Pharmacist Drug Therapy Home Infusion Medical Expert Witness

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Innovative Pharmacist executive with 25 years of leadership experience in Home Infusion Pharmacy, Specialty Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, Inpatient pharmacy and payor pharmacy benefit management. Broad-based expertise includes:

• Executive management of Infusion Therapy pharmacy, patient, payor and business relationships
• Comfortable working within all inpatient settings as a pharmacist executive
• Collaboration with multiple inpatient stakeholders (Administration, case managers, ER physicians, hospitalists, etc)  to optimize:
  • Transitions of care between inpatient and outpatient sites of care
  • Programs to reduce inpatient hospital lengths of stay via earlier/optimized referral to home infusion therapy
  • Programs to avoid hospitalization of Emergency Department Patients via direct admission to home infusion therapy
• Design, implementation and management of EPIC based drug therapy management programs
• Design, implementation, management and operation of Patient Assistance Plans for inpatient and outpatient settings
• Specialty Pharmacy operational, clinical and financial management
• Design, implementation and management of 340b drug programs across all sites of care
• Design, implementation and operation of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees
• Design, implementation and management of Disease Management Programs
• Collaboration and project management with the following  groups leading to optimized Transitions of Care from inpatient to outpatient settings:
  • Physician heads of medical departments
  • Executive level hospital administrators and medical directors
  • Executive level insurance company administrators and medical directors
  • Hospitalists and SNF based clinicians
• Design, construction and licensure of USP 797 compliant, cost effective, modular clean rooms
• Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at UCSF and UCSD

PROFESSIONAL / BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

KabaFusion, LLC:  2010-Present
Infusion Pharmacy Company managing comprehensive, state of the art alternate site infusion patients from our California, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania facilities. Our focus is on acute therapies and IVIG therapy for all disease states in 32 states from our pharmacies.

Chief Clinical Officer, Principal:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Working with the other two founding partners, oversee the clinical, regulatory, operational and patient satisfaction areas for KabaFusion, LLC, an Alternate site infusion pharmacy company that specializes in the nationwide delivery, administration and clinical management of Immunoglobulin therapy for Autoimmune Neuromuscular, Autoimmune dermatologic patients and Immune Deficient patients from our two pharmacies. Additionally, oversee the New Jersey pharmacy’s provision of acute IV therapy in the patient’s home in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania areas.  Create and manage clinical and operational policies and procedures, set up patient referral and patient management procedures, devise, build and certify the clean rooms. Develop sales and marketing materials and implement the plan to bring patients onto service via physician and payor referrals. Attend appropriate Neurological and Immunological Clinical symposia in order to keep up with the most current issues in the treatment of these diseases. Develop and implement patient advocacy plan that will encompass internal and external financial assistance plans. Develop and implement Outcomes monitoring and reporting system that will meet the needs of patients, payors and physicians. Develop, implement and oversee the corporate compliance, regulatory, and accreditation programs at both sites. Oversee the entire set of clinical and operational policy and procedures and the CPR+ computer system and data bases that are maintained for payers, physicians, drugs and patients.

 

Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pennsylvania):  2008-2010
Nationally-recognized, physician-led integrated delivery system providing comprehensive care for patients in 38 counties. Pharmacy services are provided via a network of 2 inpatient pharmacies, 10 retail pharmacies, 1 specialty pharmacy and 1 infusion pharmacy.

Associate Chief Innovation Officer for Pharmaceutical Care:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Work in a dual role within the vertically integrated $2 Billion health system as Chief Clinical Officer for the outpatient pharmacy network, and Associate Chief Innovation Officer for the system-wide Clinical Innovation group. Determine the need and oversee the design/implementation of innovative pharmacy care models to meet system-wide needs. Oversee the clinical and operational aspects of all Outpatient Pharmaceutical operations for the Geisinger Health System including Home infusion pharmacy, Specialty pharmacy and 9 retail pharmacies that were embedded in 9 of Geisinger’s 40 outpatient clinics. As Associate Chief Innovation officer, work with Physicians and hospital executive members of the innovation team to effect changes in how drug therapy is managed across the inpatient and outpatient spectrums of care, profitability, patient affordability, and use of the system wide EPIC electronic medical record system to effect coordination between departments to improve outcomes and lower costs.

