Job Analysis 800-1000 words

GoBC, Pharmacist Page 1 of 6

POSITION DESCRIPTION Ministry of Health

POSITION TITLE: Pharmacist

POSITION NUMBER(S): 83042, 95491,

96614, 89932, 89933, 91233, 91462, 74525, 26792, 101339, 104007

DIVISION: (e.g., Division, Region, Department) Medical Beneficiary and Pharmaceutical

Services

UNIT: (e.g., Branch, Area, District) Drug Intelligence and Optimization

LOCATION:

SUPERVISOR’S TITLE: Director, Decision Support and Evaluation Guidance

POSITION NUMBER 96585

SUPERVISOR’S CLASSIFICATION: Business Leadership PHONE NUMBER:

604-657-5680 FOR AGENCY USE ONLY NOC CODE:

APPROVED CLASSIFICATION:

CLASS CODE:

ENTERED BY: PHONE NUMBER:

PROGRAM Prescription drugs constitute the fastest growing and second largest category of health care expenditures in Canada. Provincial ministries are faced with the challenge of optimizing the benefits of prescription drugs, while managing the risks and complexities associated with this rapidly evolving sector.

The Medical Beneficiary and Pharmaceutical Services Division (MBPSD) leads, innovates and manages the Province's drug and medical beneficiary programs to improve health outcomes. It is responsible for the overall coordination, decision making, and performance of the BC Medical Services Plan (with respect to beneficiaries) and the BC PharmaCare program (the program is comprised of ten specialty benefit plans, the largest being the income-based Fair PharmaCare plan), which are regulated under the Medicare Protection Act, the Hospital Insurance Act and the Pharmaceutical Services Act.

Medical Beneficiary and Pharmaceutical Services comprises four branches: (1) Drug Intelligence and Optimization, determines which and how drugs are funded and adjudicating patient-specific drug funding requests through Special Authority. It is also responsible for number of special programs. (2) Business Management, Supplier Relations and Systems, ensuring the best process and contractual relations possible for the services and products available; (3) PharmaCare Policy and Information, responsible for guiding the development, evaluation and research of pharmaceutical policies that support equitable and sustainable patient access to effective drug therapy. (4) Medical Beneficiary, responsible for developing policy and operational components of the Medical Services Plan for beneficiaries as well as overall direction of the Medical Services Plan, including enrolment, eligibility and out of province/country services. Drug Intelligence and Optimization provides strategic leadership and operations in Drug Program management of the Ministry of Health’s PharmaCare program, including determining which drugs and how drugs are funded and adjudicating patient-specific drug funding requests through Special Authority. Through an evidence-informed process, the branch considers drug efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness, clinical input, patient input, and the sustainability of the PharmaCare program. The branch is also responsible for leading the provincial management of drug shortages, Health Authorities on various drug management issues, and several specialty drug areas, such as the Provincial Retinal Diseases Treatment program, and Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases (EDRD) process. The branch also promotes optimal use of medications to achieve improved health outcomes through initiatives such as the Provincial Academic Detailing (PAD) service, and involvement in the development of provincial clinical practice guideline (BCGuidelines.ca), and advises on innovative practice support models in primary health care.

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PURPOSE OF POSITION The pharmacist provides professional consultation, policy advice and evaluation support for the Decision Support and Evaluation Guidance (DSEG) unit of the Drug Intelligence and Optimization branch. The pharmacist also collaborates with colleagues in Formulary Management, Special Authority, and Therapeutic Review & Optimal Use, as well as other branches within and beyond Medical Beneficiary & Pharmaceutical Services Division. The DSEG unit provides leadership and advanced clinical/evaluation expertise for provincial PharmaCare specialty drug programs (EDRD, retinal diseases, and smoking cessation) to support patient care and service delivery. The DSEG unit also leads national initiatives (drug shortages, EDRD, Pharmaceuticals Working Group for Jan 2016 Health Ministers’ Health Accord).

NATURE OF WORK AND POSITION LINKS

Prescription drugs are the fastest growing component of the health care budget. Submitting drugs through a rigorous, scientific, evidence-based review ensures that British Columbians continue to have access to drugs that are supported by strong empirical evidence and provide good value for the best health outcomes. The Drug Intelligence and Optimization branch contributes to the quality and sustainability of British Columbia’s drug plan. The work conducted by this position has the potential to impact virtually every British Columbian at some point during his/her life.

The DSEG unit comprises of subject-matter experts in advanced pharmacotherapy, and applies this knowledge to implement policy and change initiatives aligned with strategic priorities, design specialty drug programs, and develop clinically relevant policies for clinical practice. The DSEG unit conducts comprehensive clinical and policy reviews to ensure decisions are supported by strong empirical evidence. The DSEG unit furthers the division’s commitment to conduct comprehensive, evidence-based, timely, transparent and clinically relevant reviews.

The branch operates in a matrix environment whereby the Director may assign work to a range of staff in the unit. This matrix environment facilitates the assignment of resources to projects or strategies as needed, and promotes the coordination of activities on a branch-wide basis.

