Pharmacist

Overview

Pharmacist

Niles, IL

Full-Time

$100,000-$150,000

Benefits Include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Points Program, PTO.

The MID Pharmacist oversees the entire operation of the oral dispensing pharmacy, from receipt and clinical review of prescriptions through medication dispensing and patient follow-up. Responsibilities include benefits investigation, prior authorization coordination, copay and financial assistance, medication access, prescription processing, patient counseling, quality assurance, inventory management, and compliance with all applicable pharmacy laws, accreditation standards, policies, and procedures. The pharmacist collaborates with prescribers, payers, patients, pharmacy staff, and other healthcare professionals to ensure medications are dispensed safely, accurately, and in a timely manner. Supports and adheres to the US Oncology Compliance Program, including the Code of Ethics and Business Standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete oral dispensing pharmacy workflow from receipt of a prescription through final dispensing, delivery, patient follow-up, and documentation.
• Reviews prescriptions for completeness, clinical appropriateness, correct dose, drug interactions, allergies, contraindications, duplicate therapy, required monitoring, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Conducts and oversees benefits investigations, insurance verification, prior authorization coordination, formulary review, and resolution of coverage or claim issues before dispensing.
• Identifies and coordinates with patient benefit representative regarding copay assistance, manufacturer assistance programs, foundation support, and other financial resources to improve timely medication access.
• Communicate with prescribers, payers, patients, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to clarify prescriptions, resolve access barriers, and coordinate therapy initiation and continuation.
• Ensures accurate prescription entry, preparation, labeling, pharmacist verification, dispensing, packaging, pickup or shipment, and required patient documentation.
• Provides initial and ongoing patient counseling regarding administration, adherence, storage, handling, missed doses, drug and food interactions, potential adverse effects, and when to contact the care team.
• Monitors adherence, refill status, treatment response, laboratory requirements, adverse events, and therapy-related concerns; escalates findings and recommends interventions when appropriate.
• Directs and prioritizes pharmacy workflow, delegates duties within permitted scope, verifies completed work, and ensures adequate coverage for daily pharmacy operations.
• Oversees medication procurement, receiving, storage, inventory control, cycle counts, expiration monitoring, recalls, returns, waste reduction, and proper disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous medications.
• Maintains complete and accurate pharmacy and clinical records, including prescription records, patient communications, interventions, counseling, dispensing activity, inventory records, and required regulatory documentation.
• Performs and documents quality assurance activities, investigates medication errors, near misses, complaints, and workflow issues, and implements corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state pharmacy laws, payer requirements, accreditation standards, hazardous drug handling requirements, organizational policies, and the US Oncology Compliance Program, including the Code of Ethics and Business Standards.
• Provides staff education and competency support, stays current with oral oncology therapies and regulatory changes, and communicates relevant updates to pharmacy and clinical teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or D. degree from an accredited school of pharmacy.
• Minimum two years’ experience as a registered pharmacist, preferably within a retail Oncology or specialty area background.
• Valid state licensure as a Registered.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be offered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Requires vision and hearing corrected to normal ranges.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be offered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to direct contact with patients with potential for exposure to toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and chemotherapeutic agents.

Reporting Responsibilities

Typically supervises: Physician Dispensing Assistant/MID Tech(s) but may have other reports depending on practice organizational structure.

Typically supervised by: Mgr, MID Pharmacy May report to other roles depending on practice organizational structure.

About Illinois Cancer Specialists

Illinois Cancer Specialists (ICS) is dedicated to providing convenient, compassionate leading-edge cancer care to patients in Chicago and the surrounding areas. With more than 30 years in practice and over 400 years of combined physician experience,ICS is changing the forefront of patient care. Our dedicated and highly-skilled physicians and staff, who specialize in caring for patients with cancer and blood disorders, provide unparalleled access to the most innovative, advanced therapies and latest technologies throughout Chicago and the surrounding areas. With more than 20 board certified physicians,ICS offers convenient, compassionate care in ten locations. For more information about Illinois Cancer Specialists visit

Illinois Cancer Specialists is united in healing with The US Oncology Network, one of the nation’s largest networks of integrated, community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. As an affiliate of The US Oncology Network,ICS is united with more than 1,000 physicians nationwide. Illinois Cancer Specialists participates in clinical trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in approximately 60 FDA-approved cancer therapies, nearly one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. For more information, visit