Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Medication Safety and Quality

About the role

The Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Medication Safety and Quality works with the Senior Associate Director for Safety and Quality to assure and promote the safe use of medications at UI Health. This position requires interdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare providers with medication-related responsibilities (e.g., physicians, nurses, pharmacists, quality management, safety and risk management) to investigate, measure, analyze and improve the safety of the organization's medication use system.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction for the safety of the organization’s medication system as a member of the Medication System Review Committee (MSRC).
• Participate in medication system monitoring program for the ordering, distribution, administration and monitoring of medications at UI Health. Includes indicator development, auditing, evaluation, and feedback; process improvement recommendations; and staff education initiatives.
• Designs, implements and monitors the effectiveness of process improvements related to the medication use process.
• Direct involvement in ensuring the ongoing safety of UI Health’s electronic health record (EHR) as it pertains to medication use.
• Review medication error/adverse drug event literature, including the Institute for Safe Medication Practices' Medication Safety Alert! newsletter, to proactively address potential issues in the organization.
• Review Medication Occurrence reports and Adverse Drug Reaction reports to identify potential system improvements and educational needs.
• Identify potential issues that may warrant root cause analysis (RCA) or failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and bring to the attention of the Senior Associate Director for Safety and Quality.
• Ensure the development of new or revision of existing medication-related policy and procedures, clinical care guidelines and protocols when warranted.
• Provide medication safety information for inclusion in newsletters and other educational efforts for staff education.
• Participate in on-the-job training of clinical pharmacists, clinical staff pharmacists, pharmacy residents, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy externs and pharmacy managers related to medication safety, incorporating the mission statement, goals, and objectives of the department as appropriate.
• Participate in the development/assessment of a pharmacy quality program that monitors and ensures the integrity and safety of the services provided by the department.
• Assimilate the mission statement, goals, and objectives of the department into the departmental quality program.
• Assess departmental compliance with quality indicators through review of audits performed on these indicators.
• Collaborate with staff and managers to address any significant problems identified during audits.
• Recommend improvement strategies regarding issues identified in audits and provide assistance for action plan implementation.
• Develop, generate, share and analyze reports from available data sources to facilitate quality improvement activities related to the medication use process.
• Assist Senior Associate Director for Safety and Quality in regulatory compliance issues as needed.
• Supervise departmental training programs for new clinical pharmacists, clinical staff pharmacists, technicians and externs to ensure up-to-date training materials.
• Participate in the education of pharmacy staff, nursing staff, medical staff, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Participate in UI Health and departmental staff development activities by designing, evaluating and providing inservices and continuing education programs and by serving as a preceptor and role model.
• Participate in the education of PharmD students, PGY1 and PGY2 residents, pharmacy fellows and other pharmacy staff by serving as a preceptor and role model as defined by the guidelines and requirements of the Department of Pharmacy Practice.

Qualifications

• PharmD degree from an ACPE accredited Doctor of Pharmacy Program.
• Must present evidence of, or eligibility for, Illinois licensure as a professional pharmacist by start date.
• Must possess knowledge and skills such that they qualify for a non-tenured clinical faculty position within the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the UIC College of Pharmacy.
• Academic rank commensurate with experience.
• Evidence of expertise in Medication/Patient Safety e.g., CPPS Certification or equivalent.

Skills

• Strong clinical knowledge base.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate flexibility and ability to work independently and adapt to a changing work environment.
• Excellent planning, time management and organizational skills.

Benefits

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. These include Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.