Position Links:

• Drug Intelligence and Optimization Branch – establishes strong linkages with the Formulary Management Unit, Special Authorities Unit, and Therapeutic Review and Optimal Use Unit.

• Independent arms length drug review groups (Drug Benefit Council and other drug review teams) – advises on parameters of the research questions asked in specific drug reviews (e.g., works with evidence review groups and clinician experts on evidence reports). Collects additional (jurisdictional specific) information for the drug review process (i.e., to get a specialist expert opinion).

• Minister, Deputy Minister, Associate Deputy Minister, ADM, Executive Director, Senior Executive – provides information, recommendations, and advice on change initiatives relating to strategic priorities, policies, and/or specialty drug programs

• Other Branches in the Medical Beneficiary and Pharmaceutical Services Division – provides professional pharmaceutical advice and information as required.

• Health Authorities and related groups/agencies (BC Health Authority Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Drug Review Subcommittee, BC Cancer Agency, Renal Agency of BC, BC Transplant), Doctors of BC, College of Pharmacists of BC, the BC Pharmacy Association, pharmaceutical manufacturers, advocacy groups, stakeholders in other ministries, other government agencies – collaborates on initiatives.

• Academics/Researchers – reviews/validates research conclusions drawn from pharmaceutical research papers or pharmaceutical utilization data, and partners on program evaluation and research initiatives.

• Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE) and Minister’s Office – responds to requests for information and provides advice on government position.

• F/P/T Committees and P/T Committees, including the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) and the EDRD Working Group, and the P/T Drug Shortage Task Team – gathers information on work completed by CADTH through its various programs such as Common Drug Review (CDR). Develops contacts to obtain, discuss and/or exchange information on pharmaceutical issues and policies. Supports Director in leading/co-leading selected initiatives and represents BC’s position in the development of policies and programs on pharmaceutical issues. Acts on behalf of the Director as required.

• Contractors – supports Director in initiating and completing procurement processes, supervise the completion of deliverables, sign invoices.

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NATURE OF WORK AND POSITION LINKS continued The Drug Intelligence and Optimization Branch determines the array of drugs (formulary) eligible for reimbursement through the provincial PharmaCare Program and administers the Special Authority Program that approves access to drug therapy based on pre-established criteria within the limited coverage and reference based drug formularies. The branch also serves as the primary source of information regarding pharmaceutical products and services in the Ministry of Health. The Formulary Management unit is responsible for conducting evaluative research and producing policy options to support the development, management and implementation of PharmaCare policies. The Formulary Management drug review process determines the therapeutic/clinical advantage and cost effectiveness of the drug compared to existing benefits in the same drug category, and the economic impact on PharmaCare of adding the drug to the formulary. The review is rigorous and the decisions are supported by strong empirical evidence. The incumbent participates in the drug submission review process for both brand-name and generic products and represents the division on a variety of internal and external committees. The Special Authority unit responds to over 180,000 requests each year for limited and exceptional last resort coverage of drug products. Exceptional requests present the unique circumstances of the patient (primary diagnosis; secondary diagnoses; conflicting medications; etc.) that must be considered. Technicians address the bulk of requests but there are some that require adjudication by a licensed pharmacist. In addition, evolving criteria guiding the technicians must also be developed. The pharmacist provides input into the development of clinical criteria in the drug formulary review process and participates in Special Authority quality assurance projects. This work is critical to the PharmaCare Program in keeping drug costs manageable while ensuring that patients receive the appropriate medication.

The Therapeutic Review and Optimal Use Unit is responsible for therapeutic reviews and optimal use projects including the Provincial Academic Detailing Service.

The DSEG unit provides leadership and advanced clinical/evaluation expertise for PharmaCare specialty drug programs: • Lead the drug review process including price negotiations, stakeholder management, and implementation activities

for the provincial Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases (EDRD) process. • Lead the BC Provincial Retinal Diseases Treatment Program. • Lead the BC Smoking Cessation Program. • Co-lead the development of MBPSD’s program evaluation framework. The DSEG unit leads and actively participates in national pharmaceutical initiatives: • Lead the national Drug Shortages Task Team to manage drug shortages within BC and Canada. • Co-lead the national EDRD Working Group. • Co-lead the national Pharmaceuticals Working Group to complete commitments from the Jan 2016 Health

Ministers’ Health Accord.

The DSEG unit leads and actively participates in the design and delivery of the health system: • Lead initiatives to improve drug formulary alignment and drug review collaboration with the health authorities

to support patient care. The incumbent requires a high level of understanding of pharmaceutical treatment and medical practice to understand and work with highly trained general practitioners, specialists, other healthcare professionals, patients and Ministry personnel. The incumbent also requires a high degree of understanding of the scientific evidence underlying pharmaceutical practice. The expertise from a degree in pharmacy and the legal and professional accountability to the public via licensure with the College of Pharmacists of BC is vital to the integrity, legitimacy, and safety of the role. The Pharmacist is required to maintain a thorough working knowledge of the current and emerging trends and developments in the drug industry.

