COMPLIANCE

Cook County•Chicago, IL

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The System Assistant Director of Pharmacy oversees the Cook County Health (CCH) Pharmacy quality improvement program, regulatory compliance, and staff development, under the direction of the Senior Director of Pharmacy. This position also serves as the Medication Safety Officer for the System Pharmacies and is responsible for coordinating the adverse drug reaction reporting program and assuming a leadership role in the medication error reporting program. Collaboration with health care providers across System facilities is required to measure and improve the safety of the System's medication systems. The role involves significant general administrative responsibilities including reviewing applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements, consulting with Labor Relations to generate management proposals, participating in collective bargaining negotiations, and documenting, recommending, and effectuating discipline at all levels. The Assistant Director will work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to enforce Collective Bargaining Agreements, initiate disciplinary action, and direct CCH management policies and practices. This position contributes to the management of CCH staff and systemic development, discusses and develops CCH system policy and procedure, and uses independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues, performing functions such as hiring, transferring, suspending, laying off, recalling, promoting, discharging, assigning, directing, or disciplining employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements, and working with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary.

Requirements

Registered as a Licensed Pharmacist, in good standing, by the State of Illinois, Department of Professional Regulation.
Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from an accredited college of pharmacy accredited by the ACPE.
At least two (2) years of full-time work experience as a pharmacist within a hospital or retail pharmacy environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with pharmacy quality assurance, pharmacy audits, JCAHO and regulatory surveys.
Experience with 340B regulations.
Past experience in dealing with labor unions as a staff pharmacist or supervisor.
Past experience with developing new programs and staff training.
Membership and participation in local, state, and national pharmacy associations.

Responsibilities

Oversees the development/assessment of a pharmacy quality program that monitors and ensures the integrity and safety of the services provided by CCH pharmacies.
Assimilates the mission statement, goals and objectives of CCH into the departmental quality program.
Assesses departmental compliance with quality indicators through review of audits performed on these indicators.
Alerts pharmacy management to significant problems identified during audits.
Recommends improvement strategies to pharmacy management regarding issues identified in audits and provides assistance for action plan implementation.
Reviews, revises, adds, and deletes audits or indicators as needed.
Provides direction for the safety of CCH's medication systems.
Coordinates a medication system monitoring program for the ordering, distribution, administration, and monitoring of medication used.
Directs involvement in ensuring the ongoing safety of the computerized provider order entry system for electronic ordering of patient medications.
Reviews medication error/adverse drug event literature, including the Institute of Safe Medication Practice's Medication Safety Alerts, to proactively address potential issues in the medical center.
Reviews Medication Occurrence reports and Adverse Drug Reaction Reports to identify potential system improvements and educational needs.
Identifies potential issues that may warrant root cause analysis (RCA) or failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and bring to the attention of the Drug and Formulary Committee (D&F) for authorization.
Performs a Root Cause analysis at the direction of the D&F Committee or a FMEA as recommended.
Oversees the development of new or revision of existing medication - related policy and procedures.
Provides medication safety information for inclusion in newsletters and other educational efforts for staff education.
Evaluates and procure commercially available medication and patient safety related educational materials including video and audio tapes, computer-assisted instructional programs, printed materials, etc.
Provides medication safety in-services.
Develops a structured approach for the post graduate on-the-job training of pharmacist practitioners, pharmacotherapists, pharmacy residents, technicians and managers related to medication safety, incorporating the mission statement, goals, and objectives of the department where appropriate.
Oversees training programs for new pharmacotherapists, pharmacists and technicians.
Ensures maintenance of training files for all employees, documenting participation and adherence to Illinois laws, accreditation, organizations, i.e., The Joint Commission, and departmental policy.
Tracks license and certification compliance for employees, pharmacies, and special programs.
Works with patients and pharmacy staff in a routine clinic setting to monitor staff develops needs and current medication safety practices and processes.
Participates in CCH committees as assigned.
Serves as the content expert for JCAHO medication management standards.
Provides staff relevant education on the medication management standards.
Reports deficiencies in compliance to System Director of Pharmacy.
Recommends improvements to achieve compliance.
Ensures compliance with all JCAHO and CMS requirements.
Ensures compliance with all JCAHO Medication Management standards.
Assists in formulary evaluation/revision.
Attends Health System Pharmacy & Therapeutic Committee Drug and Formulary meetings.
Ensures drug distribution from pharmacy storerooms to hospital drug storage areas, ambulatory clinics, and public health are within regulatory requirements.
Review applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposals.
Participate in collective bargaining negotiations, caucus discussions and working meetings.
Document, recommend and effectuate discipline at all levels.
Work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to effectuate and enforce applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Initiate, authorize and complete disciplinary action pursuant to CCH system rules, policies, procedures and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Direct and effectuate CCH management policies and practices.
Access and proficiently navigate CCH records system to obtain and review information necessary to execute provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Contribute to the management of CCH staff and CCH’ systemic development and success.
Discuss and develop CCH system policy and procedure.
Consistently use independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues and needs and perform the following functions as necessary; hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, direct or discipline employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Work with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary.