At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Pharmacy Manager 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.

This position manages a Joint Commission accredited and licensed sterile compounding facility that provides home infusion, specialty home infusion, and durable medical equipment (DME) services to post-acute and ambulatory patients across the health system. The department partners closely with NM hospitals and clinics, in addition to nursing agencies, to ensure the safe and effective provision of care in alternate sites. As insurance companies, patients, and providers continue to strengthen their support for home and alternate site infusion, this integrated operating unit continues to experience exciting and impactful growth. Be a part of the movement to optimize access to innovative care for Northwestern Medicine patients! The future is bright!

Responsibilities

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the home infusion pharmacy; an integrated business unit (home infusion, specialty home infusion, and durable medical equipment supplier) of Northwestern Medicine. Supports the post-acute and ambulatory needs of the health system.
• Oversees the safety and integrity of USP<797> sterile compounding operations. Ensures compliance to USP and Joint Commission standards. Maintains departmental policies and procedures.
• Oversees critical elements of state licensure and federal regulations such as record keeping, inventory management, audits, and renewals. Functions as the pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) for the organization.
• Identifies areas for operational efficiencies as it pertains to workflows, configuration of dispensing software, IV dose forms, and delineation of responsibilities.
• Provides support to home infusion personnel: pharmacists, technicians, nurses, intake specialists, utilization management specialists, and dieticians. Creates linkages across the health system with many other stakeholders to accomplish goals of the Patient’s First mission.
• Manages subcontracted relationships with vendors such as courier and infusion nursing services.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Set clear expectations for continuous quality and service improvement.  Uses internal and external benchmark data and best practices to establish specific targets, timelines and metrics for improvement projects.
• Encourages those who identify problems, potential solutions and opportunities for improvement.  Supports and empowers staff in piloting new ideas and solutions.
• Creates an environment of partnership, collaboration, seamless quality and service enhancement across teams, departments and divisions of the organization.
• Stays informed of current and emerging issues and trends for areas of accountability, Northwestern Medicine organization and healthcare industry.
• Communicates and educates staff on requirements, changes, advances, opportunities, directions and projections for the future.
• Thinks and acts in ways that support Northwestern Medicine strategy, vision and plans. Identifies opportunities for new business growth and development, expansion of current services, etc.
• Practices fiscal accountability. Encourages staff and team accountability by involving them in budget preparation, identifying ideas for increasing efficiency, cost savings, developing and growing the business and existing services.
• Measures and monitors budget and business development plans; provides ongoing updates to staff.
• Achieves or exceeds budget and business growth and profitability targets.
• Makes effective hiring decisions; completes the 90-day In Sync orientation process for new employees.
• Identifies staff's individual skills and interests; provides timely, positive, constructive feedback; addresses performance gaps as they occur with clear action plans and timelines for improvement.
• Supports ongoing learning and skill development for self and staff; provides coaching and mentoring; assigns stretch goals, cross-training and other opportunities for career development within Northwestern Medicine.
• Involves staff in planning and decision-making as appropriate. Holds staff accountable for follow-through and results.
• Facilitates change readiness and agility among staff and teams.
• Uses timely, effective communication methods to update staff on departmental and organizational priorities and progress.
• Creates a culture of respectful communication by listening, demonstrating approachability, practicing meeting, voicemail and e-mail courtesy.
• Asks for staff input; encourages diverse perspectives and solutions, drawing from staff, peers, physicians, patients and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively across departments and sectors of organization; within all levels of management; with patients, visitors, other customers, etc.
• Acknowledges and celebrates individual and team contributions.
• Ensures that Pharmacy staff is professional when interacting with Nursing and Physicians.
• Continually explores innovative methods of increasing the Pharmacy's value to the hospital.
• Co-chairs the Pharmacy/Nursing committee.
• Ensures that the Pharmacy is properly staffed and all phone calls are answered promptly and courteously.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and educates staff about same.
• Has good knowledge of various technology in the department in order to train and oversee the proper use.
• Keeps abreast of advancements and enhancements for current and future technology systems.
• Proactively identifies workflow opportunities with technological solutions.
• Serves as a knowledgeable drug information resource for various patient age groups.
• Ensures the emergency drugs as approved by the medical staff are in adequate proper supply within the Pharmacy and in the designated hospital areas.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety.
• Systematically identifies and mitigates patient safety risks and hazards with an integrated approach to driving down and decreasing incidences of preventable patient harm.

Required:

• Doctor of Pharmacy from an accredited College of Pharmacy.
• Licensure: IL licensure as a Pharmacist (R. Ph.)
• 5-years of experience in home infusion, acute care, or specialty pharmacy

Preferred:

• 3-years of experience as a supervisor or coordinator
• Successful completion of accredited Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY-1) Pharmacy Practice Residency and Post-Graduate Year 2 (PGY-2) Pharmacy Residency in Administration
• Board Certification by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS)
• Master of Business or Healthcare Administration

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer 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.