About Us:

At Sinai Chicago, we take health care personally. Excellence in health care is about more than just medicine, technology, tests and treatments, it is about really caring for people with dignity and respect. That’s what we do. We are dedicated to providing the best care to meet the needs of people, for our community, for our patients and for you.

Position Purpose:

Reporting to the Medication Safety Officer and Director Inpatient Pharmacy, the Controlled Substance Surveillance Pharmacist is an individual contributor who will be primarily responsible to monitor and track closed loop accountability for controlled substances throughout Sinai Chicago Health System. The position proactively supports the system wide Controlled Substance Surveillance program by conducting audits and investigations, driving discrepancies and variances to zero, maintaining reports and dashboards, training staff for CS workflow, and demonstrating regulatory readiness.

Key Job Activities:

• Identify and implement best practice for controlled substance accountability and diversion prevention
• Conduct mock DEA audits biannually
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance with standards across the health system including acute care hospitals and ambulatory care clinics
• Develop and revise policies and procedures to align with regulatory standards
• Actively track, escalate, and resolve discrepancies at the automated dispensing cabinets working with the Controlled Substance Surveillance technician
• Review controlled substance surveillance software for variances and other irregularities and follow up for resolution in a timely manner. Identify and report medication errors found on review of controlled substance documentation
• Analyze data and compile findings from CS reports, audits, and investigations quarterly to identify patterns and trends. Reports are complete and accurate
• Audits pharmacy processes related to controlled substances including transfers to IV room or secondary vault, IV batch audits and delivery audits
• Oversee the reconciliation of controlled substance orders, invoices, with shipments and stock received into the controlled substance management cabinet (CSM)
• Conduct structured investigations of possible controlled substance diversion in a timely manner, compile accurate reports of the investigation for leadership and maintains easily accessible records
• Facilitate and document Drug Diversion Prevention Team meetings
• Complete monthly controlled substance dashboard and related reports in a timely manner, in a form suitable for presentation to leadership
• Train new staff including Pharmacy, Nursing, and Anesthesia on proper procedures for controlled substance dispensing, returns, wasting, and resolution of discrepancies
• Provide ongoing training, coaching, and mentoring of staff for controlled substance workflow and documentation
• Oversee the removal of expired/defective medications from CSM and audits liquids in CSM monthly
• Oversee the completion CSM and secondary vault cycle counts on a monthly basis
• Provide project management and overall facilitation for prioritizing and advocating controlled substance initiatives related to the design and implementation of systems and processes that support controlled substance accountability.
• Standardize controlled substance workflows, as much as possible, across all Sinai entities supporting operational and clinical needs
• Oversee automated medication dispensing systems and assists in monitoring and optimizing all pharmacy automation and technology, including software and hardware as it pertains to controlled substances. Works alongside the Director of Pharmacy, Informatics Pharmacist and Medication Safety Officer to ensure optimized inventory management and standardization of technology.
• Monitor controlled substance recalls, shortages, and allocation processes to ensure that these situations are communicated to clinicians and substitutions do not produce medication safety risks for patients
• Assist with Opioid Stewardship reports and projects
• Maintain confidentiality regarding issues related to patient care and hospital operations
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education and Work Experience:

• Graduate of a college of Pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) required
• Doctor of Pharmacy and hospital residency highly preferred
• 3 years of hospital or health system experience required

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience Preferred in EPIC and MEDITECH software systems
• Well versed and continues to maintain current in knowledge of federal and Illinois law as it relates to controlled substances to ensure compliance with Federal and Illinois State law and DEA requirements
• Maintain current knowledge of best practices related to the use of controlled substances including optimal pain management, opioid stewardship, and prevention of substance abuse
• Maintain current in knowledge of federal and Illinois law as it relates to controlled substances to ensure compliance with Federal and Illinois State law and DEA requirements
• Ability to prioritize workload and multitask, strives to make good use of time; works to complete all tasks within usual time frames, recognizes when additional effort is needed, takes action without being asked, and assists others as requested
• Proficient computer and analytic skills
• Professional and effective writing and verbal communication skills
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft office (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Knowledge of Pharmacy IT Automation and wholesaler ordering software

Certifications/Licenses:

• Licensed as a Registered Pharmacist in the State of Illinois