Pharmacy Practice Coordinator-Operating Room and Controlled Substances

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 health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees.

Ready to join our quest for better?

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.

Assists Pharmacy Manager with operational aspects of the department. Staffs as well as coordinates work flow therefore must: interpret physician prescriptions and medication orders; act as a drug information resource to patients, medical staff, nursing staff and ancillary department personnel; compound and dispense prescribed medications and other pharmaceuticals for patient care by performing the related duties.

• Supports operating room and procedural area pharmacy services including OR pharmacy satellite inventory management, ADC inventory for OR and procedural support areas, and controlled substance monitoring and reconciliation
• Maintains working knowledge of regulatory requirements of controlled substance handling and management and addresses gaps in those requirements to assure full compliance
• Supports diversion prevention and detection initiatives
• Assists with employee disciplinary processes in collaboration with the manager
• Completes and reviews payroll for manager approval/supports management team with approving timecards for all employees within service line/department
• Participates in Environment of Care Rounds
• Ensures compliance with pharmaceutical waste collection and disposal procedures
• Maintains ongoing quality data collection systems that enable monitoring of service levels
• Maintains knowledge and uses appropriate resources to provide educational, technical, or information services as needed for staff and patients
• Supports establishing operations dashboard goals, metrics and reporting
• Supports automated dispensing cabinets (ADC) implementation, inventory management, and controlled substance monitoring and reconciliation
• Supports inventory management and medication storage within the ADCs
• Issues controlled substances to patient care areas and maintains records as required by law as evidenced by count discrepancies and findings from periodic audits. Oversees monthly audits of CII safe.
• Supports medication preparation and dispensing from the automated dispensing carousels
• Designs and implements staff educations and training
• Maintains education and competency records
• Supports pharmacy residency programs and participates in educational activities for PGY-1 pharmacy residents.
• Fulfills all the responsibilities, qualifications, license/certification, and education/experience of a Clinical Pharmacist ensuring the safe, efficacious, and cost-effective utilization of all drug therapies
• 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
• Implements and maintains pharmacy services that are an integral part of the care delivery systems of Northwestern Medicine including, but not limited to, implementation of new technology and the provision of pharmacy services that will improve patient care, patient safety, and economic outcomes
• 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 workflow problems
• Works along…