Pharmaceutical Development Intern Jobs in Berkeley, CA

The Department of Pharmaceutical Services provides a full range of services for patients cared for by the UCSF Medical Center, as well as its providers and payers. These services include, but are not limited to, drug procurement, storage, and security; safe accurate and timely preparation and distribution of drugs; clinical pharmacy services for patients; development of drug use policies within the Medical Center; drug information services for clinicians and patients; and participation in technology assessment and quality assurance programs. The Department encompasses the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, an academic campus unit within the School of Pharmacy, which has a primary responsibilities of teaching professional courses in the PharmD curriculum, research and public service. The Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Services share their philosophy of pharmaceutical care. Under Pharmaceutical Services, the Pharmacies serving the Parnassus, Mount Zion, Mission Bay, Owens, Oakland, Stanyan, and Hyde campuses deliver comprehensive pharmaceutical care to hospitalized patients across the health system and provide specialized services in support of on-campus research. In addition, pharmacy interns support outpatient pharmacy operations at the Bayfront and Parnassus campuses.

All Intern Pharmacists are accountable to the supervising or operating pharmacist who is legally responsible by virtue of state licensure for the care and safety of patients served by Pharmaceutical Services. The Intern Pharmacist performs all activities related to traditional pharmacy prescription dispensing and medication distribution, as well as clinical services under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They may also participate in the computer entries of medications and prescriptions, including entries of special medications in the patient profile as directed by a pharmacist. As the Intern Pharmacist progresses in their academic career, their responsibilities will start incorporating more clinical responsibilities under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist depending upon department needs.
 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be available and willing to work a minimum of 36 weekends annually
• Must be available and willing to work a minimum of 1 major and 2 minor holidays annually
• Must be available and willing to work a minimum of 32 hours monthly
• Good communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with a large, diverse population including maintaining good relationship between Pharmacy and Nursing Units.
• Possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to compound pharmaceutical preparations and prepare commercially unavailable oral preparations. These manipulations require mathematical calculations, use of analytical balance and pharmaceutical compounding technique.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and work under constant pressure.
• Ability to use good judgment in responding to or referring questions by nurses, physicians, and other professional personnel.
• Knowledge, skills, and ability to perform basic computer entries.
• Able and willing to work at all UCSF Health Campuses

*Based on departmental needs, a lower requirement may be determined at discretion of the pharmacy supervisor.

PREFERRED

• Health-system pharmacy practice experience (Aseptic compounding, automated drug cabinet, etc).
      Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATION

• Licensed Intern Pharmacist by the California Board of Pharmacy and in good standing.
   

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

%  

of time 

Essential Function (Yes/No) 

Key Responsibilities 

(To be completed by Supervisor) 

70%

Yes 

Operational and Dispensing Duties:

Inpatient Interns:

1. Interpret and prepare patient medication orders (doses) for immediate delivery.        Block fill standing order doses in patient medication drawer and/or unit dose cassettes, requiring interpretation of medication orders on patient profile as directed by a licensed pharmacist.
2. Fill patient orders for nursing units, per floor, under traditional drug distribution system as directed by a licensed pharmacist.
3. Fill and prepare, when required, departmental and research unit requisitions. Filling orders may consist of compounding and preparation of extemporaneous compounded products. This requires proper identification of chemicals, mathematical calculations, accurate weighing procedures; technical skills and knowledge of pharmaceutical compounding to produce acceptable product; observation and adherence to department and state safety regulations as directed by a licensed pharmacist.
4. Fill and record departmental requisitions from existing stock and compounding of certain requisition orders. This includes inventory, careful screening for identity and expiration dates, and recording of stock. Urgent orders or requisitions are hand-delivered to a specified nursing unit/floor.
5. Cross-trained to perform all duties and essential job functions in the I.V. (Intravenous) Additive Service area. These duties include, but are not limited to, preparing hyperalimentation orders and routine electrolyte solutions, preparing antineoplastic (chemotherapy) agents. This involves familiarity with I.V. terminology and common I.V. solutions as directed by a licensed pharmacist.
6. Be able to utilize an automated dispensing cabinet to fill and remove medications as needed for patient care.
7. Participate in inventory management of the pharmacy area..
8. Adhere to Medical Center Telephone and House Standards including Philosophy and Mission.

Outpatient Interns:

1. Assist with outpatient prescription processing and dispensing activities under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, including medication preparation, labeling, and coordination for patient pick-up or delivery.

2. Support patient-facing pharmacy operations, including prescription drop-off and pick-up workflows, customer service support, and referral of clinical or insurance-related questions to a licensed pharmacist. 

3. Prepare and manage outpatient medication inventory, including stocking, expiration date checks, and organization of medications to support efficient pharmacy operations.

4. Utilize outpatient pharmacy systems and technologies, including dispensing software and point-of-sale systems, in accordance with departmental policies and procedures and under pharmacist oversight.

30%

Yes 

Clinical Duties 
(All duties are done under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and documented as per departmental standard operating procedures)

1. Obtain medication histories as per standard operating procedures and best practice standards
2. Counsel patients, family members, and caregivers about discharge medications
3. Perform clinical pharmacy consults to address IV compatibility, therapeutic drug monitoring, and therapeutic issues addressed under the Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority approved by the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
4. Assist the clinical pharmacist(s) in discharge planning and transitions of care responsibilities.
5. Other duties appropriate for a licensed intern pharmacist at the discretion of the supervising licensed pharmacist.

100% 

(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)