 

Crescent Healthcare, Inc. (Anaheim, California):  2002-2008
A nationally recognized infusion pharmacy company providing comprehensive infusion and nursing services to 4000 patients in 20 states. Focus was then about 50% IVIG and 50% Acute and Specialty infusion therapy. Revenues were $130 million in 2007.

Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs:
Objectives/Responsibilities:  Oversee all clinical activities of Crescent Healthcare’s nine infusion pharmacies in California and Florida and the clinical care of the 4000 patients receiving over 20 different therapies each month which generated over $110 million in revenue in 2006. Oversee and manage the 10 Medical Directors, Infusion and Therapeutics Committee, and interface with all outside legal, regulatory and accreditation organizations. Oversee the entire set of clinical and operational policy and procedures and the computer data bases that are maintained for payers, physicians, drugs and patients. Oversee the company’s response to USP 797 requirements, Clinical Outcome reporting and approach to management of all new drug therapies and protocols. Finally, act as the Chief Clinical Officer for the company internally and externally with all of major payor initiatives, physicians, referral sources and regulators. Ensure that all activities described above are done so that they meet the highest clinical standards, regulatory requirements, result in cutting edge clinical services and are designed to continuously meet our patients’ and customers’ needs. Work closely with the rest of the Executive Team, other corporate employees, General Managers, pharmacists and nurses to assure that these policies, procedures, outcomes and levels profitability  are applied system-wide.

 

Apria HealthCare (Lake Forest, California):  1996-2002
A nationally renowned alternate site care company focusing on Infusion Therapy, Nursing, DME and Oxygen. Infusion business consisted of 30 pharmacies, with about 900 employees which produced over $180 million of revenue annually.

Vice President of Infusion Services, System-wide:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Improve the financial, clinical and logistical performance of Apria’s 30 Infusion pharmacies in 24 states. Standardize all aspects of the business and dramatically improve clinical, distribution, and financial efficiencies nationwide. Act as a catalyst to improve contracts and referral and payor relationships nationwide. Financial accomplishments for 1999 were to improve gross profit by 10% and operating earnings by 20%. Act as the visionary leader for the entire Infusion operation on local, national and regional levels. Instill entrepreneurial, Deming-like performance improvement-minded processes as the norm for our business. Provide clinical direction along with our Medical Director for the 15,000 patients on service and the 2500 new patients that come on to service each month. Interact with other senior executives at the corporate office and in the field to optimize issues which include: revenue generation, revenue management, human resources, marketing, sales, purchasing, contracting, Drug information programs, computerized information systems, corporate JCAHO preparation, government compliance and acquisitions of new facilities and services.  Function as the Chairperson for our Infusion and Therapeutics Committee as well as manage the infusion portion of the Risk Management Committee. Advise senior management about trends in healthcare that relate to Infusion on a daily basis. Act as the Clinical Expert liaison for our national contracts with large managed care payors. Maintain expertise in Anti-infectives, TPN, Pain Control, Enteral feedings, Women’s health services and AIDS.

 

OptionCare of the Central Coast (Arroyo Grande, California):  1992-1996
A privately-owned franchise of the OptionCare infusion pharmacy and Nursing system serving the Central Coast of California from our single pharmacy.

Vice President of Operations / Chief Pharmacist/Part Owner:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Effectively manage a home health service company providing infusion, nursing, DME, respiratory therapy, and retail medical equipment sales from four branches in the Central Coast. Bring new therapies and treatments on board; promote relationships with referral sources, physicians, home health agencies and hospitals alike. Impact patient care outcomes while constantly being aware of financial health of the organization. Implement Deming-like performance improvement and outcome goals. Manage all aspects of the group;  personnel, marketing, salary administration,  financial, accounts receivable, inventory,  accounts payable, and supervise all clinical activities of all services provided by the group. Oversee and implement all aspects of the marketing plan, strategic plan, performance improvement plan, and new products, contracts and services plan. Function as clinical pharmacist when needed for daily coverage and on-call. Maintain clinical expertise in Anti-infectives, TPN, Pain Control, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, AIDS, and Critical Care Medicine.

