Rick Carlson, PharmD, MBA, BCPS

An accomplished Director of Pharmacy with a proven track record at Intermountain Health, specializing in pharmacy workflow optimization and leadership development. Successfully spearheaded strategic planning and operational enhancements, managing budgets exceeding $400 million and leading a team of 180 caregivers. Demonstrated excellence in coaching, mentoring, and fostering professional growth, significantly improving operational efficiency and caregiver engagement.

• Created a purposeful culture in the pharmacy department by promoting a clear vision and engaging activities.
• Awarded Leadership L.O.V.E. award, November 17, 2024
• Won facility Kudos competition sending out over 2500 Kudos to Intermountain caregivers in one month, October 2024
• Caregiver engagement index, with Qualtrics Survey, in 2024, ranged from 4.19 to 4.30 with 100% caregiver participation in Q4 survey!
• Expanded PGY2 residency programs by introducing new opportunities in transplant, cardiology, and internal medicine.
• Annually develop a strategic document that outlines targeted initiatives with clear strategies for team development, caregiver growth, and fostering a positive culture.
• Superbowl LVIII Host Committee Volunteer, 2/9 - 2/11/2024
• Recruited a patient assistance technician, resulting in a remarkable $4.8 million reduction in direct medication expenses at Intermountain Medical Center in 2023 and $5.4 million reduction in 2024.
• Recognized as Preceptor of the Year, 2012, 2013, 2015
• Recognized as Manager of the Year, Riverton Hospital, 2019
• Device Alert System and Method, Lead Inventor on a patent filed with the United States Patent and Trade Office, June 23, 2009. Pat. No.: US 7,551,078 B2

Licenses

• Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, License #3090201, Expires 12/31/2030
• Utah Pharmacist License #501060-1701, Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, 2000 - Present
• Nevada Pharmacist License #15195, Nevada Profession and Occupations Licensing, 2000 - Present
• Montana Pharmacist License #3961, Montana Professional and Occupational License, 1999 - Present

Certifications

• Intermountain Certified Professional Coach Certificate, Completed 11/2021
• Intermountain Principles of Leadership Certificate, Completed 09/2022
• Intermountain Leading Through Others Certificate, Completed 07/2022
• Media Training Certificate, Intermountain Medical Center, Completed 10/2021
• Continuous Improvement Certification, Completed 08/2018

Publications

• Strategy Document - Intermountain Medical Center, Pharmacy Department. Local publication, published yearly and used as a blueprint for goals and performance development activities
• Carlson R, Johnson B, Ensign R. Development of an ‘infusion pump safety score’. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2015; 72: 777-779.
• Brown S, Lanspa M, Jones J, Kuttler K, Miller R, Carlson R, Hirshberg E, Grissom C, Morris A. Survival After Shock Requiring High-Dose Vasopressor Therapy. CHEST 2013; 143(3): 664-671.
• Majercik S, Fox J, White TW, Kuttler K, Carlson R, et al. Healthcare associated infection patterns in trauma patients: Do patients’ pathogens follow them to a new facility? 2012 Utah’s Health: An Annual Review. June 2012, Volume 17.
• Evans RS, Carlson R, Johnson KV, et al. Enhanced notification of infusion pump programming errors. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2010; 160(Pt 1):734-8.
• Carlson R, Horinek E, Orme J. A Retrospective Comparison of a Customized Versus a Traditional Sliding Scale Subcutaneous Insulin Protocol in Patients Transitioning From an Insulin Drip [abstract]. Crit Care Med 2006; 34:A64.
• Carlson R, Orme J, Abbate S, et al. Transition From A Continuous Intravenous Infusion To A Subcutaneous Insulin Regimen in Critically Ill Patients [abstract]. Chest 2006 130: 149S.

Presentations

• Engagement Best Practices - Presented at Intermountain Medical Center Leadership Meeting - date?
• Extreme Ownership - Leadership book club presentation at Intermountain Medical Center Leadership Meeting, January 2022.
• Let Your Workers Rebel, Professional Leadership Journal Club, to be presented May 15, 2019 as part of a system-wide professional development series. ACPE 1 CE credit 0582-0000-19-001-L04-P/T.
• Continuous Improvement Storyboard Presentation - Pediatric Infusion Optimization – Presented March 19, 2019. Invited as a quest speaker to present a continuous improvement project to the 2019 Winter miniATP class. Project was completed at Riverton Hospital to decrease length of stay for pediatric infusion patients.
• Improving Communication about Medications – A HCAHPS study, Presented in April 2017 as part of the Intermountain Advanced Training Program (ATP) for continuous improvement.
• Infusion Pump Safety Score Metrics, Presented September 18, 2015 as part of the Infusion Pump Informatics (IPI) Virtual Conference, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University.
• Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Pump: Presented as part of the Informatics Pearls 2013: Bytes of Informatics, Activity #0204-0000-13-204-L04-P/T Level of Content. ASHP 48th Annual Midyear Clinical Meeting, December 11, 2013, Orlando, Florida

• American College of Healthcare Executives
• Jordan Applied Technical College - Advisory Board Member
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah and Roseman University
• Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers Association