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Clinical Pharmacist-Ambulatory Care Full Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Orland Park, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you recommended a change to a physician who did not agree. What happened?

What they are checking: Whether they can make an evidence-based case and still keep a good working relationship.

How do you stay current with new drug approvals and changing guidelines?

What they are checking: Whether they keep their knowledge fresh as an authoritative source for other professionals.

What interests you about ambulatory care pharmacy compared to inpatient work?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the relationship-based, longer-term nature of outpatient pharmacy practice.

What would you do

A patient is on fourteen medications from several prescribers. How do you approach the review?

What they are checking: Whether they can spot duplications, interactions and deprescribing opportunities in a complex list.

How do you explain a new medication to a patient with low health literacy?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach in plain language and confirm understanding, using teach-back or a similar method.

A patient says they stopped taking their blood pressure medicine because it costs too much. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they look for affordable options and address the real barrier to adherence.

About the work

In an ambulatory clinic in Orland Park, how would you find and resolve medication problems for patients you see between doctor visits?

What they are checking: Whether they have a structured approach to medication reviews in outpatient care, not just order verification.

Walk me through how you would manage a patient's diabetes or anticoagulation under a collaborative practice agreement.

What they are checking: Whether they can make and monitor dose changes safely with clear criteria for escalation.

How do you document your clinical recommendations so the care team can act on them?

What they are checking: Whether their notes are concise, clear and useful to busy providers.

You notice a medication allergy that conflicts with a new prescription. Walk me through your next steps.

What they are checking: Whether they act quickly to prevent harm and close the loop with the prescriber and the patient.

How would you measure whether your ambulatory pharmacy work is improving patient outcomes?

What they are checking: Whether they think about outcomes like A1c, blood pressure control or readmissions, not just visit counts.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Clinical Pharmacist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for identifying, preventing, and/or resolving medication related problems; for providing authoritative information to other health care professionals, patients, and the public; and for assuring that the informational, clinical, and drug distribution components of pharmacy services function as an integrated system to provide patient centered care to the patients and staff of Northwestern Medicine. The mission of the Department of Pharmacy is to deliver the safest, highest quality, most effective and efficient patient care while developing the best people, advancing research, and integrating pharmacy services to successfully coordinate care across the Northwestern Medicine enterprise. The vision of the Department of Pharmacy is to be a recognized as a national leader in advancing the pharmacy enterprise through excellence, innovation, education and research. Responsibilities: • Interprets medication orders to ensure safety and proper use of medications and is alert to compatibilities, incompatibilities, medication duplication, medication allergies, and potential medication administration errors. Coordinates the solving of medication related problems between pharmacy, nursing, and prescribers, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment. • Monitors medication therapy for significant drug-drug, drug-diet, or drug-laboratory test interactions. Intervenes in circumstances of significant interactions, therapeutic duplications, and other occasions where pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic expertise is warranted. • Evaluates and documents that the medication(s) selected are appropriate for achieving the desired therapeutic outcome. Communicates potential problems and likely solutions to the prescriber. • Acts as a consultant in the areas of pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions to physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Participates in all therapeutic drug monitoring or intervention programs; adjusting therapy as indicated by patient condition and laboratory results. • Processes all medication order information into the Electronic Health Record to ensure accuracy of records regarding past, current and future dispensing and charging. • Maintains a comprehensive pharmacy patient profile. The profile should include age, maturation, weight, allergies, diagnosis, estimated and actual pharmacokinetic parameters, and pertinent information which may affect medication therapy decisions. • Oversees the packaging labeling, and distribution of medications for all patients and employees according to established policies, procedures, and guidelines. Monitors the use of scheduled medications on the nursing units and maintains controlled inventories of medication in the dispensing areas. • Compounds and dispenses pharmaceuticals including sterile products, chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition products. • Verifies medication orders before delivery to patient care areas and ensures accuracy and completeness. Resolves discrepancies as necessary. • Reviews all laboratory data for appropriateness of medication use and recommends changes when needed. Including microbial culture and sensitivity data, toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, etc. • Develops and presents orientation, education and training programs for medical, nursing, hospital and pharmacy staff, as well as assisting in the educating of pharmacy students, residents, and fellows. • Educates patients and their families about specific medications. • Responds to emergency situations to assist with medication management (e.g. response to cardiac arrests) • Provides accurate and timely medication information and or teaching to healthcare professionals or patients. • Maintains the hospital formulary and acts to limit medication usage to formulary items when appropriate • Documents all clinical activities and interventions performed. Collects data, maintains logs, records and other documentation as required by the department • Communicates professional knowledge effectively in both oral and written forms to patients and other health professionals. • Participates in quality improvement and medication use review activities of the department. • Organizes, prioritizes, and plans workload within given time constraints. Works cooperatively with fellow pharmacists to oversee and direct the activities of the work area, to assign work to technicians, and to assure that the established department objectives are accomplished • Reviews restocking automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) throughout the hospital and resolves any problems. • Ensures compliance with hazardous waste collection and disposal procedures. • Maintains proficiency and expertise in area/s of practice through continuous professional development. • All other job duties as assigned. Minimum Requirements: Education: • Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Licensure: • Active Clinical Pharmacist license in the state of Illinois (IDFPR) Preferred: • Training and knowledge of specialty areas (neonatology, critical care, oncology, etc.) • Completion of a pharmacy residency program or equivalent hospital pharmacy experience Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure 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. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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