Pharmacy Innovators Podcast

In this episode, host Jim Jorgenson sits down with returning guest Dr. Alex Varkey to discuss big changes—both personal and professional. Since his last appearance, Alex has completed his term as President of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and made a major career move, leaving a successful role in health-system leadership to join Visante.

Alex shares what motivated his transition, what it’s been like stepping into the...

In this episode of the Pharmacy Innovators Podcast, host Jim Jorgenson is joined by two powerhouse voices in the 340B space: Kristin Fox Smith, Visante’s own 340B expert, and Ted Slafsky, Publisher & CEO of the 340B Report.

Together, they dive into the latest political and regulatory shifts shaking the 340B landscape — from new Congressional leadership and pending legislation to the major reorganization of HHS and HRSA. The ep...

In this episode, host Jim Jorgenson talks with Dr. Brianne Bakken, PharmD, MHA, Associate Professor at The University of Iowa College of Nursing, about the National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS) and its impact on pharmacy. They explore key findings on burnout, job satisfaction, and staffing shortages, as well as how AI, telepharmacy, and policy changes are reshaping the profession.

Dr. Bakken discusses her award-winning 2019 p...

In this episode of the Pharmacy Innovators Podcast, Visante CEO Steve Rough and President Phil Brummond dive into Visante’s Top Ten Issues Facing Health System Pharmacy in 2025. This insightful discussion covers key topics such as alternative payment models, revenue cycle optimization, centralized medication access, and more—critical areas shaping the future of pharmacy practice.

Join them as they explore how to advocate for esse...

In this episode, we address audience-submitted questions about the 340B Program with Kristin Fox Smith and Sean Hall, two leading experts from Visante. Topics range from potential legislative changes and manufacturer rebate models to operational challenges and future program expectations. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or simply curious about the 340B Program,...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Hager, Managing Director at Visante, and Lynn Thoma, Senior Director at Visante, as they share their key takeaways from the ASHP Midyear Conference.

Dave and Lynn dive into the major themes shaping pharmacy practice, highlight perspectives that challenged or inspired them, and discuss how the conference content aligns with the current trends and challenges facing the industry.

Don’t miss this...

In this episode, host Jim Jorgenson welcomes Dr. Jenna Swindler, Vice President of Pharmacy Services at McLeod Health System in South Carolina. Dr. Swindler shares her career journey and provides an overview of McLeod Health’s pharmacy operations. The conversation dives into the critical role of "systemness" in multi-hospital organizations, highlighting how McLeod defines and implements this concept, particularly in pharmacy practi...

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kendrea Jones, Director of Pharmacy at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities in pediatric pharmacy. Dr. Jones shares her career journey, insights into the specialized pharmacy services at Arkansas Children’s, and how the hospital is tackling workforce shortages, high-cost therapies, and drug shortages.

We also div...

In this episode, Jim Jorgenson talks with Joe Lassiter, Ghalib Abbasi from Houston Methodist and robotics expert Frederik Ebert about the growing role of AI in healthcare, focusing on medication use and technology. They discuss how AI enhances clinical decision-making and automation, while also addressing its potential to reduce administrative costs in hospitals. Tune in to explore how AI is transforming health...

The 340B landscape is constantly evolving, presenting both challenges and opportunities for healthcare providers. Visante is committed to helping organizations navigate the complexities that come with a 340B program. 

To stay informed, listen to our latest podcast on all things 340B. Our guests, Ted Slafsky, Publisher and CEO of 340B Report, and Kristin Fox-Smith, Senio...

In this episode of Pharmacy Innovators, we delve into the critical roles of leadership and advocacy within hospital pharmacy settings. Hospital pharmacists are not only frontline healthcare providers but also leaders driving impactful change in patient care.

Join us as we sit down with St. Luke's Vice President & Chief Pharmacy Officer, Kelley Curtis, who shares her insights on navigating the complexities of healthcare systems...

In this special edition of our Innovators podcast, we address your questions about infusion services and site-of-care strategies. Join our guests, Erick Siegenthaler, PharmD, MHA, and Dale Drizd, Pharm D, RPh, as they chat with Jim Jorgenson about setting up a home infusion program, optimizing pharmacy revenue, preventing costly leakage, and much more. Gain valuable insights to enhance patient access and improve provider satisfacti...

Delivering quality pharmacy care to communities across remote, often wintry Northern Canada presents unique challenges. Kevin McDonald and Sammu Dhaliwall from North West Telepharmacy Solutions join Jim Jorgenson to discuss overcoming geographical, weather, language, technology, and financial barriers to provide essential medications and clinical care.

Kevin McDonald, Director of North W...

Don't miss this transformative opportunity to join Majid Tanas, a respected pharmacy executive and leader, for an enlightening discussion on mastering the complexities of today's healthcare landscape.

Majid delves into the critical role of hospital pharmacy in enhancing the full patient experience, the strategic design of organizational structures to boost collaboration, and the imperative to abandon the outdated term 'ancillary s...

In this exclusive episode of the Visante Pharmacy Innovators, our leaders seize the opportunity to delve into this year’s selections for the annual Top 10 and explain why four issues are particularly worth paying attention to. Steve Rough, Phil Brummond and Jim Jorgenson dig deeper into specialty pharmacy and infusion services, consolidated service centers, benchmarking and analytics, and pharmacy revenue. These areas are identifie...

In this episode, Visante Executive Advisor Jim Jorgenson and Senior Director Dave Hager are joined by two experts in the pharmacy revenue cycle industry who provide valuable insights and knowledge on establishing an effective strategy and structure for success.

Lindsey Amerine and Maxie Friemel, pioneers in the field, offer guidance on initiating the process, assembling a cross-functional team, pinpointing immediate victories, and...

Happy New Year, listeners! The start of the New Year usually comes with self-reflection and new intentions. As we continue to see staffing shortages, escalating workload demands, burnout and silent quitting as significant challenges for hospitals and health systems how do we address these labor concerns?

In this episode, we embark on one of the topics that healthcare workers have the most trouble achieving: work-life balance (or s...

Discover the fascinating world of pharmacy informatics and technology and its profound impact on medication-use across the health system. In this episode, we delve into the trends, challenges, and opportunities in technology and informatics that are shaping the future of Pharmacy. From business analytics, interoperability, and technology optimization, we explore how technology innovations streamline processes, ...

In this episode of Visante Innovators, Jim Jorgenson talks with Pharmacy Stars CEO Keith Streckenbach. Keith is an innovator in sterile drug compounding and passionate about helping pharmacies reach their compliance goals and meet increasingly complex standards.

With USP Chapters 797 and 800 becoming compendial, and therefore enforceable by boards of pharmacy or other regulatory agencies, ...