Career Opportunities

Job Description

Mint Health+Drugs Blue Bottle was established in 1966 and serving Calgary’s Tuxedo Park neighbourhood and beyond as an independent, locally run pharmacy, Blue Bottle looks to provide each patient with the same level of care and compassion. We’re very much a community pharmacy, with services like our specialized compounding—done entirely in-house—capable of making a huge impact in the lives of our patients. By providing personalized health care to each and every patient, we’re able to serve as an effective community health care hub.

We are currently looking for a full-time Pharmacist to work at the Calgary Drop-In Centre on behalf of Blue Bottle Pharmacy.

As the key Blue Bottle employee at the Drop In Centre, this position provides on-site pharmacist care to those most in need.

“For more than 60 years, the Calgary Drop-In Centre (the DI) has been more than an emergency shelter. We provide essential care as well as health services and housing support to adults experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Our programs and services connect people to permanent housing that meets their individual needs.

Rooted in community and fueled by kindness, the DI proudly serves as part of the Homeless-Serving System of Care, the Canadian Shelter Transformation Network, and we are in full support of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness initiative, Recovery For All.”

Calgary Drop-In Centre is located at 1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE

We require a Pharmacist in good standing with the College of Pharmacists, including a valid license.

Job Duties

• Communicate clearly and efficiently with Calgary Drop In Centre (DI) health services staff, outreach physicians from the Alex Community Health Centre, and with Blue Bottle pharmacy staff

• Facilitate communication between pharmacy staff and CDIC health services staff

• Provide culturally aware support to DI clients, celebrating the diversity of clients and being aware of power dynamics of privilege and oppression that may be present

• Develop and maintain collaborative and accountable working relations with internal DI colleagues to strengthen communication flow and cross-program understanding

• Provide caring, reliable, trauma-informed care to all patients & clients accessing the DI to reduce barriers to service and increase community trust

• Coordinate services with other team members and community resources

• Ensure all required data is entered accurately into organizational databases including Kroll and client Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Competencies:

• Ability to work in a diverse, fast-paced care setting with a multidisciplinary team

• Strong understanding and confidence in management of Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) medications and provincial standards/guidelines for management of dosing, administration, and monitoring

• CAMH or Alberta Opioid course recommended?

• Injection certified and familiar with antipsychotic long acting injectables and Sublocade

• Mental Health experience

• Trauma-informed care (TIC)

• AHS TIC course recommended

• Strong understanding of the assessment and treatment of Sexually Transmitted and BSTBBIs (HIV, HCV, STIs, etc) an asset

• Strong understanding of the assessment and treatment of withdrawal, substance use, addictions an asset

• Energetic and self-directed, with effective time management and organizational skills including the ability to deal with several priorities at the same time

• Strong analytical skills, good common sense; and capacity to provide leadership

• Well-developed interpersonal and conflict resolution and negotiating skills

• Excellent communications skills

• Understanding of both Mint Health + Drugs as well as Drop In Centre values: respect, community, kindness, wellness, accountability

Daily Tasks:

• Review all DWI medications daily and in a timely manner; clinically assessing if doses should be held, reassessed, or continued

• Missed doses and clinical assessments are documented clearly on the med admin MAR and the patient’s electronic record

• Communicate changes to pharmacy staff through Asana

• Communicate questions or concerns to prescribers in a timely manner

• Ensure standards of practice are upheld and there is clear documentation regarding missed doses, changes, and of med admin practices

• Ensure continuity of care and patient safety through clear communication when handing over tasks to other outreach staff or weekend pharmacists

• Clinical support for DI outreach clinics and staff including physicians and other outreach staff (diabetes outreach, woundcare nurses, STI nurses etc); answering clinical questions, counselling patients, assessing and prescribing medication therapy as appropriate

• Clinical assessment of all prescriptions sent from CDIC to Blue Bottle pharmacy; assessing appropriateness, indication, tolerability, efficacy, safety

• Communication with patients and CDIC health services staff: counselling patients, clinically assessing prescriptions, resolving DRPs

• Communicating timelines and packaging requirements to Blue Bottle pharmacy staff through checklists and Asana tasks

• Resolves questions or concerns from patients, DI staff, prescribers, and pharmacy staff

• Communicate frequently with the designated med admin nurse to answer questions, resolve issues, identify potential DRPs, and delegate tasks

• Communicate with Drop In Centre health services staff to answer questions, resolve issues, identify potential DRPs, and delegate tasks

• Communicate any identified DRPs with Drop In Centre physicians through the Wolf EMR or by calling the MD on call

• Management and oversight of the emergency medication supply *note this may be gone by the end of August

• Daily counts of narcotics

• Ensuring DI health services and pharmacy staff are following the written protocols, documenting properly, etc

• Provide oversight and leadership for all medication administration activities

• Communicate questions and concerns with DI health services leadership and Blue Bottle pharmacy staff to address discrepancies and errors

• Coordinate with DI outreach physicians, attend leadership meetings as required

• Yearly medication administration training for DI nurses, and ongoing as new staff are hired

• Ongoing monitoring of on-site medication storage: fridge temps, expiration dates of on-site stock, assessing if medications should be held or discontinued, etc.

***Working Conditions***

Drop In Centre staff are exposed to emotionally disturbing events, such as: medical distress, threatened/actual serious injury, violence, abuse, and death; where clients may be experiencing fear, terror, hopelessness, rage, self-harm and conflict. It is understood and accepted that you will be working in distress and/or high-stress situations, which may include emergency response where resiliency and stress tolerance and the ability to maintain composure, remain calm and focused is imperative. Exposure to bodily fluids may also occur.

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Benefits

License and Insurance Reimbursement:

Mint will reimburse you for the annual cost of professional licensing and/or insurance. *conditions apply

Group Health:

Group benefits include: Extended Health Care, Dental Care, an Employee and Family Assistance Program, Life & Dependent Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, and Long-Term Disability. Mint pays 100% of the premium for extended health and dental through Alberta Blue Cross, including vision and EAP. Cost share of 20% to the employee may apply at time of service.

RRSP Match Program

Employees working more than 24 hours per week are eligible to enroll in the RRSP Match Program.