Pharmacy buyers play a critical role in keeping hospitals running—and their partnership with a GPO can make all the difference. In this episode of Verified Rx, Jackie Stokes sits down with Theresa Brown and Michelle Crump, two powerhouse pharmacy buyers and members of Vizient’s Pharmacy Technician Committee, to talk about the tools, programs, and peer networks that help them thrive in their roles. From leveraging pharmacy analytics to navigating shortages, maximizing NovaPlus value, and strengthening buyer-to-buyer collaboration, this episode is packed with insights to help pharmacy teams work smarter, save money, and support better patient care.
Guest speakers:
Theresa Brown
National Pharmacy Purchasing Specialist
Prospect Medical Holdings
Michelle Crump, ASBA, CPhT
National Certified Pharmacy Technician Buyer
Pharmacy
Host:
Jackie Stokes
Program Services Manager
Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence (CPPE)
Vizient
Show Notes:
[00:48] — Guest Introductions
Theresa
- National pharmacy purchasing specialist
- Background: inventory control, home infusion startup, pharmacy technician educator
[01:14] — Michelle
- Nationally certified pharmacy technician since 2016
- Pharmacy buyer at a small independent county critical access hospital
- Transitioned from accounting into pharmacy purchasing
[01:26] — The Role of Vizient in Supporting Pharmacy Buyers
Theresa:
- Biggest benefit: relationship with pharmacy executive & sourcing team
- Uses Pharmacy Analytics (formerly VSAP) to evaluate spend and inventory control across 63 facilities
[02:16] — How Pharmacy Analytics Supports Buyers
Theresa:
- Data mining on spend increases/decreases
- Tracks product returns
- Identifies sharing opportunities to prevent waste
[02:59] — Michelle’s Experience
- Analytics helps mitigate waste
- Collaboration with other buyers has been essential — especially for someone new to the buyer role
- Learns navigation of Vizient systems and how to work with the local GPO
- Peer support helps demystify a “diverse and complex” buyer role
[04:02] — Value of the Vizient Pharmacy Technician Committee
- Provides national peer networking
- Helps buyers learn from subject matter experts
- Even highly experienced buyers (35+ years) learn from every call
[04:41] — Vizient Programs: NovaPlus, NES, Forum Calls, Hot Info
Bimonthly Forum Calls
- Provide regulatory updates
- Help expand buyer knowledge in real time
Hot Info Weekly Updates
- Keeps users informed on inventory, shortages, spend impacts
[05:31] — Michelle on Program Impact
- Calls and shared expertise were critical when she was new
- NovaPlus program especially valuable in critical access settings
[06:32] — Deep Dive: How the NovaPlus Program Works
Michelle explains:
- NovaPlus (Y-label) aligns with manufacturer-labeled products (M-label)
- Quarterly rebates provide significant savings
- Critical access hospitals benefit via 340B optimizer software that extracts outpatient utilization to qualify for discounted M-label purchasing
- Can result in “significant savings” depending on contract structure
[08:38] — What If NovaPlus Pricing Isn’t the Best Price?
Michelle:
- Buyer’s responsibility to identify price discrepancies
- Communicates with Vizient representative to reassess contracting needs
- Often resolved through rebates or future price adjustments
[09:30] — Theresa:
- Price challenges taken seriously
- Many result in price reductions visible in Hot Info the next week
- Demonstrates importance of strong GPO relationships
[10:07] — Understanding NES: NovaPlus Enhanced Supply
Theresa:
- Her hospitals are exploring NES participation
- Requires 90% compliance (higher than standard 80%)
- Benefits include prioritized product access during shortages
- Critical when national backorders exceed 200+ items
- Ensures better patient care continuity
[11:34] — Supply Assurance & Mitigation Strategies
Michelle:
- During the North Carolina hurricane, Vizient’s mitigation strategy was “imperative”
- Vizient engaged Baxter directly to resolve critical fluid shortages
- Small hospitals especially reliant on support in crisis situations
[12:36] — Theresa:
- Shortage team provides substitution guidance and clinical appropriateness information
- Vizient recommendations support discussions with local clinical teams
- Crucial during COVID start date — her first day in national role
[13:23] — Continuing Education (CE) Programs
Theresa:
- Vizient CE programs help maintain technician licensure
- Webinars are interactive, engaging, and more informative than generic CE resources
[14:07] — Networking and Pharmacy Aggregation Groups (PAGs)
Theresa:
- PAGs offer cost savings and peer collaboration
- Ability to share information and bring value back to her own network
[14:44] — Michelle’s Example of System-to-System Collaboration
- Shared compounded syringes (from a 503B facility) with another hospital to prevent waste
- Highlights real-world benefits of PAG networking
[15:52] — Addressing National Challenges Together
Theresa:
- PAG roundtables help uncover shared struggles (e.g., DSCSA serialization issues)
- Members provide actionable advice on what’s working in their systems
- Reinforces “we’re all in the same boat”
[16:50] — Supporting and Elevating Pharmacy Technicians
Jackie’s goal:
- Support technicians and recognize the value they bring
- Committee exists to uplift and empower pharmacy buyers/techs
[17:05] — Michelle:
- Worked with leadership to create a tiered technician level system
- Helps techs gain skills, feel valued, and earn raises
- Improves career satisfaction and retention
[17:46] — Closing Reflections
Theresa:
- Being part of Vizient is “an honor and a privilege”
- Values shared knowledge and strong relationships
[18:00] — Michelle:
- Gratitude for collaboration and guidance over the years
- Vizient connections were vital for adapting to the buyer role
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