Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Informatics

About Northwestern Medicine

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of purpose-driven colleagues committed to delivering world-class care. You'll collaborate with top clinical talent, leading medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. We value diverse perspectives, support career growth through comprehensive training, mentorship, educational support, and student loan repayment. Enjoy flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund, and a Total Rewards package designed to support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being. Make a difference through volunteer opportunities and inclusive change via workforce-led resource groups. Join us to help shape the future of medicine, from discovery to delivery.

Role Overview: Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Informatics

The Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy Informatics at Northwestern Memorial Hospital embodies the mission, vision, and values of NM, adhering to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complying with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulatory and accreditation standards.

This role is crucial for identifying, preventing, and resolving medication-related problems, providing authoritative information to healthcare professionals, patients, and the public. You will ensure that informational, clinical, and drug distribution components of pharmacy services function as an integrated system, delivering patient-centered care to the patients and staff of Northwestern Medicine.

The Department of Pharmacy aims to deliver the safest, highest quality, most effective, and efficient patient care, while developing top talent, advancing research, and integrating pharmacy services across the Northwestern Medicine enterprise. The vision is to be a recognized national leader in advancing the pharmacy enterprise through excellence, innovation, education, and research.

Key Responsibilities

• Interprets medication orders to ensure safety, proper use, and to identify incompatibilities, duplications, allergies, and potential administration errors.
• Coordinates the resolution of medication-related problems among pharmacy, nursing, and prescribers, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment.
• Monitors medication therapy for significant drug-drug, drug-diet, or drug-laboratory test interactions, intervening when necessary with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic expertise.
• Evaluates and documents medication appropriateness for desired therapeutic outcomes, communicating potential problems and solutions to prescribers.
• Acts as a consultant for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals on pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions, participating in therapeutic drug monitoring programs.
• Processes all medication order information accurately into the Electronic Health Record for comprehensive record-keeping and charging.
• Maintains a comprehensive pharmacy patient profile including age, weight, allergies, diagnosis, and pharmacokinetic parameters.
• Oversees the packaging, labeling, and distribution of medications, monitoring scheduled medication use and maintaining controlled inventories.
• Compounds and dispenses pharmaceuticals, including sterile products, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition.
• Verifies medication orders before delivery, resolving discrepancies to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Reviews laboratory data, including microbial culture and sensitivity, toxicology, and therapeutic drug monitoring, to recommend medication changes.
• Develops and presents orientation, education, and training programs for various medical, nursing, hospital, and pharmacy staff, as well as students, residents, and fellows.
• Educates patients and their families about specific medications.
• Responds to emergency situations to assist with medication management, such as cardiac arrests.
• Provides accurate and timely medication information to healthcare professionals and patients.
• Maintains the hospital formulary, limiting medication usage to formulary items when appropriate.
• Documents all clinical activities and interventions, collecting data, maintaining logs, records, and other departmental documentation.
• Communicates professional knowledge effectively in both oral and written forms.
• Participates in quality improvement and medication use review activities.
• Organizes, prioritizes, and plans workload, cooperatively directing technician activities to achieve departmental objectives.
• Reviews restocking of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) and resolves issues.
• Ensures compliance with hazardous waste collection and disposal procedures.
• Maintains proficiency through continuous professional development.
• Performs all other job duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Active Clinical Pharmacist license in the state of Illinois (IDFPR).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree.

Preferred

• Training and knowledge in specialty areas (e.g., neonatology, critical care, oncology).
• Completion of a pharmacy residency program or equivalent hospital pharmacy experience.

Benefits

Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers a wide range of benefits to improve physical, emotional, and financial well-being, including protection for unexpected life events. Key benefits include:

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time).
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time).
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time).
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time).
• Matching 401(k).
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus.
• Paid time off and Holiday pay.

Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are generally not eligible for a sign-on bonus, with exceptions for new graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position.

Key skills/competency

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Pharmacy Informatics
• Medication Management
• Patient Safety
• Pharmacokinetics
• Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Drug Distribution
• Sterile Compounding
• Patient Education
• Formulary Management