Ass't Director, Pharmacy- Inpatient - Chicago, IL, United States - University of Chicago Medical Center

Description

Job Description

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system,UChicago Medicine, as a Assitant Director of Inpatient Pharmacy. This Assistant Director in Pharmacy will be based in Comer Children's Hospital and will oversee the operations of the Comer Hospital central pharmacy operations as well as lead the Comer Hospital Pediatric Specialist Pharmacists. Assistant Directors of Pharmacy are registered pharmacists responsible for leading personnel, financial, operational, clinical, and research resources within the Department of Pharmacy Services at Comer Children's to assure medication use is safe, effective, and aligned with evidence-based best practices and regulatory standards. Through various assignments within the department, these leaders manage pharmacy distributive services, facilitate drug utilization initiatives, integrate clinical pharmacy programs, oversee pharmacy information systems, advance medication safety, and assure regulatory compliance. Assistant Directors of Pharmacy also directly manage the activities of pharmacists and technicians and are actively involved in their areas of oversight to assure pharmacy staff remain competent and engaged in customer service, standardized work, and lean processes. These leaders are proficient in project management and proactively use data analysis techniques to track, benchmark, and communicate the outcomes of their areas to assure operational, clinical quality, and financial targets are achieved.

Job Summary

As members of the pharmacy management team, Assistant Directors of Pharmacy collaborate with management peers to support all pharmacy operations and programs. They assist in the development of goals for the department and work with other managers and key individuals such as physicians, nurses, and other hospital personnel to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals. Assistant Directors of Pharmacy work closely with institutional leaders to establish quality infrastructures within the department and advance pharmacy services throughout the medical center. They also actively identify practice related issues which require evaluation and facilitate research projects, quality improvement initiatives, or healthcare provider education as needed to advance practice. Assistant Directors of Pharmacy also precept student and resident experiences and lead the development of pharmacy staff training competencies. In short, Assistant Directors of Pharmacy set and model the standard for excellence for pharmacy practice and design pharmacy programs to collaboratively advance the Comprehensive Pharmacy Practice model.

Job Duties

Directs assigned pharmacy areas and programs:

Manages personnel, financial, distributive, and clinical resources and oversees operations of assigned areas

Ensures drug utilization activities as well as medication preparation and distribution systems are aligned with patient care needs, evidence-based best practices, and regulatory standards

Oversees relevant automation to assure safe, efficient, accurate, and reliable medication processes

Designs initiatives to maximize efficiency of assigned areas and integrates methodologies such as just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing as well as Lean, Six Sigma, and standard work principles

Designs and implements new pharmacy programs, quality improvement changes, and continuous quality assurance initiatives to advance medication-use systems and promote optimal patient outcomes

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 research projects, quality improvement initiatives, or healthcare provider education as needed to advance practice

Identifies and resolves short- and long-term obstacles to patient care and medication safety, regulatory compliance, or stewardship of resources

Develops and oversees policies and procedures for drug purchasing, usage, distribution, and control

Assists with preparation of an annual budget and manages assigned budgets and financial resources including designing and implementing stewardship, cost control, and restriction/surveillance programs

Provides departmental and institutional leadership for medical staff committees/meetings, hospital groups/task forces, and approved external programs/organizations

Manages activities of pharmacy staff:

Maintain competent staff by coordinating training for new employees, coaching, and mentoring of all employees, and routine communication to staff

Leads recruitment, interview, and hiring processes for staff in assigned areas

Develops a harmonious and satisfied staff by providing educational and experiential growth opportunities (including mandatory in-services), and taking actions that maintain morale

Develops standards of performance and evaluates staff work and program performance

Provides positive/constructive feedback, counseling regarding job performance including employee discipline if needed and preparation of staff evaluations

Establishes annual performance goals and completes performance appraisals for assigned employees

Manages staff development, performance improvement, and rewards/recognition programs for staff

Maintains appropriate staffing levels of personnel within established budgetary parameters

Assigns roles of staff and manages the day to day staffing and scheduling of assigned areas

