Carolyn Liptak, MBA, RPh, brings more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry and currently serves as the Pharmacy Executive Director for Regulatory, Compliance & Financial Performance on the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence team. She has provided directorial leadership for inpatient, outpatient, retail and specialty pharmacy operations and clinical strategy. Her areas of expertise include regulatory compliance, revenue integrity, sterile compounding, and controlled substance diversion surveillance. She currently is a member of the Pharmacy Advisory Council at The Joint Commission.
Prior to joining Vizient, Carolyn served in leadership roles at Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston as well as The Medical Center of Aurora and the University of Colorado Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center in Denver. Carolyn received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe School of Pharmacy and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston Clear Lake. She is based remotely in Denver, Colorado.
• To discuss reimbursement from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for new medications
• Identify ways to stay informed of new and changing NTAP drug payments that exist
• Recall the purpose of NTAP drug payments in the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the
requirements for eligibility
Michele Shaeffer, Associate Director of Pharmacy Operations at Jefferson Abington Hospital, shares insights on optimizing pharmacy workflows amidst staffing and medication shortages, highlighting automation and ADC cabinets for improved efficiency and safety. She also emphasizes cross-department collaboration and staff training as essential for addressing these challenges. Looking ahead, she sees innovations in legislation, technology, and industry-wide collaboration as key drivers of progress in tackling systemic issues like drug shortages.
In this week’s Executive Insights video Jeff Thompson, Chief Clinical Officer at Freeman Health, shares insights into the evolving role of pharmacy leadership within health systems. Thompson highlights the importance of aligning pharmacy goals with broader C-suite objectives, recognizing pharmacy not only as a significant expense but also a substantial revenue driver. He also addresses current challenges, such as labor shortages and the impact of 340B contract pharmacy restrictions, which are shaping strategies for sustaining healthcare operations.
Ify Igbunike, Director of Pharmacy Services at University of Maryland Midtown Campus, sat down with Pharmacy Angle to discuss value-based pharmacy practices and narcotic diversion prevention. She shares valuable insights on implementing evidence-based care, the role of behavioral assessments in managing controlled substances, and the complexities of regulatory compliance. Watch the full interview to gain expert knowledge on navigating today's healthcare challenges.