Pharmacy Technician Specialist - Quality Improvement, Retzky College of Pharmacy

Pharmacy Technician Specialist - Quality Improvement, Retzky College of Pharmacy

Hiring Department: Ambulatory Pharmacy Services

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1043394

FTE: 1

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM

Shift: Days

# of Positions: 1

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $34.91 - 46.99 / Hourly Wage

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

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

The Pharmacy Technician Specialist, QI assists with the coordination and implementation of the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Unit's quality improvement program and helps assure compliance to all regulatory standards. The Pharmacy Technician Specialist, QI assists with the coordination of training and orientation of all new pharmacy technicians, pharmacy externs, pharmacists, and other pharmacy staff.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Communications

• Interact with pharmacy technicians, externs, and pharmacists to maintain continuous quality improvement as related to program activities.
• Act as a liaison to effectively communicate with the Pharmacy Information System (IS) team and patient care providers on FDA medication drug recalls, market withdrawals, and notifications in compliance with all state and federal requirements.
• Manage communication about audit results, reporting, and compliance follow-up procedures between Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, on-site clinics, and off-site clinics.
• Attend meetings to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy staff, UI Health Communities, and outside partnerships within UI Health to facilitate the successful completion of special projects.

Compliance

• Responsible for pharmacy compliance with departmental policies/procedures, state, and federal laws, The Joint Commission (TJC), and other legal, regulatory, and professional standards regarding medication use and safety.
• Provide training documentation of the successful completion of training to the pharmacy managers as required for pharmacy technicians, pharmacy externs, pharmacists, and other pharmacy staff as applicable to assure compliance with state laws.
• Ensure Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Unit compliance to all annual Learning Management System (LMS) modules and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) training requirements.
• Function as a resource through interdisciplinary pharmacy and hospital committees to ensure compliance with external departments, University Health Services (UHS), Office of Continuing Education and Meeting Services (OCEMS) Department, and Nursing Department.

Quality Improvement (QI)

• Develop protocols for new QI audits.
• Identify and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of QI audits, evaluate data, and prepare scheduled reports of quality improvement indicators/metrics to Assistant Director.
• Assist and support the policy committee with reviewing and updating the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Policies.
• Monitor, audit and perform random quality inspections on drug boxes, crash carts, medication refrigerators to assess quality levels in the UI Health Ambulatory Clinics for the purpose of assuring proper drug storage, expired medication, and adherence to the Ambulatory Care Policy, as required.
• Collaborate with the WAM/Safety Committee monthly and discuss safe medication practices to reduce patient harm from medication hazards and errors, medication error prevention, and medication error reporting practices.

Auditing/Reporting

• Conduct audits of various data sources, and coordinate documentation records to assure compliance with state and federal laws, and The Joint Commission (TJC) standards.
• Collect and review monthly data from pharmacy managers/lead technicians to compose complete, accurate databases and logs.
• Coordinate data collection to provide information and statistics related to operational and financial performance within the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Unit and summarize data to report to the Assistant Director and pharmacy managers.
• Create, interpret, and prepare reports on quality control issues and recommend corrective action plans to staff, pharmacy managers, committee, and Assistant Director.
• Evaluate data and review status of compliance for Medication Management Standards to the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Nursing Operations Committee and provide clinic managers with both short-term resolutions and long-term action plans.

Staff Training

• Conduct, oversee, coordinate, and train staff on the completion of monthly medication area inspections for UI Health clinics to ensure compliance with the Ambulatory Care policies, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulations, and TJC Medication Management Standards.
• Supervise, coordinate, and evaluate the duties and functions performed by the Quality Improvement Extern within the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy.
• Provide unit orientation to new hire employees to Ambulatory Care Pharmacy customer service standards and policies and procedures including UI Health behavioral values.
• Identify, develop, implement, and track training and certification programs for pharmacy technicians, pharmacy externs, pharmacists, and other pharmacy staff.
• Assist in the coordination of the unit’s pharmacy mentoring programs with high school students as needed.
• Assist with the planning and coordination of training, continuing education, staff development activities, and Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Unit orientation.

Administrative

• Implement and check performance standards, evaluation processes and procedures used for tracking training and certification programs for pharmacy staff.
• Organize records and databases to ensure an efficient system during audits.
• Assist with the screening, interviewing, and selection process of pharmacy extern candidates for the QI extern position.
• Perform other duties to assist the pharmacy unit as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

1. Five (5) years experience of progressively more responsible experience comparable to that gained at the Pharmacy Technician III level
2. Current registration as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
3. State of Illinois Pharmacy Technician License

To Apply: For fullest consideration click on the Apply Now button, please fully complete all sections of the online application including adding your full work history with specific details of your duties & responsibilities for each position held. Fully complete the education, licensure, certification and language sections. You may upload a resume, cover letter, certifications, licensures, transcripts and diplomas within the application.

Please note that once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. In order to revise your application you must withdraw and reapply. You will not be able to reapply after the posting close date. Please ensure the application is fully completed and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date. Illinois Residency is required.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.