Career Path: Infusion Center Pharmacy Manager – Council on Pharmacy Standards
CAREER SPOTLIGHT

Infusion Center Pharmacy Manager

Lead high-stakes pharmacy operations, ensuring the safe, accurate, and compliant preparation of life-saving infusion therapies.

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Orchestrating Complex Infusion Therapies

The Infusion Center Pharmacy Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing all pharmacy operations related to sterile compounding, particularly for hazardous drugs like chemotherapy and complex biologics. This individual combines clinical expertise with strong operational acumen to ensure the infusion pharmacy runs safely, efficiently, and in strict compliance with state and federal regulations, including USP <797> and <800>.

This manager leads a team of specialized pharmacists and technicians, overseeing their training, competency, and daily workflow. Responsibilities extend to managing budgets, optimizing the inventory of high-cost medications, implementing quality assurance programs, and collaborating closely with oncologists, nurses, and administrators. They are the ultimate authority on sterile compounding safety and policy within the infusion center, making this a vital role for a detail-oriented and decisive leader.

Core Responsibilities

  • USP <797> & <800> Compliance

    Ensuring all aspects of the facility, compounding processes, and staff practices meet or exceed standards for sterile and hazardous drug handling.

  • Team Leadership & Development

    Managing, training, and evaluating a team of pharmacists and technicians to maintain the highest levels of aseptic technique and safety competency.

  • Quality Assurance Operations

    Developing and overseeing quality programs, including environmental monitoring, staff validation, and process audits to ensure medication safety.

  • Financial & Inventory Management

    Managing the pharmacy budget, procurement, and inventory control for expensive chemotherapy agents and biologics to minimize waste and ensure availability.

Your Certification Pathway to Infusion Leadership

Leading a high-complexity infusion pharmacy demands certified expertise in sterile compounding, hazardous drug handling, regulatory compliance, and operational management.

CSCP

Certified Sterile Compounding Pharmacist

The foundational certification, validating your expert knowledge of USP <797> and the principles of aseptic processing.

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CHDHP

Certified Hazardous Drug Handling Pharmacist

Demonstrates your specialized expertise in managing hazardous drugs, from receipt to disposal, crucial for USP <800> compliance.

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CUCO

Certified USP 800 Compliance Officer

Validates your ability to lead, implement, and manage a comprehensive USP <800> compliance program to protect staff and patients.

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CPOM

Certified Pharmacy Operations Manager

Showcases your proficiency in the business and management side of pharmacy, including budgeting, workflow design, and strategic planning.

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A Day in the Life

Your day is a dynamic balance of ensuring regulatory compliance, managing staff, and strategic planning to support patient care.

Morning: Daily Operations Huddle & Cleanroom Rounds

You lead a team huddle to review the day’s infusion schedule and staffing assignments. Afterward, you conduct rounds in the cleanroom suite, observing technician technique and verifying that all environmental logs are completed and within specification.

Mid-Day: Investigating a Supply Chain Disruption

You are alerted to a national backorder of a key chemotherapy agent. You immediately work with purchasing staff, contact alternative suppliers, and communicate with oncologists to identify affected patients and implement mitigation strategies.

Afternoon: New Biologic Protocol Meeting

You meet with the infusion nursing manager and a clinical oncologist to plan the rollout of a new, complex biologic therapy. You discuss storage requirements, compounding procedures, waste disposal, and the necessary training for the pharmacy team.

Ready to Lead at the Forefront of Pharmacy?

This leadership role is for the meticulous, process-driven pharmacist dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safety and quality in a complex and life-saving practice environment.

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