Drug Access Coordinator – Ambulatory Care

Department: Pharmacy - Cancer Centre

Hours of Work: Full-Time Position

Day Shifts: 0800 - 1600

Pay Band: Band-I $27.47-$30.44

Union: CUPE

Location: Hotel Dieu Hospital Site

Please note, this posting identifies the current shifts that apply to the position control number. However, this does not guarantee the permanence of the shift time or work assignment for the position. The Hospital reserves its Management Rights under the CUPE Collective Agreement to make changes to shift time and work assignment as it deems necessary.

DESCRIPTION:

The Drug Access Coordinator (DAC) primarily supports the Ambulatory Care Services portfolio. The DAC is dedicated to helping patients navigate the drug coverage system to maximize public funding, patient support program utilization, and private drug plan coverage to minimize out of pocket costs. Working within the interdisciplinary teams; the primary focus of the DAC is to evaluate, facilitate and coordinate access to medications and medication cost coverage for patients. The DAC facilitates medication funding and access via Special Access and Compassionate Use Programs, Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB), third party insurance companies or private payments upon request to help facilitate access to specially funded drugs or patient support programs.

The DAC acts as point of contact for patients, families and other health care providers for questions related to drug funding applications. The DAC coordinates drug access (DA) for ambulatory patients identified by the patient care team. The DA component of this role is dedicated to helping patients navigate the drug coverage system to maximize access to funding, and to minimize out of pocket costs. The DAC will identify and coordinate resources to facilitate access to medication and medication cost coverage for patients. The DAC will located at Hotel Dieu Hospital but will also offers support to ambulatory programs at KGH.

Within this role the employee is accountable for contributing to the delivery of the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) strategy. As an employee, one must demonstrate an awareness of and be responsible for actively promoting and supporting patient and family centered engagement and care in all we do.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Patient/Family Interaction

• Evaluates, facilitates, and coordinates access to medication assistance for patients.

• Interviews patients and families to complete a needs assessment for financial assistance for medications not covered by Provincial Drug Reimbursement Programs.

• Interprets eligibility criteria for various funding avenues based on the patient’s disease state (including details from imaging reports, pathology reports, etc.), treatment intent, prior lines of treatment, contraindications, and private insurance coverage, and advises patients/families of appropriate services and application procedures.

• Ensures patients are aware of all public and private support and funding options available such as Ontario’s Trillium Drug Program and pharmaceutical company sponsored assistance plans.

• Assists patients with the completion of appropriate enrolment and access forms.

• Tracks status of special funding requests, coordinates submission of additional information when required, and communicates with patients when request approvals are received.

• Determines all possible access options for patients by maintaining up-to-date awareness of available reimbursement programs.

Contact with Outside Stakeholders (e.g. Agencies and Departments)

• Coordinates, on the patient’s behalf, all forms/ paperwork required for drug access requests through public, private, and industry sponsored programs. Completes and submits forms as necessary with all applicable documentation.

• Coordinates the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Exceptional Access Program (EAP) process on behalf of patients and physicians, and provides necessary clinical details regarding requests (indication, prior lines of treatment, etc.). Maintains tracking system for expiry of EAP forms and follows up with renewals if ongoing therapy required.

• Monitors all applications, responds to requests for further information, facilitates appeals for denials, and generally acts as liaison and advocate for the patient with all programs and payers.

• Coordinates ordering and delivery of compassionate medication supply.

• Maintains professional relationships with Pharmaceutical Representatives to maintain current on funding status of commonly requested therapies.

• Coordinates and facilitates scheduling of unfunded parenteral treatments at private infusion clinics.

Interaction between Primary Caregivers/Providers

• Works with physicians to coordinate transmission of EAP requests to the ODB Program.

• Initiates and submits, on behalf of physicians, Health Canada Special Access Program applications and monitors outcomes.

• Initiates and submits, on behalf of physicians, enrollment forms for industry sponsored patient assistance programs and monitors outcomes.

• Communicates all relevant information to patient care team as it relates to medication access.

• Maintains accurate records of all discussions (patients, benefit providers, patient care team).

• Provides follow-up to the primary care team, patients, and their families to communicate approvals/denials for all inquiries.

• Coordinates prescription dispensing with dispensing pharmacies.

Other

• Maintains all appropriate records of drug access and patient interventions, providing progress updates to the patient care team as it relates to medication access.

• Facilitates scheduling of patient appointments for pharmacist consultation and other related administrative tasks.

• Responds to telephone enquiries from patients, families, health care professionals, determines the nature of the query and re-directs accordingly.

The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2-year Community College diploma in Medical Office Administration, Social Service Worker or Pharmacy Technician or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• One year previous related experience with clinical funding programs in healthcare or health insurance setting.

• Two years Medical Office Secretarial experience within the past 5 years or 5 years clinical hospital clerical experience working within interdisciplinary healthcare teams in patient care areas providing booking services and having regular patient contact within the past 7 years.

• 45 wpm on typing test.

• Working knowledge of computers: Word (Level 2), Excel (Level 2), Power Point, Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer.

• Demonstrated experience with and working knowledge of Electronic Medical Records.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Medical Terminology (to be tested).

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, think critically, and problem solve.

• Proven organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently.

• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, courteously, and tactfully.

• Proven ability to attend work regularly.

• Satisfactory criminal reference check and vulnerable sector search required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The applicant must be able to meet the physical demands of this position.

KHSC is located on the ancestral lands and waters of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee and serves a wider geographical area that encompasses many Indigenous communities including Tyendinaga, Katarokwi, as well as communities within the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. As we partner in care, discovery, and learning to achieve better health outcomes for our communities, KHSC is committed to actively advocating for and acting upon the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action on Health.

KHSC is committed to recruitment practices that support and contribute to building a respectful, diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, persons in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and members of other equity deserving groups.

We thank all applicants, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Kingston Health Sciences Centre is committed to inclusive and accessible employment practices. If you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process, please notify the Recruitment Team.