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.

Under the direction of the Manager, the Pharmacy Practice Coordinator has the authority and accountability for facilitating the daily operations and delivery of quality service within designated practice areas. In addition, the Practice Coordinator is responsible for translating Northwestern Medicine goals into the Work Unit/Department short and long term plans, working with managers for definition and implementation of clinical and distributive services, pharmaceutical educational programs, financial, and personnel management.

Responsibilities:

• Supports investigational medication receipt, transfer, and storage.
• Ensures support for investigational drug accountability, drug protocol close-out, and drug return/ destruction.
• Assures pharmacy regulatory/ research compliance, auditing, and quality assurance (institutional, state, and federal)
• Supports working relationships with the NMHC office of research, IRB, and Northwestern University research personnel.
• Supports the implementation and maintenance of the electronic investigational management software.
• Supports establishing investigational drug services dashboard goals, metrics, and reporting.
• Legal and Regulatory:
  • 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
• Pharmacy Services:
  • Implementing and maintaining pharmacy services that are an integral part of the care delivery systems of Northwestern Medicine
  • Implementation of new technology and the provision of pharmacy services that will improve patient care, patient safety and economic outcomes
  • Fulfills all the responsibilities, qualifications, license/certification, and education/experience of a Clinical Pharmacist
  • 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 work flow 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.
• Leadership and Management:
  • 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 the onboarding of new team members
  • Provide feedback to manager for 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.
  • Supports trainees, including fellows, residents, and students along with daily operational and clinical needs in areas of responsibility
  • 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.
• Safety/Quality Management:
  • 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 Committees
  • 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 and procedure making
  • Lead and participates in performance improvement projects by adopting process improvement methodologies and working with interdisciplinary leadership
  • Review error reports and collaborate with team members to prevent future errors from occurring.
• Financial Management:
  • 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
• Education/Staff Development:
  • Actively participates and provides direction in the planning of post-graduate training in pharmacy that meets the ASHP accreditation standards
  • Provides opportunities for educational programming and coordinates technical and pharmacist staff participation in such programs to promote continued professional development

Required:

• Graduate of an accredited college of Pharmacy
• Licensed Pharmacist in Illinois
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Pharmacist in a health care institution or equivalent advanced Pharmacy residency training
• Proven success in managing operations, personnel, quality functions, and the professional aspects of pharmacy practice
• Evidence of effective communication skills both oral and written with all levels of internal and external customers

Preferred:

• Experience normally acquired through at least 5 years of pharmacy experience in a health care institution

• Completion of an accredited Pharmacy Residency