Pharmacist, Specialist in Poison Information

Pharmacist, Specialist in Poison Information

US-OR-Portland

Requisition ID: 2026-38805
Position Category: Pharmacy
Job Type: AFSCME union represented
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Oregon Poison Center
Posting Salary Range: $77.20 - $106.00 per hour with offer based on experience, education and internal equity
Posting FTE: 0.90
Posting Schedule: variable schedule, works 6 shifts per pay period
Posting Hours: 1900-0730, 1800-0630, variable hours, depends on unit needs, shift start and end times may vary

Department Overview

This position will be filled by a Pharmacist or Registered Nurse. If interested in applying as a RN see application 2026-38307

This position aims to provide the services of a licensed pharmacist to the Oregon Poison Center (OPC). The OPC is a 24-hour emergency response center providing information to effectively triage and assist in managing patients experiencing a poisoning or toxic exposure. The poison center serves the public and health care providers throughout Oregon and Guam. The center serves patients of all age groups. The pharmacist will maintain responsibility for answering the emergency phone lines. Primary responsibility includes patient assessment, providing treatment recommendations and facilitating appropriate referral to a health care facility if necessary. Ongoing patient evaluation and follow-up are essential components of the duties of this position. The pharmacist will participate in OPC’s research, educational and outreach activities. This position serves as a preceptor for students from various colleges of pharmacy, nursing and medicine.

The staff of the OPC utilizes a collaborative practice model as a framework for care provision. The policies and procedures in the center are consistent with a planned system. The toxicologists and pharmacists at the OPC work with health care providers in other facilities in treating the victims of poisoning and toxic exposure to assure consistent, quality care. Inherent in this framework are shared clients, collegiality, shared accountability and joint decision-making. Mutual trust and respect are essential to the collaborative practice model environment.

Function/Duties of Position

Practice:

• Demonstrate ability to answer poison calls, ascertain necessary information and obtain accurate history from caller.
• Utilize basic data resources and consults with others as necessary to obtain accurate
• Identification of substance of exposure and toxicity information in developing recommendations for plan of care.
• Incorporate evaluation of patient/family ability to provide home care and monitoring when appropriate.
• Demonstrate ability to identify exposure situations which pose an immediate potential health risk and take appropriate action to assure effective patient management.
• Recognize inappropriate calls to poison center and utilize assistance to direct caller to appropriate resource. Provide patient access to social support systems. Recognizes unique responsibility to assure care to pediatric and suicidal patients.
• Understand basic principles of toxicology, including:
• Assessment of significant symptoms
• History related to exposure
• Principles of decontamination
• Metabolism
• Systemic and local effects
• Understand/demonstrate knowledge of major substance exposure groups without needing assistance from others
• Assure that all initial incoming calls are answered in a timely manner and effectively triaged based on acuity of all active calls.
• Consult with on call physician toxicologist according to department guidelines.
• Utilize standardized departmental treatment guidelines unless directed otherwise by on call physician toxicologist.
• Consult with on call physician toxicologist in instances in which treatment recommendations are not followed, and documents appropriately.

Documentation:

• Adhere to documentation standards of the National Poison Data System as described in the NPDS manual.
• Utilize Toxicall, the computerized documentation system of the Oregon Poison Center.
• Check for accuracy and completeness of case documentation upon closing case.
• Document clinical information relayed by OPC toxicology physicians.

Other Duties as Assigned

Required Qualifications

• Must have at least 3 years of clinical poison center experience within the last 5 years.
• A current Pharmacist’s license issued by the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy.
• PharmD degree

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Competency in drug therapy and principles of pharmacology (dosage, indications, side effects, etc.)
• Excellent interpersonal communication
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Competency in performing simple mathematic calculations (basic algebra)
• Skills in EKG interpretation, ABG interpretation and interpretation of chemistry profile
• Competency in computer skills-keyboarding, utilization of MS Word and MS Teams programs
• Basic troubleshooting skills if eligible to work remotely at home
• Must take national certification exam for specialist in poison information upon eligibility (completion of 1,200 work hours and management of 2,000 human exposure cases).
• Failure to pass exam upon 3rd period of eligibility will result in termination of SPI position consistent with national poison center accreditation standards and regulations, and possible termination of employment with OHSU.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications

• PGY 1 Residency
• Certified specialist in Poison Information
• Experience in toxicology
• Previous poison center experience

Additional Details

Variable work schedule as necessary by staffing needs of a 24/7 specialized emergency service. General office setting with shared computer workstations, dual monitors, and various essential electronic equipment within the room. Work environment necessitates multiple simultaneous conversations by others within the work setting, creating background noise.

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