmacist
The responsibilities include preparing and dispensing medications, verifying medication orders and patient records, and counseling patients. They collaborate with healthcare professionals to optimize safe and effective medication therapy. They deliver advanced clinical services such as attending codes, pharmacokinetic dosing, therapeutic interchange, IV to PO conversions, TPN and aminoglycoside monitoring, and pharmacist-led interventions for neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients. Additional duties involve overseeing controlled substance management, contributing to clinical or operational projects in coordination with pharmacy leadership, and collaborating with both centralized and decentralized pharmacy units.
Qualifications
A Pharm D. degree is a prerequisite for this role.
Medication Reconciliation Pharmacist: Ensuring Accuracy and Safety
Medication reconciliation is a critical process in healthcare, aimed at preventing medication errors and ensuring patient safety during care transitions. The Medication Reconciliation Pharmacist at UCLA Health plays a pivotal role in this process.
Responsibilities of a Medication Reconciliation Pharmacist
The responsibilities include conducting comprehensive medication reconciliation for patients across care transitions in inpatient settings. They review and verify patients’ medication histories, identify and resolve discrepancies, and ensure medication lists are accurate and complete to prevent errors. They collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to help optimize medication regimens, reduce adverse drug events, and improve clinical outcomes. They also provide clinical pharmacy services related to medication reconciliation as per departmental policies, including recommending dose adjustments, therapeutic alternatives, and ensuring adherence to medication protocols.
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Qualifications
A Pharm D. degree is a prerequisite for this role.
Walgreens Pharmacy Intern: Assisting in Daily Operations
While not a direct UCLA Health position, the role of a Pharmacy Intern at Walgreens provides valuable experience that can lead to future opportunities within healthcare systems like UCLA Health.
Responsibilities of a Walgreens Pharmacy Intern
The responsibilities include engaging customers and patients by greeting them and offering assistance with products and services. Under the supervision of the pharmacist, they assist in the practice of pharmacy, in accordance with state, federal, and company policy. They assist pharmacists and other healthcare providers in delivering patient care and services that are within the state scope of practice for pharmacy interns including patient counseling and other health services. They strictly adhere to the Walgreen Co. Responsible and accountable for registering all related sales on assigned cash register, collects and handles cash as required. They assist and support Pharmacy Department on inventory management activities, such as, ordering, unpacking, checking and storing shipment of pharmaceuticals.
Qualifications
Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English.
Compensation
The current salary range for this position is $16.50 per hour - $25.00 per hour.
Benefits of Working at UCLA Health
UCLA Health offers a supportive and empowering environment where employees can thrive. Employees consistently praise the nurturing environment, growth potential, and supportive management. The organization values diversity and inclusivity, providing opportunities for employees to share their thoughts and feel a sense of belonging.
Employee Testimonials
- VINCENT, Sr. MONICA: "The environment is nurturing and fosters growth. I've been blessed to touch so many lives through my serving. It's a privilege to uplift other employees with words of encouragement and a smile."
- SOZIT: "The first thing I noticed when I joined the team was how everyone is very welcoming and friendly with supportive management. I did not feel like an outsider."
- EDGAR: "Once I joined, I knew UCLA Health was THE place to be due to the growth potential and training offered."
- RENE: "If you want to grow professionally, this is the right place for you."
- ERA: "We are family here. We support each other. We collect together."
- ELIZABETH: "It’s so diverse and inclusive here. There’s always the opportunity to share your thoughts. It's a place where you feel you belong."
- JERRY: "Your career path at UCLA Health will enable you to follow a myriad of avenues and turns. It opens up a wide variety of opportunities."
- ORLANDO: "There’s a togetherness and higher level of commitment to teamwork at UCLA Health. We are several groups and teams that work together with a common goal which is to improve our patients' experience."
- DAVID: "UCLA Health walks the walk and talks the talk! It's an incredible feeling to work for an organization that always puts the patient first. I am honored to work in full alignment with the UCLA Health Mission and Vision."
- DR. ISLA GARRAWAY: "UCLA has incredible resources and a team science approach. The ability to work with collaborative teams and access the amazing resources around campus is the best part about being at UCLA."
- RADU: "UCLA is very diverse in its personnel as well as its many research fields studied."
- JENNA: "UCLA Health provides so many opportunities to exchange ideas, share moments, and grow. I have learned a lot about team management and relationship building."
- SHARON: "I was looking for a job to further my career and continue to improve and learn as a therapist."
- TARO: "I have been blessed to be surrounded by supportive colleagues who aspire me to be the best version of myself."
Important Notice: Employment Scam Alert
It is crucial to be aware of employment scams targeting UCLA Health Recruitment. Scammers may request personal information or money to allegedly progress the application or pay for work permits. These communications are fraudulent and do not originate from UCLA Health or any associated organizations. UCLA Health will never ask for money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. All individuals who receive an employment offer from UCLA Health will always be required to go through a formal recruitment process, which will always involve a virtual or in-person meeting with a UCLA Health employee or representative. It is essential not to disclose personal or financial details to anyone you do not know.
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