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SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES / DELIVERABLES 1. Participates in the evidence based review process of new drugs and drug classes and existing drugs on the

program’s benefit list to ensure that medications and policies provide good value for money based on an analysis of clinical and cost effectiveness.

2. Conducts and/or contributes to therapeutic, cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis; reviews and analyzes the availability of other treatment options, accepted medical practices in the province, comparisons to other provincial jurisdictions, and alignment with established policy objectives.

3. Consults with medical/pharmacy experts and medical literature, researches and analyses clinical practices and innovations in other jurisdictions (national and international), writes reports, and makes recommendations on the feasibility of proposed guidelines as decision support tools.

4. Consults with affected stakeholders and government agencies to identify coverage recommendations. 5. Provides clinical evaluation and exercises professional judgment in adjudication of Special Authority (SA) requests

from practitioners (a SA grants full benefit status to a medication that would otherwise be a partial benefit or a limited coverage drug).

6. Resolves complex SA requests and/or issues escalated by SA Technicians. 7. Conducts audits of patients and pharmacies to determine compliance as required. 8. Develops and recommends improved practices, processes and standards for Formulary Management drug reviews

and SA reviews. 9. Defines and implements policy for the special disease drug plans and identifies and manages issues arising from

drug policies (e.g. demands for medication to be added to the formulary) and prepares policy approval documents in the form of Cabinet and Treasury Board Submissions.

10. Participates in maintaining existing drug and related benefit coverage policies (including the Low Cost Alternative, the Reference Drug, and Limited Coverage programs) and in the development and implementation of new policies arising from the review of cost containment and other initiatives.

11. Represents BC on committees dealing with drug plan policy issues and ensures that Pharmaceutical Services Division viewpoints and priorities are adequately addressed. Represents PSD on internal and external PSD committees and participates as a staff member on the Drug Benefit Committee (DBC).

12. Prepares written materials as required, including ministerial correspondence, policy and position papers, briefing notes, discussion papers, and presentations.

13. Participates in branch or divisional drug research initiatives as required. 14. Leads or participates in staff development and education programs to foster greater staff knowledge and clinical

perspective in branch and divisional initiatives. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Provides cost/benefit data requiring application of program knowledge to determine the financial impacts of PharmaCare drug benefit initiatives. Provides cost/benefit data to determine the financial impacts of different risk sharing agreements. Approves coverage of drug therapies with cost impacts of $35 – $50,000 per year (SA only).

DIRECT SUPERVISION (i.e., responsibility for signing the employee appraisal form) Role # of Regular FTE’s # of Auxiliary FTE’s Directly supervises staff 0 0 Supervises staff through subordinate supervisors 0 0

PROJECT /TEAM LEADERSHIP OR TRAINING (Check the appropriate boxes) Role # of FTE’s Role # of FTE’s

Supervises students or volunteers Provides formal training to other staff Lead project teams varies Assigns, monitors and examines the work of staff varies

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Licensed to practice pharmacy in the Province of BC (active licensure registered with BC College of Pharmacists)

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TOOLS / EQUIPMENT Desktop tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook Calendar and standardized templates for correspondence, personal records management). Use of mobile phone or similar device as required. Time and Leave Procurement and contracting tools CAS and iExpenses MyPerformance

WORKING CONDITIONS

The incumbent must be aware of the political sensitivities of the work that the unit does. Many initiatives will affect other areas of the Ministry and will thus require extensive consultation throughout the process. Travel between Victoria and Vancouver may occasionally be needed to fulfil work duties.

WORK EXAMPLES See above sections.

COMMENTS

PREPARED BY NAME:

Elaine Chong DATE:

September 2016

EXCLUDED MANAGER AUTHORIZATION

I confirm that:

1. the accountabilities / deliverables were assigned to this position effective:. 2. the information in this position description reflects the actual work performed. 3. a copy has / will be provided to the incumbent(s).

NAME:

SIGNATURE: DATE:

ORGANIZATION CHART See attached.

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SELECTION CRITERIA Education/Experience: Graduation from recognized Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences with a minimum Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Current registration and license in good standing as a Licensed Pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of BC. Considerable (2-5 years) experience as a licensed practicing pharmacist in BC retail or hospital pharmacy practice. Experience in medical literature research, analysis and interpretation. Knowledge: Familiarity with policies and procedures of the BC PharmaCare Program. Sound knowledge of legislation governing drugs. Knowledge of federal / provincial / territorial initiatives in pharmaceutical policy development. Knowledge of Canadian pharmaceutical industry and public drug insurance plans. Knowledge of health (pharmaceutical) research databases. Abilities/skills: Excellent consultation, negotiation, communication and project management skills. Strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to develop partnerships with diverse stakeholders. Analytical ability to identify trends/issues and recommend policy alternatives. Demonstrated leadership and influence management facilitation and mediation skills. Advanced computer, writing and editing skills

COMPETENCIES Service Orientation Teamwork and Co-operation Results Orientation Expertise Analytic Thinking Relationship Building Impact Influence Judgement