Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Meds2Beds- Full-Time

Job Description

Join University of Chicago Medicine, as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist, in the Meds2Beds Pharmacy. In this role as a Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, you will assume responsibility and accountability for the provision of safe, effective, and timely dispensing medications to patients upon discharge of the hospital.


Eligible for a Sign-On Bonus up to $5,000

Job Summary

Responsible and accountable for the provision of safe and effective drug therapy and other pharmaceutical care services intended to achieve outcomes related to the cure, diagnosis or prevention of disease, elimination, or reduction of patient's symptoms, or arresting or slowing of a disease process, and improve a patient's quality of life in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team. The pharmacist also assumes the responsibility of pharmacy technicians that work directly under his/her supervision by ensuring the proper preparation of drug products and managing the workflow.

Essential Job Functions


Delivers direct patient care and clinical practice

• Maintains proficiency in clinical pharmacy programs and pharmacy operations
• Places practice priority on the delivery of patient-centered care
• Works as an active member of multidisciplinary team and collaborates with healthcare providers
• Establishes collaborative pharmacist-patient relationships
• Proficiently maintains patient information and efficiently interprets patients' health care needs including patient problem lists and prioritized pharmacist interventions
• Collects and documents accurate patient medication histories and reconcile discrepancies versus orders
• Identifies high-risk patients and implements interventions to improve quality and safety
• Makes appropriate evidence-based, patient-centered medication recommendations
• Implements, evaluations, and redesigns of pharmaceutical care plans based on patient progress and evolving goals for medication usage, including drug dosing
• Provides written documentation in the patient's medical record when requested or directed
• Participates in the management of medical emergencies, as applicable
• Provides discharge medication review, reconciliation, and counseling as appropriate
• Provides evidence-based medication education to physicians, nurses, and other professionals
• Educates patients regarding safe and effective use of medications, possible medication side effects, and the role of prescribed medications in the overall therapeutic care plan
• Maintains credentials as appropriate for practice assignments

Provides pharmaceutical services throughout health system

• Maintains proficiency in hospital computer systems and medication ordering systems
• Provides accurate, safe, timely, and appropriate medication therapy based on patient specific factors and needs
• Assures timely medication dispensing and accurate medication availability on patient care areas
• Interprets, evaluates, and accurately processes medication orders
• Identifies, mitigates, prevents, and documents problems with medication orders or therapeutic regimens, including medication errors or adverse drug reactions
• Completes critical patient monitoring and reviews patient profile/chart to identify, prevent, or mitigate drug related problems, improper drug or dose selection, sub therapeutic dosage, over dosage, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, failure to receive drugs, untreated indications, medication use without an indication, and treatment failures
• Communicates effectively and appropriately with healthcare providers and caregivers (physicians, nurses, etc.) and assures continuity of pharmaceutical care between shifts and among staff
• Provides timely, comprehensive, and appropriate drug information to patients and healthcare providers
• Actively participates in stewardship activities and restricted medication programs
• Follows established standard work parameters and maintains standard work environments
• Documents pharmacist interventions

Leads assigned patient service lines, clinical areas, and therapeutic programs

• Facilitates pharmaceutical care services, direct patient care programs, medication utilization systems within assigned services and care areas to assure drug utilization activities are aligned with patient care needs, evidence-based best practices, and regulatory standards
• Designs and implements new pharmacy programs, quality improvement changes, and continuous quality assurance initiatives to advance the organization's medication-use systems and promote optimal patient outcomes
• Designs and implements stewardship activities and restriction/surveillance programs
• Tracks and evaluates assigned pharmacy programs for operational, quality, and financial efficiency and routinely benchmarks against local and national best practices
• Actively identifies practice related issues which require evaluation and facilitate clinical research projects, quality improvement initiatives, or healthcare provider education as needed to advance practice
• Identifies and reports short- and long-term obstacles to patient care and medication safety, regulatory compliance, or stewardship of resources
• Develops and oversees policies and procedures for the department and/or health system, as applicable
• Provides departmental and institutional leadership for medical staff committees/meetings, hospital groups/task forces, and approved external programs/organizations
• Assures pharmacy is an integral part of the health-care delivery system and facilitates enhancement and expansion of pharmacy services/programs

Participates in pharmacy operations and medication dispensing

• Maintains proficiency in and actively engages in operational programs, outpatient pharmacy, and specialty pharmacy areas as appropriate for job assignments
• Facilitates specialty medication procurement, ordering, and dispensing procedures including but not limited to chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, controlled substances, etc. as appropriate for assignment

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACPE accredited College of Pharmacy
• Licensed as a pharmacist in the state of Illinois
• Board Certification in area of expertise is required within 18 months of hire or as soon as eligibility opens based on practice experience (i.e BCPS, BCACP etc)

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctor of Pharmacy
• Completion of an ASHP accredited PGY-1 residency or BCPS/BCACP certification
• Two years' hospital pharmacy experience in an organized health care setting.
• Exceptional aptitude or knowledge may be considered in lieu of experience.

Position Details

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time/1.00FTE
• Shift: Rotate
• Unit/Department: DCAM OP Pharmacy
• CBA Code: Non - Union

About Us

We've been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment... with patients and with each other. We're in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you'd like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we're doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits. The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.