 

Valley Community Hospital  (Santa Maria, California):  1990-1992
A 100 bed Community Hospital serving the Central Coast area of California.

Director of Pharmacy:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Bring a rural community hospital into the 1990’s by modernizing drug distribution, computerization and implementing Clinical Pharmacy services. Take charge of all aspects of the hospital’s Pharmacy Department. Duties included:  management of all types of  distributional  services,  Clinical  Services (code  blue,  pain control,  kinetics, TPN, drug information, and Formulary management), technician services,  inventory,   purchasing,   personnel, budgeting,  and  member  of  P&T   and  Infection Control  committees.  Supported  by  staff  of  4 Pharmacists and  5  technicians. Areas of current clinical expertise include:  TPN, Antimicrobial Therapy, pain control, formulary   management, kinetics, clinical   interaction with physicians and nurses, implementation of clinical services, thrombolysis and formulary management.

 

Little Company of Mary Hospital (Torrance, California):  1988-1990
A 300 bed full service community hospital serving the South Bay area of Los Angeles County.

Clinical Pharmacist Specialist:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Implement Clinical Pharmacy services in a 300 bed hospital with special emphasis toward cardiology, cardiac  surgery, oncology, pain control, TPN, OB/GYN, medicine and neonatal  medicine. Lay out the entire Clinical program, developing report with the physicians, nurses   and   pharmacists.  Provide the actual Services myself as well as frequent lectures to all types of medical, nursing and lay audiences. Member of P&T and Infection Control Committees. Many presentations made regarding cost effective drug therapy, formulary decisions and clinical policy and procedure. Manage the Clinical training of the Pharmacists and intern Pharmacists.

 

Queen of the Valley Hospital (West Covina, California):  1982-1988
A 270 bed Community hospital with level 2 trauma center serving the eastern part of Los Angeles County

Chief Clinical Pharmacist/Clinical Coordinator:
Objectives/Responsibilities: Supervise the daily Clinical activities of the pharmacists and distributional activities of technicians in a 270 bed, level II Trauma center hospital. Clinical services included formal consultation for:  kinetics, pain control, TPN, heparin, general pharmacology, emergency Services and code blue. Management of the fourth year USC clerkship students in their 6 week medicine rotations. Committee membership included: P&T, Infection     control, Medical education, Oncology,  Nutritional support, and Pain control.  In this capacity, I also provided the clinical services 2 to 3 days a week and helped to pioneer a concurrent intervention program directly dealing with physicians and cost efficient drug therapy.

EDUCATION / TRAINING / CERTIFICATION

University of Southern California Program in Executive Hospital Pharmacy Management. Certificate, 1991
University of California, San Francisco, Hospital Pharmacy residency (1981-1982)
California Licensed Pharmacist 1981
University of Southern California, Pharm.D (1977-1981)
University of California at Irvine, BS Chemistry, BS Biology (1975-1977)
El Camino Community College, AA Chemistry (1972-1975)

HONORS RECEIVED

Contribution to Clinical Excellence Award, Crescent Healthcare, May 2006
Five years service to Crescent Healthcare, February 2007
Five years service to Apria Healthcare; July 2001
Two years service to SLO County Health Commission, June 1998
Five years service- Queen of the Valley Hospital, July 1987
USC School of Pharmacy- Scholarship award
El Camino College-Scholastic achievement award
Eagle Boy Scout- 1970

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

National Home Infusion Association
American Academy of Neurology
California Society of Hospital Pharmacists

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Spanish

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Available Upon Request

RECENT TALKS/LECTURES

Available Upon Request