Pharmacy Practice Coordinator-Operating Room and Controlled Substances, Full-time Days

The salary range for this position is $70.81 - $88.52 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Benefits:

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time)
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time)
• Matching 401(k)
• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus
• Paid time off and Holiday pay

Description

The Pharmacy Practice Coordinator reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Assists Pharmacy Manager with operational aspects of the department. Staffs as well as coordinates work flow therefore must: interpret physician prescriptions and medication orders; act as a drug information resource to patients, medical staff, nursing staff and ancillary department personnel; compound and dispense prescribed medications and other pharmaceuticals for patient care by performing the related duties.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports operating room and procedural area pharmacy services including OR pharmacy satellite inventory management, ADC inventory for OR and procedural support areas, and controlled substance monitoring and reconciliation
• Maintains working knowledge of regulatory requirements of controlled substance handling and management and addresses gaps in those requirements to assure full compliance
• Supports diversion prevention and detection initiatives
• Assists with employee disciplinary processes in collaboration with the manager
• Completes and reviews payroll for manager approval/supports management team with approving timecards for all employees within service line/department
• Participates in Environment of Care Rounds
• Ensures compliance with pharmaceutical waste collection and disposal procedures
• Maintains ongoing quality data collection systems that enable monitoring of service levels
• Maintains knowledge and uses appropriate resources to provide educational, technical, or information services as needed for staff and patients
• Supports establishing operations dashboard goals, metrics and reporting
• Supports automated dispensing cabinets (ADC) implementation, inventory management, and controlled substance monitoring and reconciliation
• Supports inventory management and medication storage within the ADCs
• Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law as evidenced by count discrepancies and findings from periodic audits. Oversees monthly audits of CII safe.
• Supports medication preparation and dispensing from the automated dispensing carousels
• Designs and implements staff educations and training
• Maintains education and competency records
• Supports pharmacy residency programs and participates in educational activities for PGY-1 pharmacy residents.
• Fulfills all the responsibilities, qualifications, license/certification, and education/experience of a Clinical Pharmacist ensuring the safe, efficacious, and cost-effective utilization of all drug therapies
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, statutes, and regulations governing pharmacy practice in areas of responsibility
• Ensure areas of responsibility meet the regulatory requirements of inside and outside auditors and accrediting bodies
• Implements and maintains pharmacy services that are an integral part of the care delivery systems of Northwestern Medicine including, but not limited to, implementation of new technology and the provision of pharmacy services that will improve patient care, patient safety, and economic outcomes
• Supports around-the clock procurement, preparation, distribution, and control of all medications used, including those that are investigational
• Assumes responsibility for efficient and effective use of time and effort of all staff and investigates and resolves patient and workflow problems
• Works along frontline pharmacy staff to ensure that medications are appropriately provided to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome consistent with patient parameters and disease states
• Organizes, prioritizes, and plans workload within given time constraints. Works cooperatively with fellow pharmacists to oversee and direct the activities of the work area, to assign work to technicians, and to assure that the established Department objectives are accomplished
• Facilitates a team-based approach to patient care problem solving and service delivery
• Uses communication skills of persuasiveness and assertiveness, as well as sensitivity to the other person’s point of view, to influence the behavior and opinions of professional and technical colleagues
• Develop talent in technical and clinical positions
• Coordinates and manages scheduling consistent with departmental budget requirements and maintains programs to monitor and control costs and inventory
• Assist manager in completing performance reviews consistent with Performance Management Process established by the organization
• Ensure necessary arrangements for coverage are made along with management of productivity based on patient care
• Ensures appropriate orientation and training of pharmacy personnel according to the guidelines established by Human Resources and Pharmacy Department Management
• Actively promotes, facilitates, and participates in pharmacy staff, resident, and student educational activities and promotes the generation of new knowledge relevant to the practice of pharmacy
• Creates an environment of high morale and engaged motivated staff
• Facilitates interdepartmental coordination by acting as a liaison between the pharmacy department and other disciplines
• Assists Manager in meeting organizational goals
• Responsible for off shift/weekend on call
• Implements medication safety initiatives within the hospital and outpatient settings
• Participates and supports medication use quality initiatives through various NM committees, including the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
• Participates in quality initiatives as indicated by the annual quality plan
• Facilitates the practice of evidence-based medicine through the coordination of physician and staff education, the development of collaborative practice agreements, and policy making
• Lead and participates in performance improvement projects by adopting process improvement methodologies and working with interdisciplinary leadership
• Assists with the financial management of pharmacy cost centers
• Participates in the development of capital request proposals and capital project management
• Assists with major equipment implementation and software upgrades/implementations, product selection, document preparation for equipment acquisition, and oversight of the vendor negotiation process
• Assist manager in coordinating and documenting successful drug cost reduction initiatives
• Provides opportunities for educational programming and coordinates technical and pharmacist staff participation in such programs to promote continued professional development
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Graduate from an accredited school of Pharmacy/B.S. in Pharmacy

Certification:

• Registered or eligible for registration as a Pharmacist in Illinois within 90 days of start date

Experience:

• Knowledge of Joint Commission and state regulations
• 3-5 years’ experience in a healthcare setting

Preferred :

• PharmD
• Completed an American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists-approved PGY-1 and/or PGY-2 residency
• Supervisory experience
• Experience with automated pharmacy systems

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our  Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.