CHRISTOPHER MILLER
Harrisburg
Summary
Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Overview
45
45
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief of Pharmacy Services
United States Veterans Affairs Administration
07.2019 - Current
- Oversight of pharmacy operations and clinical pharmacy duties of a multidisciplinary, Academic affiliated hospital system with a catchment area of 30k square miles for 37,000 veterans.
- Hospital comprises of 127 acute care beds with community care living center and a domiciliary and 9 Community Based Outpatient Care (CBOC) clinics.
- Outpatient pharmacy processes ~ 70,000 prescriptions per month to include DME type supplies.
- GS15 rank with 79 FTE involved in all aspects of pharmaceutical care: Outpatient distribution, Inpatient distribution, and clinical pharmacy service that includes LIP like clinical pharmacy practitioners.
- Extensive data analysis that focuses on all aspect of pharmacy distribution as well as health outcomes. Versed in SQL, MS Access, Power BI, Pyramid which are used as tools to create various dashboards, user interfaces and reports.
- Spearheaded and implemented new projects to expand clinical pharmacy services that has included the addition of ~ 20 clinical pharmacy practitioners and the establishment of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program
- Oversight of multiple complex construction projects that includes USP 797 and USP800 compliance, New outpatient pharmacy construction and inpatient pharmacy.
- Implemented several robotic and automated workflow projects that include IVX for sterile preparation, Swiss Log Box Pickers, Kitcheck, Pyxis ES
- Converted inpatient distribution workflow from robotic cartfill to cartless fill system.
- Oversight of a $90mil budget that encompasses the pharmacy enterprise
- Developed and revised policies and procedures for effective pharmacy management
- Communicated directly with veterans that may have a complaint or concern
- Maintained the tenets of a High Reliability Organization: Weekly Gemba meetings, utilized Scrum methodology to implement change management, utilized ADKAR as a change agent.
- Maintained an active and regularly refreshed quality improvement project.
- Ensured safe transition through various drug and supply shortages to avoid interruption of service for veterans through development of proprietary software that tracked shortages and allowed for transparent communication with veterans.
- Worked closely with multiple disciplines throughout the enterprise to meet common goals: discharge process redesign, Health outcome (HEDIS) integration of clinical pharmacy services, development of a hem/onc infusioin service that would provide service within a community based outpatient care clinic setting.
Associate Chief of Pharmacy Services
US Veterans Affairs Administration - VISN 17
08.2015 - 07.2019
- Company Overview: GS-14 position within Valley Coastal Bend healthcare system which comprises 4 main sites including Corpus Christi, Harlingen, McAllen and Laredo, Texas which services approximately 30,000 veterans
- Direct oversight of 30 clinical pharmacy specialists and assume acting Chief of Service during absence
- Oversight of all clinical pharmacy functions within an integrated patient centered medical home model
- Clinical pharmacy specialist maintain scopes of practice with prescriptive authority while serving as licensed independent practitioners
- Areas of practice include: primary care, internal medicine, behavioral medicine, oncology, and infectious diseases
- Current oversight of three station pharmacies within Valley Coastal Bend which provide full services for 30 thousand veterans
- Oversight over 75 employees that include direct report supervisors, clinical pharmacists, technicians, administrative officer and ADPAC
- Develop departmental goals, objectives, standards of performance, policies and procedures
- Lead planning and achievement of goals and objectives including regular strategic planning sessions
- Most recent implementations include a hub based anticoagulation service that manages approximately 1000 veterans, decentralized clinical (non-specialist) pharmacist model consisting of PharmD within a medical practice (in addition to clinical specialists with scope of practice)
- Developed a transition of care pharmacist role that is responsible for the safe transition of our veterans from hospital and or long term facility to their medical home
- Implemented 'Scrum' methodology to instill positive thinking, teamwork in the development of a continuous improvement cycle
- Successfully prepared for ASHP accreditation inspection for PGY1 resident program (full accreditation granted)
- Responsible for recruitment, hiring and coaching of all new clinical pharmacy specialists joining the Valley Coastal Bend team
- Participate (voting member) and lead P&T Committee meetings at the regional level as well as the VISN (17) level
- Responsible for the implementation and the sustainability of numerous clinical initiatives that are real-time dashboard driven based on evidenced based medicine that promote rational prescribing and compliance with a multitude of positive health factors
- Consistently interpret and communicate new and revised policies, initiatives that cascade from national office, to VISN, to the region (VCB)
- Participate with other departments in concerted fashion on various quality improvement projects that are intended to enhance the veteran experience
- Maintain a clinical practice in psychiatry whereby a panel of veterans for whom full role of a prescriber is assumed including ability to make referrals such as sleep studies, cardiology, neurology and inpatient care
