Pharmacy Quality Specialist
Portland, OregonAs part of the pharmacy team with Kaiser Permanente, you’ll learn and grow as you help make a difference in the lives of everyone in our communities. Whether you’re working with patients, partnering with physicians, or collaborating with colleagues, you’ll play a key role in an information-rich environment. One where your development will be supported and your skills will be challenged as you work at the top of your license. If you want to explore opportunities beyond your role, we provide a wide array of professional growth opportunities to help our pharmacy team advance their skills and careers. If you believe in the continued pursuit of excellence, there’s no better place to put your beliefs into practice.
- Job Type: Full-time
- Job Level: Entry Level
- Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time
- Pay Range: $58100 - $75130 / year
Success Profile
We’re looking for Pharmacy team members who possess the following traits.
- Collaborative
- Compassionate
- Flexible
- Multi-Tasker
- Team Player
- Results Driven
Benefits
We offer several benefits to our pharmacy team.
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Health Care Benefits
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Compensation
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Vacation, Holiday & Sick Leave
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Labor Management Partnership
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Work-Life Balance
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Healthy Workforce
Our Culture
As part of the Kaiser Permanente pharmacy team, you’ll collaborate with other team members and physicians to continually evolve and enhance patient care. You can also take advantage of our electronic medical record systems and our integrated technology platforms. It’s a unique opportunity to drive the future of care for all while leveraging your expertise to improve the total health of our members.
What Our People Are Saying
Alex
Outpatient Pharmacy Operations Manager
“I’ve felt real support every step of the way throughout my pharmacy career. I would not be the pharmacist I am today if I was not empowered to practice kindness and compassion, and be allowed to be me. I feel blessed to have been a part of this organization for the past 16 years.”
Osagie
Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Supervisor
“I have had multiple growth opportunities at Kaiser Permanente. I started as a Summer Youth intern, then I worked as an Apothecary Circle intern. After that, I received two years of pharmacy residency training here. I’ve always been supported with substantial resources like tuition reimbursement, business resource groups, as well as coaching and mentorship programs.”
Porsha
Director, Inpatient Pharmacy Services
“I chose Kaiser Permanente because of its presence in our communities. We acknowledge, support, cultivate, and nourish the body, soul, and spirit of each patient, employee, and community member. I wanted to be a part of such a phenomenal organization.”
Robert
Manager, Mail Order Call Center
“They encouraged me to work outside of my comfort zone. Now, I’m on a career path I would have never expected. I enjoyed my pathway to get here and it’s been a challenge. It really helped me grow as a person and as an employee. Kaiser Permanente supported me to be the manager I am today.”
Georgina
Project Manager
“I joined Kaiser Permanente as a young mother with a family. I knew this was a stable company with great pay and benefits, and many opportunities to grow. I’ve always experienced flexibility and growth and we’re encouraged to serve our communities and to have a work-life balance.”
Michelle
Pharmacy Clerk
“When you join Kaiser Permanente, you have access to a wealth of experience in the health care industry. You’ll learn about more than medications. You’ll gain experience in customer service, data entry, and other valuable areas. I enjoy supporting our pharmacists and ensuring my patients receive the medications they need.”
Pharmacy Quality Specialist
Primary Location Portland, Oregon
Worker Location Flexible
Job Number 1272306 Date posted 04/16/2024
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Description:
The Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Specialist will perform the following activities: Lead the implementation and ongoing quality improvement initiatives regarding medication safety practices within the regional Pharmacy Department. Analyze, track, trend and prepare reports for medication event reports and near miss data.Provide support to the Medication Safety Committee and the Pharmacy Policy and Procedure Committee by assisting with initiatives and to review and edit documents as needed. Execute regular medication safety assessments in the clinics and pharmacies of KPNW and provide support to personnel by assisting in the clinic medication safety assessments. Assist with achieving patient safety goals and initiatives. Prepare for and assist to complete outside agency accreditation surveys. Observe and document work environments to report adherence to policy and procedures. Collaborate with Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Coordinator, pharmacy managers and staff, Quality Resource Management, Patient Safety Committee, Regional Medication Safety Committee, Pharmacy Medication Safety Committee, Nursing Practice Committee, Drug Utilization Initiative Team and other groups as needed to improve quality and medication safety. The Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Specialist will report directly to the Director of Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety.
