A pharmacy director is in charge of all drug dispensing operations for a pharmacy. These positions often are found in hospitals or medical clinics. A pharmacy director's scope of responsibility may include personnel administration, adherence to policies and procedures and customer service. The director also normally plans and administers the budget and initiates and actively participates in interdepartmental communications.
In a hospital, the pharmacy is often considered a hospital department; it is commonly viewed as a revenue producing entity more than a division of hospital services. The pharmacy director is expected to have the expertise to apply strategic planning and ensure the pharmacy is profitable. It is expected to be highly competitive with local independent pharmacies in the community.
Hiring and training personnel is one of the pharmacy director’s jobs. She is expected to have a staff that is competent in dispensing drugs as well as keenly aware of procedures and protocols. Good customer relation skills are particularly important in a health care atmosphere, where many customers are recently released patients.
The ever-changing nature of the health care sector requires a pharmacy director to be aware of new industry trends to correctly prioritize budget and administrative goals and meet the needs of the clinic or hospital. The needs of the patients and community as a whole must also be considered.
As a department head, the pharmacy director normally has an active voice in proposing and developing goals and directions aimed at improving departmental performance throughout the hospital or clinic. She is also expected to keep herself well informed on community concerns and issues and incorporate them into her ideas and presentations. The fiscal and public relations contributions of the pharmacy are often highlighted in her general communications.
Since the pharmacy director’s job requires excellent communication skills coupled with administrative excellence, her personality should be outgoing and friendly, while inspiring respect and confidence. The position also requires great organizational abilities and skills in human resources. Experience in systems and project management are preferred. Personnel administration background or extensive experience in dealing with physicians and other health care professionals is helpful in qualifying for this position.
Solid experience in a health or hospital system environment is strongly preferred, as is background as an administrative director or leader of a hospital-based committee or board. Educational requirements generally include the appropriate pharmacy license for your region, along with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and hospital administration. A relevant master’s or doctorate degree might be preferred.
