Christine Ward
Spring
Summary
Experienced pharmacy leader with 13+ years of experience in acute care setting. Proven expertise in team development and cultural transformation. Ability to establish effective policies and procedures for regulatory compliance. Track record includes reducing drug spend, launching new service lines, and inspiring transformative change within teams.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Pharmacy Operations Supervisor
CHI St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital
07.2017 - Current
- Pharmacist in Charge
- Oversee 20 direct reports with responsibility for hiring, training, and development of team members
- Strong focus on supporting positive work culture, increasing employee engagement score by over 11 points in one year
- Provide leadership, direction, and counsel for pharmacy team at main hospital, oncology clinic, and infectious disease clinic, with proven track record of evaluating complex situations to identify potential challenges and devise effective solutions
- Develop, implement, and manage clinical programs, including initial planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation
- Produce presentations and reports to be shared with senior leadership at various committees
- Participate in the management and optimization of the department budget, including the establishment of and ongoing monitoring of progress with cost savings initiatives
- Maintain strong relationships with other departments to determine needs, resolve concerns, and optimize processes to improve patient care through data-driven insights and critical thinking skills
- Ensure compliance of pharmacy operations with state and federal laws and regulations, as well as participate in department and facility surveys conducted by the Texas Board of Pharmacy and Joint Commission
- Ensure compliance of pharmacy operations with USP 795, 797, and USP 800 standards
- Alaris library manager, optimizing infusion builds for the NICU, Adult ICU, Chemo, Labor and Delivery, and Med/Surg care areas, as well as routinely reporting compliance with facility leaders
- Pyxis manager, analyzing controlled substances utilization, discrepancies, and identifying and reporting potential diversion
- Represent facility at division wide Epic informatics committee to provide recommendations and insights from a local perspective for decision-making at division level
- Proficient in using clinical information systems and integrated platforms to collect, analyze, and report on patient data
- Lead Pharmacy & Therapeutics Commitetee
- Participate in and present at various committees, including Diversion Committee, Quality of Care Committee, and division-wide Epic informatics committee named S.P.A.C.E
- Launched two new infusion clinics to support oncology and infectious disease outpatient infusions and continue to provide oversight and leadership for pharmacy services supporting the infusion clinics
- Launched and managed a Covid 19 vaccination hub, which often exceeded 3000 doses administered to the community daily
- Precept pharmacy students, designing a rotation curriculum that ensures all school requirements are met during the rotation while focusing on areas of interest for each student
Director of Pharmacy
Comprehensive Pharmacy Services
05.2016 - 06.2017
- Built the pharmacy from the ground up, from ordering and organizing the pharmacy space to establishing the overall policies and goals for pharmacy services
- Medication budget set for $150 per patient day but consistently maintained medication cost below $60 per patient day
- Oversaw pharmacy budget and reported pharmacy financial performance to the CEO on a monthly basis
- Expanded pharmacy role to participation in multidisciplinary rounding team and established a comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship program
- Ensured compliance of pharmacy operations with state and federal laws and regulations while performing audits to ensure regulatory compliance
- Organized the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meetings along with the medical director
- Maintained contact with other departments and nursing staff to determine needs, resolve problems, and optimize processes to improve patient care
- Provided education to nursing staff
- Conducted admission medication reconciliation and maintain ongoing chart review to provide optimal therapy in accordance with clinical guidelines, the formulary, and budget
- Collaborated with physicians on appropriate medication therapy
- Dosed and monitored kinetics of vancomycin, aminoglycosides, and warfarin
- Monitored and reported adverse drug reactions and medication errors
- Responsible for hiring and training of pharmacy staff
- Scheduled pharmacy staff coverage according to productivity
- Perform Omnicell automated dispensing cabinet management, including utilization reports, discrepancy reconciliations, user security, and diversion reporting
Pharmacy Operations Supervisor
Midland Memorial Hospital
05.2015 - 04.2016
- Oversaw 30 direct reports with responsibility for hiring and training of pharmacy technicians
- Ensured compliance of pharmacy operations with state and federal laws and regulations
- Provided leadership, direction, and supervision for pharmacy technicians
- Scheduled pharmacy technician coverage according to patient care demands
- Performed Omnicell automated dispensing cabinet management, including utilization reports, discrepancy reconciliations, and user security
Clinical Pharmacist
Midland Memorial Hospital
11.2012 - 05.2015
- Verified medication orders for appropriate patient therapy regimens
- Participated in interdisciplinary rounds with ICU physician
- Collaborated with physicians on appropriate medication therapy
- Dosed and monitored kinetics of vancomycin, aminoglycosides, and warfarin
- Participated in Antimicrobial Stewardship Rounds by reviewing charts and making recommendations with an ID physician
- Obtained medication reconciliations and reviewed home medications
Pharmacist
Walgreens Pharmacy
08.2012 - 11.2012
- Verified prescriptions for appropriate patient therapy regimens
- Collaborated with doctors on appropriate medication therapy
- Reviewed filled prescriptions for accurate product selection
- Counseled patients on appropriate prescription and OTC medication use
- Administered zoster and flu vaccines to patients
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy -
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
05.2012
Skills
- Pharmacist in Charge
- Pharmacy Operations Management
- Inventory Control
- Budget Planning
- Team Leadership and Development
- Regulatory Compliance
- Policy Development
- Standard Operating Procedures
- USP 795/797/800
- Sterile Compounding
- Joint Commission
Accomplishments
- Built an acute care pharmacy from scratch
- Launched two outpatient infusion clinics
- Established a Covid vaccine megahub
- Reduced drug spend by 60%
- Improved employee engagement score by 11 points in one year
- Reduced staff turnover from 15% to 3%
- Regulatory surveys with no findings
Awards
- Dean’s List, 3 Semesters, 2010 – 2012
- Pharmacy Alumni Scholarship, 2010 – 2011
- Roy and Harriet Bowers Memorial Scholarship, 2006 – 2010
- Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, 2006 – 2010
- Rutgers University Merit Scholarship, 2006 – 2010
- Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar, Fall 2009
- Betty & Harold Perl Scholarship, 2006 – 2010
Licenses Certificates
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support, 10/16, Present
- Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, # 3152052, 12/15, 2022
- Pharmacist Preceptor License, # 52479, 05/15, Present
- IV Admixtures Certification, ACPE, 08/14, Present
- Basic Life Support, 02/13, Present
- Texas Pharmacist License, # 52479, 11/12, Present
- North Carolina Pharmacist License, # 22865, 08/12, 2019
Languages
English
Arabic
Timeline
Pharmacy Operations Supervisor
CHI St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital
07.2017 - Current
Director of Pharmacy
Comprehensive Pharmacy Services
05.2016 - 06.2017
Pharmacy Operations Supervisor
Midland Memorial Hospital
05.2015 - 04.2016
Clinical Pharmacist
Midland Memorial Hospital
11.2012 - 05.2015
Pharmacist
Walgreens Pharmacy
08.2012 - 11.2012
Doctor of Pharmacy -
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
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