Job Summary:
The Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Specialist will perform the following activities: Lead the implementation and ongoing quality improvement initiatives regarding medication safety practices within the regional Pharmacy Department. Analyze, track, trend and prepare reports for medication event reports and near miss data.Provide support to the Medication Safety Committee and the Pharmacy Policy and Procedure Committee by assisting with initiatives and to review and edit documents as needed. Execute regular medication safety assessments in the clinics and pharmacies of KPNW and provide support to personnel by assisting in the clinic medication safety assessments. Assist with achieving patient safety goals and initiatives. Prepare for and assist to complete outside agency accreditation surveys. Observe and document work environments to report adherence to policy and procedures. Collaborate with Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Coordinator, pharmacy managers and staff, Quality Resource Management, Patient Safety Committee, Regional Medication Safety Committee, Pharmacy Medication Safety Committee, Nursing Practice Committee, Drug Utilization Initiative Team and other groups as needed to improve quality and medication safety. The Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Specialist will report directly to the Director of Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Quality Improvement: Work closely with pharmacy personnel to complete all compliance and time requirements necessary to maintain safety and accreditation. Assist with the preparation for outside agency inspections, e.g.; NCQA, MDQR, The Joint Commission. Develop, conduct and/or coordinate quarterly Medication Safety Assessments for pharmacy and clinical areas. Assist with research and preparation of reports related to patient safety. Evaluate medication safety practices and implement interdisciplinary practice improvements. Effectively and efficiently work with interdisciplinary staff to implement quality improvement and medication safety initiatives. Facilitate Root Cause Analysis and Failure Modes Effects Analysis on issues identified for evaluation/education. Assess compliance with medication safety initiatives and policies and procedures. Assist in the coordination and implementation of the Patient Safety Reporting System and support a Blame Free Reporting culture. Analyze, track, trend and report medication events from patient safety reporting systems. Embrace, practice and promote the tenants of Just Culture in dealing with all confidential information regarding personnel involvement. Design and develop staff and patient educational materials to promote safe medication practices.
- Project Management: Assist with the completion of medication safety assessments in the clinical modules and pharmacies. Prepare, review and approve documents necessary for design, purchase of equipment and system changes related to medication safety. Responsible for designs and decisions in the preparation of projects from inception to completion. Oversee a wide variety of services requiring a high degree of skill in office methods and functions. Facilitate special department projects as required. Encourage and engage staff in promoting medication safety practices. Serve as a member of the Medication Safety Committee and other committees and workgroups with a focus on medication safety. Assist in the development, communication and staff education of medication safety initiatives.
- People, Relationships and Communications: Develop and maintain a collaborative and effective working relationship with staff and managers in a variety of practice settings. Assist in the development and presentation of staff in-service education regarding medication safety to enhance quality of care. Provide complete and concise reports related to patient and/or medication safety. Demonstrate familiarity with healthcare administration and the quality improvement process.
- Perform other job duties as assigned.
Basic Qualifications:
Experience
- Minimum five (5) years of working experience in health care including Pharmacy and Administration.
- Minimum three (3) years of experience in quality.
Education
- High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required.
License, Certification, Registration
- Licensed Pharmacy Technicians (in the state where care is provided)
Additional Requirements:
- Proven experience handling difficult encounters and/or service breakdowns.
- Demonstrated project management experience.
- Ability to adapt quickly to challenging and changing environments.
- Ability to work with interdisciplinary groups to affect a patient safety focused outcome.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervising personnel, co-workers, subordinates, employees and representatives from outside service/agencies.
- Ability to train, give and receive instructions.
- Proficient in Lotus Notes; Windows; Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and Access; SABA and all electronic systems utilized in the regional pharmacies.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills, including data manipulation, review and presentation.
- Ability to act independently with minimal supervision.
- Willing to travel 25% of the time within the region.
- Proven research capabilities utilizing written and computer reference materials, including facility library reference materials, professional references, Intranet and Internet sites and outside reference facilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Practice experience to include knowledge of IV admixture, compounding, technician functions and cashiering in the ambulatory care pharmacy.
- Able to facilitate Root Cause Analysis and Failure Modes Effects Analysis on issues identified for evaluation/education.
- Able to handle stress relative to rush projects and meeting deadlines, work under pressure in a highly productive office, and set priorities.
- Able to support implementation of departmental and organizational process changes, policies and procedures, and audits.
Primary Location: Oregon,Portland,Airport Way Pharmacy Refill Center
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
Shift: Variable
Workdays: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Working Hours Start: 08:00 AM
Working Hours End: 04:00 PM
Job Schedule: Full-time
Job Type: Standard
Worker Location: Flexible
Employee Status: Regular
Employee Group/Union Affiliation: NUE-NW-01|NUE|Non Union Employee
Job Level: Entry Level
Department: Airport Way Center - Rx Admin Quality - 1008
Pay Range: $58100 - $75130 / year
The ranges posted above reflect the location in the job posting. The salary range may vary if you reside in a different location or state than the location posted.
Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time
Flexible: Work location is on-site at a KP location, with the flexibility to work from home.
Worker location must align with Kaiser Permanente's Authorized States policy.
At Kaiser Permanente, equity, inclusion and diversity are inextricably linked to our mission, and we aim to make it a part of everything we do. We know that having a diverse and inclusive workforce makes Kaiser Permanente a better place to receive health care, a more supportive partner in our communities we serve, and a more fulfilling place to work. Working at Kaiser Permanente means that you agree to and abide by our commitment to equity and our expectation that we all work together to create an inclusive work environment focused on a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status. Submit Interest
Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status. Submit Interest
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