Linda Saavedra
1918 Three Forks, San Antonio,TX
Summary
Clinical Pharmacist seeking an outpatient position to provide safe, effective, and patient-centered care through medication therapy management, prescription verification, and counseling.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Outpatient Clinical Pharmacist (GS 12)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
03.2013 - Current
- Review, interpret, and verify medication orders for appropriateness.
- Review patient's medications, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems and contact providers as appropriate.
- Review and adjudicate prior authorization (non-formulary) requests assigned to outpatient group. Assess the medical necessity of non-formulary drugs using clinical guidelines and formulary criteria.
- Communicate with providers via flagging orders in VISTA, secure messaging via TEAMs, and document in CPRS as appropriate.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary healthcare teams for optimal patient care and improved treatment outcomes.
- Responsible for reviewing and responding to incoming Clinical Call Center tickets in a timely and professional manner.
- Educate patients on possible drug interactions, potential side effects, and optimal methods of administration.
- Review and verify veterans’ eligibility for care under the Non-VA Community Care program, ensuring compliance with VA policies and guidelines.
- Participates in continuous professional development activities to stay current on evolving trends within clinical pharmacy practice.
- Documents clinical interventions and medication errors electronically using the Joint Patient Safety Reporting system. Member of local pharmacy committee to encourage and help other co-workers enter interventions into the patient safety reporting system.
- Received “Good Catch” award from the facility in 2019 for going above and beyond for patient safety.
- Operated OptiFill and ScriptPro automated dispensing systems.
- Utilized Endicia Professional software to process, label, and track outgoing packages and mail efficiently.
Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist (GS 12)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
08.2009 - 03.2013
- Accurately dispensed medications for inpatient units, including oral, injectable, and IV preparations.
- Verified orders for medications, ensuring appropriate dosing, routes, and timing, while identifying potential drug interactions, allergies, or contraindications.
- Prepared and dispense sterile products, such as intravenous (IV) medications, according to hospital protocols.
- Reviewed Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) orders in collaboration with dietitians, ensuring accuracy in nutrient composition, dosage, and patient-specific needs. Prepared and compounded TPN solutions according to prescribed formulas, following strict sterility and safety protocols.
- Reviewed patient's medications, labs, and other pertinent information from the medical record to identify and solve medication-related problems and contact providers as appropriate.
- Provided drug information to healthcare providers, patients, and their families regarding medications, side effects, and proper use.
- Reviewed and processed outpatient orders for hospital discharges and emergency department discharges during off-hours, ensuring timely and accurate dispensing when the main pharmacy was closed.
- Responded to code blue emergencies and other critical hospital situations, providing immediate medication support to stabilize patients during medical crises.
- Responsible for restocking Omnicell automated dispensing units with controlled substances, ensuring inventory accuracy and compliance with all regulatory guidelines.
- Assumed responsibility for the Operating Room (OR) pharmacy operations during the pharmacist’s leave, ensuring continuous medication support for surgical teams. Maintained inventory and restocked medications in the Omnicell. Managed controlled substance discrepancy reports, investigating and documenting any discrepancies between physical inventory and system records.
- Underwent annual competency testing in the IV room to ensure compliance with USP 797 standards for sterile compounding.
- Provided oversight of technical staff in all aspects of medication distribution.
Pharmacy Intern
Target Pharmacy
07.2005 - 05.2009
- Expanded knowledge of various medication classes through continuous learning from experienced pharmacists and attending relevant training sessions.
- Provided friendly customer service at drop-off and pick-up counters.
- Supported pharmacists in daily operational tasks, assisting in dispensing medications accurately and efficiently while ensuring patient safety.
- Educated patients on possible drug interactions, potential side effects, and optimal methods of administration under the supervision of a pharmacist.
- Used pharmacy software to enter prescription and insurance information.
- Assisted in inventory control, ensuring medications were stocked, logged, and stored properly while maintaining strict records for regulated substances.
Pharmacy Technician
Eckerd Drugs
04.2003 - 06.2004
- Answered incoming phone calls and addressed questions from customers and healthcare providers.
- Stocked, labeled, and inventoried medication to keep accurate records.
- Assisted pharmacist with medication dispensing, labeling, and packaging.
- Processed, filled prescriptions and prepared prescription labels with accuracy.
- Consulted with insurance company representatives to complete claims processing, resolve concerns, and reconcile payments.
- Managed the cash register.
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy -
University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Chapel Hill, NC05-2009
Bachelor of Science - Biology
University of North Carolina At Wilmington
Wilmington, NC12-2003
Skills
- Proficient with VISTA, CPRS, pharmacy automation systems (Optifill, ScriptPro), and mail service software (Endicia Professional)
Certification
- North Carolina Pharmacist License #20527- July 2009
- Basic Life Support Provider - December 2009
Timeline
Outpatient Clinical Pharmacist (GS 12)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
03.2013 - Current
Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist (GS 12)
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
08.2009 - 03.2013
Pharmacy Intern
Target Pharmacy
07.2005 - 05.2009
Pharmacy Technician
Eckerd Drugs
04.2003 - 06.2004
Doctor of Pharmacy -
University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Bachelor of Science - Biology
University of North Carolina At Wilmington
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