La Rabida Children’s Hospital provides specialized, family-centered health care to children with medically complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness. Through expertise, compassion, and advocacy we help children and their families reach their fullest potential, regardless of their ability to pay.

Our not-for-profit hospital, licensed for 49 beds, helps transition children from neonatal or pediatric intensive care to home, by providing medical, rehabilitative and developmental care, and by training families to continue treatments and manage the necessary equipment in the home. La Rabida also provides extensive rehabilitation for those recovering from wounds or burns and treatment for exacerbations of chronic conditions.

The hospital’s enhanced pediatric patient-centered medical home provides primary care to children with complex medical conditions and their siblings. Children with medical homes elsewhere come to La Rabida for specialty services. La Rabida offers a wide range of specialty services provided to children with sickle cell disease, diabetes, and many others. Children are supported in their emotional and developmental growth, particularly in cases where such growth has been interrupted by accident or disease.

Finally, La Rabida provides forensic and treatment services for children exposed to abuse and neglect, comprehensive assessments for wards of the state, early intervention for children between 0 and 3 years of age. Care coordination services for medically complex children are also provided for those who are covered by a health plan and receive care from providers in Cook County

SUMMARY: The pediatric clinical decentralized pharmacist is responsible for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered pharmaceutical care to pediatric patients across inpatient, outpatient, and transitional settings. This includes active participation in multidisciplinary care, optimization of medication therapy, and coordination of services at the time of admission and discharge. The pharmacist will also support outpatient pediatric pharmacy services and continuity of care. A completed PGY1 pharmacy residency with pediatric experience is required; PGY2 is preferred.

Essential Functions and Duties:

Clinical Services – Inpatient:

• Provide clinical pharmacy services to pediatric inpatient unit.
• Review, verify, and adjust medication orders based on patient-specific factors such as weight, age, organ function, and disease state.
• Monitor drug therapy for effectiveness, interactions, allergies, and safety concerns.
• Participate in daily interdisciplinary rounds and collaborate with providers, nurses, and other staff.

Admission and Discharge Coordination:

• Perform medication reconciliation at admission to ensure accurate continuation of patient medications; participate in admission meetings to ensure smooth coordination of care.
• Review discharge medication plans for appropriateness, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Educate patients and caregivers on new medications, administration techniques, and adherence strategies during discharge.

Outpatient Pediatric Pharmacy Services:

• Assist in managing complex medication regimens, including specialty and high-risk medications.
• Counsel families and caregivers on proper use, administration, and side effects of outpatient medications.
• Collaborate with ambulatory providers to resolve prior authorizations, formulary issues, and drug access challenges.

Medication Safety and Quality:

• Identify and resolve medication-related problems to promote safe use in pediatric patients.
• Participate in adverse drug event (ADE) monitoring and reporting; participates in medication safety committee.
• Contribute to policy and protocol development for pediatric drug therapy.
• Comply with standards set by regulatory bodies (e.g., Joint Commission, USP 795, 797, and 800).

Education and Training:

• Serve as a preceptor for pharmacy students and residents.
• Provide ongoing education and training to nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of pediatric pharmacotherapy and clinical guidelines.

Operational and Technical Support:

• Oversee pediatric compounding processes for sterile and non-sterile preparations.
• Ensure accurate and timely dispensing in collaboration with pharmacy technicians.

Committee and Program Involvement:

• Actively participate in P&T Committee, Antimicrobial Stewardship, and Medication Safety initiatives.
• Engage in quality improvement projects and performance metrics related to pediatric care.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:                                            Completion of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency with pediatric clinical experience required
Completion of a PGY2 Pediatric Pharmacy Residency highly preferred

• Board Certification in Pediatric Pharmacy (BCPPS) or eligibility within 1 year of hire

Related Work Experience:                     Pediatric inpatient and outpatient experience

Licensure/Certification:                         Pharmacist credentialed from the Illinois Board of Pharmacy obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date required.

CPR required:                                       Effective 7/1/2026 New hires will obtain RQI BLS within 30 days of hire or prior to direct patient care and will maintain certification quarterly. 

PALS required:                                     New hires will obtain RQI PALS within 6 months of hire and will maintain certification quarterly.

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

La Rabida is a place unlike any other. We understand the needs of families with children dealing with the most serious or complicated of conditions. With teams of the best healthcare providers in Chicago, we give continuous, comprehensive care, education, and support, helping families face their unique obstacles head-on.   

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is very proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.