Working at a Correctional Facility

[pudgy]

I am considering transitioning to a contract pharmacist role at a correctional facility for the state and was wondering what I can expect when it comes to the work and expectations. I did rotate through a detention center once before during my ippe but from what I saw it was mostly filling, some IV prep, and your standard drug information questions from the healthcare teams. Since it was a closed door pharmacy, there were no patient consultations or interactions. Generally, will the work be similar or does it really vary from facility to facility? What sort of medications and disease states are most applicable to this patient population? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I would like to know if there is any distinction when it comes to state vs federal domains like positive career growth projections, retention rates, benefits etc. Does anyone know how likely it is to be transitioned from contract to permanent employee and whether transferring from one facility to another is possible?

Thanks

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[right500]

Most applicable disease states: HIV, Hep C, DM, asthma, and other common lifestyle-driven diseases. Jail vs Prison matters too. People in jail are the same as their community more or less. Poor quality housing common? Asthma. High IVDU? HIV, Hep B, Hep C, and endocarditis (the last one assuming inpatient coverage at that job). Prison will often skew older: DM, high blood pressure, HF, CKD, and so on dominate.

Most of the answers for the second part will be specific to that job. My home state replaced their rank and file employees with contractors last I heard. Some states are outsourcing completely to the warehouse pharmacies ("consultant pharmacy" if I remember right). The Feds usually are the better bet for contractor to GS from what I have seen on the DoD side. Go GS as soon as you can if at all possible in that scenario.

 

[pudgy]

Most applicable disease states: HIV, Hep C, DM, asthma, and other common lifestyle-driven diseases. Jail vs Prison matters too. People in jail are the same as their community more or less. Poor quality housing common? Asthma. High IVDU? HIV, Hep B, Hep C, and endocarditis (the last one assuming inpatient coverage at that job). Prison will often skew older: DM, high blood pressure, HF, CKD, and so on dominate.

Most of the answers for the second part will be specific to that job. My home state replaced their rank and file employees with contractors last I heard. Some states are outsourcing completely to the warehouse pharmacies ("consultant pharmacy" if I remember right). The Feds usually are the better bet for contractor to GS from what I have seen on the DoD side. Go GS as soon as you can if at all possible in that scenario.

Thanks for the insight. Makes sense that those disease states would be more prominent with the underserved communities and that specific populations. From what I have found out just by googling the facility and what not, seems like the role is pretty much 90% verifying and 10% filling, there is hardly any clinical aspects to the job. This makes me wonder whether in terms of experience how valuable this position would be, just trying to figure out what marketable skills someone can gain through this that they can use to leverage for another position. I guess it would only make sense to take the job if there was some sort of guarantee to be offered a permanent position just because it sounds easy, pay is average and offers decent benefits. But from what you are saying, it sounds like the state is trying to save costs and use contractors instead of permanent employees.

From what I have researched, it seems like the federal jobs are a bit more secure, ceiling is a bit higher for job growth and pay, benefits may be the same or better. That being said, again not sure whether transitioning from a state job to government position would be easy or if at all possible.

 

[right500]

Thanks for the insight. Makes sense that those disease states would be more prominent with the underserved communities and that specific populations. From what I have found out just by googling the facility and what not, seems like the role is pretty much 90% verifying and 10% filling, there is hardly any clinical aspects to the job. This makes me wonder whether in terms of experience how valuable this position would be, just trying to figure out what marketable skills someone can gain through this that they can use to leverage for another position. I guess it would only make sense to take the job if there was some sort of guarantee to be offered a permanent position just because it sounds easy, pay is average and offers decent benefits. But from what you are saying, it sounds like the state is trying to save costs and use contractors instead of permanent employees.

From what I have researched, it seems like the federal jobs are a bit more secure, ceiling is a bit higher for job growth and pay, benefits may be the same or better. That being said, again not sure whether transitioning from a state job to government position would be easy or if at all possible.

My (home) state doesn't necessarily hold for this job (unless it is there...) but it wouldn't surprise me if that is the trend.

I would say most staff pharmacists stay staff pharmacists because they like it better than their job growth opportunities. Do you want to be a supervisor? If not, do you have a residency or willing to complete one? If the answer is no as well, then consider what you are trying to pivot to in the future. Something like industry or regulatory compliance?

I think a closed door pharmacy lends itself to inpatient staffing if that is your goal.

The last sentence has me slightly confused. If you mean from State to Federal, then they are completely separate (no tenure carryover, etc.) but contractor to GS (or state equivalent) is definitely possible if you can flexibly transfer to another agency with open positions.

 

[pudgy]

My (home) state doesn't necessarily hold for this job (unless it is there...) but it wouldn't surprise me if that is the trend.

I would say most staff pharmacists stay staff pharmacists because they like it better than their job growth opportunities. Do you want to be a supervisor? If not, do you have a residency or willing to complete one? If the answer is no as well, then consider what you are trying to pivot to in the future. Something like industry or regulatory compliance?

I think a closed door pharmacy lends itself to inpatient staffing if that is your goal.

The last sentence has me slightly confused. If you mean from State to Federal, then they are completely separate (no tenure carryover, etc.) but contractor to GS (or state equivalent) is definitely possible if you can flexibly transfer to another agency with open positions.

I am currently working retail and the prospects of staying with retail do not seem very appealing and/or sustainable in the long run. I have not completed a residency. Originally, I was aiming for managed care pharmacy; however, my state is looking to carve out a large portion of medi-cal services from managed care pharmacy services starting early next year. Most managed care pharmacists I know are beginning to sweat and are afraid of losing their jobs. At this point, I feel like anything besides retail would be a step in the right direction.