Pharmacy Operations

Our Mission

The Pharmacy Department is an innovative team that safely and efficiently provides quality medication therapy and outcomes to the patients and communities we serve.

Our Vision

The members of the Central Market Deaconess Pharmacy Department, which is composed of over 75 pharmacists, over 75 technicians, 15 pharmacy interns, and 2 pharmacy residents, work together to provide the staffing: To be the regional leader in medication therapy by providing safe, quality, and cost-effective program that ensure proper medication use and will improve the health of our employees, patients, and community.

Hours of Operation and Key Contacts

The Pharmacy Department is open 24 hours per day at Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Deaconess Gateway Hospital, and Deaconess Henderson Hospital. The Women’s Hospital Pharmacy operates from 6 AM to 10 PM during the weekdays and 7 AM to 3:30 PM on weekends. Pharmacy services for The Women’s Hospital are provided by Gateway Pharmacy after hours with highly-training Women's staff on-call.

• System Director of Acute Care Pharmacy: Brian Spencer, PharmD, BCPS
• System Director of Ambulatory Pharmacy: Amy Harris, RPh, BCPS
• Central Market Director of Pharmacy: Justin Greubel: PharmD, BCPS, MHA
• System Clinical Manager: Meredith Petty, PharmD
• System Ambulatory Manager: Traci Fritschle, PharmD, BCPS, BCADM
• System Regulatory Manager: Laura Stock, PharmD
• System Outpatient Pharmacy Manager: Tom Fite, RPh
• System Medication Safety Supervisor: Amanda Kelley, PharmD, BCPS
• System Oncology Pharmacy Supervisor: Anna Gibson, PharmD, BCOP
• Pharmacy Business Manager: James Silva and Allison Davis, MBA
• Campus Supervisor (Gateway, Womens): Josh Koch, PharmD
• Campus Supervisor (Midtown, Henderson, CrossPointe): Kole Thornton, PharmD
• Clinical Lead Pharmacist: Michelle Schymik, PharmD, BCPS
• Clinical Lead Pharmacist:  Katie Theising, PharmD, BCPS
• Regulatory Lead Pharmacist: Tina Ward, PharmD, BCPS
• Women’s Hospital Pharmacy Lead Pharmacist: Thomas Petersen, PharmD
• Henderson Lead Pharmacist: Lindsey Embry, PharmD, BCPS
• Specialty Pharmacy Lead Pharmacist: Holly Jahn, PharmD, CSP
• Ambulatory Lead Pharmacist: Ally Alloway, PharmD, BCPS
• Operations Lead Technicians: Ashley Bishop, CPhT-Adv, CSPT and Stephanie Wright, CPhT
• Outpatient Pharmacy Lead Pharmacist: Nate Yarbor, PharmD
• Oncology Lead Pharmacist: Joel Haire, PharmD
• System 340B Coordinator: Sarah Laramie, PharmD
• System Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist: Jeff Starkey, PharmD
• Lead Medication Assistance Coordinator: Cassie Smith
• Chairman of Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee: Mathias Kolleck, MD

Medication Distribution and Technology

The pharmacy provides 24 hour and 365 day access to pharmacist and pharmacy services. Technology plays a very important role in the distribution process within Deaconess Health System. The Pharmacy Department is highly automated and utilizes

• Epic Hospital Enterprise System
• PhACTs Carousel with Pharmogistics software
• Omnicell Automated Dispensing Cabinets
• Portable phone for constant availability of clinical pharmacists
• Alaris Smart Pump

Pharmacists who are working in the Central Pharmacy are working in a well-planned, modern, spacious environment.

Medication distribution is using a cartless model with maximizes the utility of Omnicell Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC) and Single Point software.   This system allows efficient use of technician time and ensures that the medications are readily available to the nurse in the Omnicell at appropriate time.  The combination of Dispense Prep, Dispense Check, and Dispense Track use barcode technology to help provide an added level of safety for sterile product preparation and distribution.  A perpetual inventory is maintained through PhACTs Carousel and this technology allows our distribution system to be entirely bar-code technology driven. The hospital uses Epic electronic medical record throughout all areas of the pharmacy including inpatient, ambulatory, and retail locations. Pharmacy manages the drug database for the wireless Alaris System technology.

Pharmacy manages the drug database for the wireless Alaris System technology. Alaris Smart Pump technology and point of care activated devices are utilized throughout the health system to ensure safe medication administration of IV related products.

Training and Credentials

Eight weeks of one-on-one on the job training and mentoring about pharmacy specific policies and procedures is provided for pharmacists and technicians. Training time is dependent upon previous experience and background.

Education and training continue to be a benefit and are strongly encouraged well after the initial phase of training. These benefits include monthly competencies, journal club, and expansion into additional roles after additional training. The hospital also encourages advanced credentials and provides additional compensation for successful completion of Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BCPS, BCOP, BCCCP, BCACP, BC-ADM, BCIDP) certification, National Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider Certification (CACP), or a master’s degree (MBA, MHA).

 

All technicians are required to obtain their PTCB certification within a reasonable time from hire.

Technicians Practicing at Top of License

Technicians have a career ladder which allows them to practice at the top of their license with training.  They will complete drug fills for patient-specific  doses and ADC (automated dispensing cabinets).  A detailed training program guides technicians to have the skills to prepare IV products.  Specialized training allows our pharmacy technicians to work in surgery satellite, working as Medication History Specialists to get patient’s home medication lists, technician product verification, and medication assistance program.  

Awards

Deaconess Health System and the Pharmacy Department have been given numerous awards and recognized for service in professional organizations.

• Deaconess PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Program granted the maximum accreditation
• 2024 Deaconess Pharmacy Medication Assistance Program (MAP) and Medication Therapy Management Clinic (MTM) received the Programs and Projects Health & Social Services Award from Leadership Everyone
• 2015 Designated Anticoagulation Center of Excellence for both Inpatient Pharmacy Services and Outpatient Deaconess Anticoagulation Clinic 
• 2013 Deaconess Anticoagulation Clinic designated as an Anticoagulation Center of Excellence
• 2013 Deaconess Pharmacy was awarded Preceptor Excellence Award from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
• 2012 Deaconess Pharmacy was awarded Indiana Pharmacists Alliance Organization Medication Safety Award
• 2012 Laura Stock, Medication Safety Pharmacist, was awarded Indiana Pharmacists Alliance Individual Medication Safety Award

You are welcome here!

Deaconess Pharmacy offers equal employment opportunity to all applicants for employment and to all employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Diversity and inclusion are valuable elements of the Deaconess Health System Pharmacy.. We value diversity in all its varied expressions, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, physical ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. As our workforce becomes more diverse we embrace the opportunity to find ways of enabling people of many different backgrounds to make valuable contributions in our organization, thus increasing the quality of care we deliver to our patients . Our strive in our post graduate training program is to provide a diverse educational environment that fosters success of learners to provide culturally competent care, become inclusive of the population we serve and create a clinical environment that provides high quality care to our community.

Summary

Pharmacists and the respective technical staff serve as a critical component in the delivery of medication safety throughout the Deaconess Health System (DHS) to assure optimal patient outcomes. The culture of DHS is focused on patient/employee/physician satisfaction and patient safety using evidence based medicine to provide the best possible outcomes for patients served. It is our goal to ensure every patient receives the highest quality care.