Manages staff scheduling, daily assignments, and employee time off to assure appropriate coverage of pharmacy programs and patient care services

Approves staff time off in accordance with policy and procedures and maintains master staff calendar

Ensures consistent departmental operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing department, hospital and personnel policies and procedures

Organizes space, equipment, and services to meet the needs of patients and other customers

Providing oversight and direction for all central distribution services, including staffing shifts in the central pharmacy (approximately one day per week)

Provides pharmaceutical services & participates in pharmacy programs:

Maintains proficiency in and actively engages in operational and clinical pharmacy programs as appropriate for job assignment

Maintains proficiency in hospital computer systems and medication ordering systems

Identifies, mitigates, prevents, and documents problems with medication orders or therapeutic regimens, including medication errors or adverse drug reactions

Effectively and efficiently utilizes pharmacy automation and supportive technology

Communicates effectively and appropriately with healthcare providers and caregivers (physicians, nurses, etc.) and assures continuity of pharmaceutical care between shifts and among staff

Follows established standard work parameters and maintains standard work environments

Provides timely, comprehensive, and appropriate drug information to patients and healthcare providers

Actively participates in stewardship activities and restricted medication programs

Documents pharmacist interventions in Epic (iVent)

Delivers optimal patient care and clinical practice, including decentralized and service-based programs:

Places practice priority on the delivery of patient-centered care

Works as an active member of multidisciplinary team and collaborates with healthcare providers within decentralized patient care areas

Establishes collaborative pharmacist-patient relationships

Identifies high-risk patients and implements interventions to improve quality and safety

Makes appropriate evidence-based, patient-centered medication recommendations

Implements, evaluates, and redesigns pharmaceutical care plans utilized by Specialists to optimize medication usage, including drug dosing, monitoring (including nutritional support, pharmacokinetic monitoring, and anticoagulation therapy, etc.)

Provides evidence-based medication education to physicians, nurses, and other professionals

Facilitates experiential education and practice advancement:

Maintains proficiency in the four preceptor roles and actively emulates education/mentorship skills

Serves as a preceptor/educator for UCMC pharmacy residency and student experiential education programs, including maintaining training and experience in pharmacy practice areas appropriate for teaching assignments

Develops student, resident, and staff training experiences/competencies and creates new relationships for teaching and training opportunities

Identifies, designs, and implements improvements in the medication use system to advance patient safety, maximize therapeutic outcomes, or control costs

Represents the department at hospital meetings, committees, and events as requested

Required Job Qualifications:

Graduate of an ACPE accredited college of Pharmacy

Eligible for licensure as a pharmacist in the state of Illinois (complete licensure process within 60 days of employment)

Completion of ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice, PGY-2 Pediatric Specialty Pharmacy, or PGY-2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency or a minimum of 4 years of experience in the field of pediatric pharmacy

Clinical, operational, and administrative experience (3 years) in a hospital setting

Exceptional aptitude or knowledge may be considered in lieu of experience. Extensive clinical experience and development may be considered in lieu of formal training

Personal leadership qualities and business acumen essential to operate effectively within the institution and advance the profession and practice of pharmacy

Preferred Job Qualifications:

Doctor of Pharmacy or other advanced degree required. MHA, MBA, Master of Science, or other advanced degree

Pharmacy leadership experience required, with formal leadership training or supervisory experience

Board Certification in area of expertise is strongly encouraged

Must comply with UCMC's COVID-19 Vaccination requirement as a condition of employment. If you have already received the vaccination, you must provide proof as part of the pre-employment process. This is in addition to your compliance with the Flu Vaccination requirement as well. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered consistent with applicable law. Lastly, a pre-employment physical, drug screening, and background check are also required for all employees prior to hire.

Why Join 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, The University of Chicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we're doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

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Bring your career to the next level at a hospital that is thriving; from patient satisfaction to employee engagement, we are at the Forefront of Medicine. Take advantage of all we have to offer and #BringYourPassiontotheForefront.

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The University of Chicago Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual ori