- GS-14 position within Valley Coastal Bend healthcare system which comprises 4 main sites including Corpus Christi, Harlingen, McAllen and Laredo, Texas which services approximately 30,000 veterans
Adjunct Professor
Texas A&M University College of Pharmacy
08.2008 - Current
- Provide lectures to 3rd year pharmacy school students
- Lectures include Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Parkinson's syndrome, and Seizure Disorders
- Provide clinical practice education in areas of psychiatry and neurology
Director of Primary Care Services
CHRISTUS HEALTH - SPOHN REGION
10.2013 - 05.2015
- Project manager over 5 DSRIP (Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment) projects totaling approximately 150 million dollars over 5 years
- Projects include: 1) Integration of behavioral health services in primary care services 2) Expansion of primary care services including implementation of a new walk in clinic setting 3) Implementation of depression screening services in patients with co-morbid chronic diseases while integrating mental health services within a primary care setting
- 4) Establishment of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program in conjunction with University of Texas Health Science Center
- 5) Development of an education program to Family Medicine medical residents that focused on the understanding of the Patient Centered Medical Home
- Oversight of the administration of an indigent healthcare benefit which covers approximately 12,000 lives
- Responsible for provision of all medical services including dental and pharmacy services
- Maintain utilization of services under a capitated managed healthcare agreement with the Nueces County Health District
- Have successfully managed inpatient length of stay to below 4 days with a less than 10 percent readmission rate
- Responsible for entire revenue cycle including bill processing, reimbursement and auditing
- Maintained medical loss ratio within industry standards through sound utilization management strategies including care management services, benefit delineation, strategic contracting services
- Oversight of five (5) hospital owned primary care services including a dental clinic
- Main focus of transformation of delivery model toward a patient centered medical home to include expansion of service by number of hours and physical space
- Oversight of implementation of EMR system as well as a disease state registry
- Oversight of specialty clinic service that provides services for cardiology, ENT, cardiovascular, nephrology, endocrinology, neurology, Orthopedics, urology, gynecology, and plastics services
- Over 10,000 patients served per year
- Oversight of Pharmacy Services over two tertiary care hospitals totaling 800+ beds
- Specialty services include Level II trauma, Critical Care medicine, Certified Stroke Center, CVICU services, outpatient Cancer Center, Outpatient pharmacy services (~850 Rx's per day)
- Oversight of PGY1 pharmacy residency program
- Created a floor based pharmacist model to enhance clinical support and enhance better access to bedside patient care
- Encouraged creative thinking, problem solving, and empowerment as part of the facility management group to improve morale and teamwork within four departments totaling approximately 200 reports
- Routinely collaborated with department managers to correct problems and improve services
- Assisted in resolving and satisfying client requests and internal operational issues
- Identified process improvements in the day-to-day functioning of the department
- Managed and directed fiscal operations, including planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, accounting, establishing service rates and coordinating financial reporting
- Created and maintained computerized record management systems to record and process data and generate reports
Director of Pharmacy Services
CHRISTUS Health - Spohn Region - Memorial Campus
09.2007 - 09.2013
- Oversight of pharmacy operations within a 397 bed inpatient hospital
- Three pharmacies include main (inpatient) pharmacy, clinic pharmacy and jail pharmacy (totaling ~50 associates)
- Integration of services within a 1300 bed hospital system
- Served as project lead on several software and technology associated projects
- Serve as system clinical coordinator in the psychiatric pharmacy specialty area (110 psychiatric beds distributed amongst system)
- Oversaw design, construction and implementation of USP 797 compliant IV lab inclusive of a NIOSH compliant Chemotherapy area
- Oversaw complete barcoding of pharmacy distribution system including barcoded verification of technician fills, pyxis replenishment verification and medication restocking verification
- Also developed a barcoded compounding log verification system for high alert drugs
- Provision of clinical supervision of medical students undergoing psychiatric rotation portion of their Family Practice residency (Spohn Memorial provides residency training to Texas A&M Health Science School of Medicine)
- Collaboration with Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Pharmacy (TAMUK) in oversight of 6 clinical rotations per semester
- Developed software to interface between Omnicell horizontal carousel and McKesson's Supply Management software
- Through collaboration with Clinical Manager, established an ASHP accredited PGY1 Residency program
- We are in the process of establishing PGY2 tracks in ambulatory care and medication safety
- Developed and implemented a new pharmacy practice model whereby pharmacists reside on units and integrally involved with entire admission to discharge process (Floor Based Pharmacist Model)
