State of Maryland

A Pharmacist III is the supervisory level of work in dispensing and compounding prescribed medications, drugs and other pharmaceuticals for patient care at a State facility.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Registered Pharmacists and oversee the work of Pharmacy Technicians and other professional and non-professional staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher-level medical or designated administrator.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees are subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs. The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Pharmacist III is differentiated from a Pharmacist II in that the Pharmacist III is responsible for supervising a pharmacy and supervises lower-level Pharmacists while the Pharmacist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  A Pharmacist III is differentiated from the Clinical Pharmacist in that the Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for the clinical quality of pharmacy services provided to a select population of patients.

Supervises the professional and non-professional personnel assigned to the pharmacy;

Trains lower-level Pharmacists in facility procedures and work systems;

Dispenses and compounds prescribed medications, drugs and other pharmaceuticals for patient care, according to professional standards and State and federal requirements;

Reviews and fills prescriptions issued by physicians or other authorized prescriber;

Prepares various compounds and admixtures;

Monitors the dispensing of drugs and inspects drug storage;

Maintains drug controls regarding distribution of controlled substances;

Places drug orders periodically to maintain proper level of supply;

Develops and periodically reviews the hospital formulary;

Provides for safe use and control of research medication;

Provides for emergency pharmaceutical services;

Provides for dependable delivery of filled drug orders;

Prepares drug preparations in bulk quantity for hospital use;

Prepares the pharmacy’s budget and establishes its policies and procedures;

Performs other necessary duties as required.

Knowledge of the compounding of prescriptions and stock pharmaceutical preparations by means of standard physical and chemical procedures;

Knowledge of regulations regarding the use of schedule II substances and the necessary records to be kept in accordance with legal requirements for usage;

Knowledge of recent developments in the field of pharmacology;

Knowledge of other ancillary medical services of the hospital;

Skill in preparing compound prescriptions and stock pharmaceutical preparations;

Ability to maintain confidential information and accurate records;

Ability to determine the correct level of stock and requisition needed for replacement items;

Ability to comprehend and follow instructions;

Ability to establish policies and procedures and to prepare the pharmacy’s budget;

Ability to coordinate pharmacy services with other services within the facility;

Ability to plan, evaluate and supervise the work of others;

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with patients and their family members, supervisors and staff;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy.

Experience: Four years of experience as a Registered Pharmacist or two years of experience dispensing and compounding prescribed medications, drugs and other pharmaceuticals for patient care at a State facility.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Pharmacist classification or Pharmacist specialty codes in the Pharmacist field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1.  Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the facility with a phone number at which they can be reached.

2.  Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professionals classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.