- Based on safety alerts, re-designed heparin weight based protocol to include an ordering instrument that is fully interactive based on patients' individual parameters (adjusted weight calculations, etc) using Acrobat
- Migrated to a centralized fill model whereby all 6 Spohn facilities are 80% fulfilled from a central site utilizing carousel software
- Implemented an antibiotic stewardship program while leveraging Theradocs technology while also utilizing ad hoc database queries
- Developed a discharge pager services, whereby 95% of all discharged patients are 'captured' by Floor Based Pharmacist services for discharge counseling as well as core measure reconciliation and ensuring access to care while leveraging patient assistance programs, formulary management
- Organized the department in accordance with administrative guidelines in order to provide specified pharmacy services to meet the legal, organizational and medical staff guidelines
Director of Pharmacy Services
Circles of Care Inc
05.1995 - 09.2007
- Provide quality pharmaceutical care to a multidisciplinary setting inclusive of seventy (70) inpatient beds, partial hospitalization services, group home services, and outpatient services
- Designing and implementing two (2) full service community pharmacy intended to address the needs of all Circles of Care patients and employees
- Designed, wrote and implemented all computerization of pharmacy services including electronic profiling, narcotic tracking, Drug Utilization Review, floor stock, and Adverse Drug Reaction tracking in fourth generation database language
- Implemented clinical pharmacy services consisting integration with medical staff on Drug Utilization Evaluation studies, Adverse Drug Reaction Surveillance, and clinical research studies
- Provide in-service education to staff and community on various psychopharmacology topics
Director of Pharmacy Services
Laurel Ridge Hospital
09.1990 - 05.1995
- Directed and managed staff of five (5) full-time employees within the pharmacy and thirty (30) Medication Administration Technicians throughout a 180 bed Psychiatric specialty hospital
- Oversaw pharmacy operations of fourteen hospitals within Health Care of America Corporation
- Advised the corporate financial officer on pharmacy operations and purchasing strategy matters
- Provided clinical pharmacy services inclusive of Drug Utilization Evaluation studies, Clinical Pharmacology consultation, Adverse Drug Surveillance
- Designed and implemented complete pharmacy management computer software
- Provided software support to all hospitals within corporation
- Served on Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, CQI Committee, Clozaril Committee, Infection Control Committee, Research Committee
- Created and implemented the Medication Administration Technician Training Program course which consisted of approximately twelve lecture hours of psychopharmacology
Research Assistant
University of Texas
06.1988 - 06.1989
- Facilitated double blind research study by recruiting research subjects, overseeing experimental phase, supervising in analysis (blood work), and collection of data
- Publication: Electrostimulation in Addiction Review for AWP ETC Chief investigator: Carlton Erickson Phd
Lead Crisis Counselor
Brevard County Mental Health Center and Hospitals
06.1980 - 08.1984
- Assisted department director in planning and execution of policy within a hub department in a multidisciplinary psychiatric facility
- Assisted in training of new and substituted crisis counselors in a twenty four hour shift rotation
- Provided after hours supervisory support to two inpatient units operating in a social model of care
- Provided clinical support to county Hotline workers
- Maintained a therapy caseload while also receiving formal supervised therapy training
- Formal mental status and brief individual and family therapy within all age groups
- Made recommendations to on call psychiatrist with dispositions ranging from inpatient hospitalizations, out patient referrals, continued incarceration
Education
PharmD - Pharmacy
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL05-1999
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy
University of Texas
Austin, TX05-1989
Bachelor of Arts - Neuropsychology
University of South Florida
Tampa06-1979
Skills
- Interdepartmental collaboration
- Drug utilization review
- Pharmacy operations
- Pharmacy automation
- Data Analysis - expert
- Education/Preceptor
- Process implementation
- Financial analysis
Certification
- Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacy
- Business Intelligence Tools: MS Access, SQL, Power BI
- Scrum
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Chief of Pharmacy Services
United States Veterans Affairs Administration
07.2019 - Current
Associate Chief of Pharmacy Services
US Veterans Affairs Administration - VISN 17
08.2015 - 07.2019
Director of Primary Care Services
CHRISTUS HEALTH - SPOHN REGION
10.2013 - 05.2015
Adjunct Professor
Texas A&M University College of Pharmacy
08.2008 - Current
Director of Pharmacy Services
CHRISTUS Health - Spohn Region - Memorial Campus
09.2007 - 09.2013
Director of Pharmacy Services
Circles of Care Inc
05.1995 - 09.2007
Director of Pharmacy Services
Laurel Ridge Hospital
09.1990 - 05.1995
Research Assistant
University of Texas
06.1988 - 06.1989
Lead Crisis Counselor
Brevard County Mental Health Center and Hospitals
06.1980 - 08.1984
PharmD - Pharmacy
University of Florida
Bachelor of Science - Pharmacy
University of Texas
Bachelor of Arts - Neuropsychology
University of South Florida
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