Q: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Brookston, Indiana, a small town close to Purdue University (where I received my pharmacy degree). There were only 45 kids in my high school graduating class, but it was an ideal environment in which to grow up.
Q: What are your favorites?
Food: Thai
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption, Goodfellas, The Natural
Musicians: Post Malone, Nirvana, The Beatles
Destination: Chicago
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
If I’m not at work, I’m typically watching sports (Colts, Cubs, and anything Purdue), working out, planning my next trip, or spending time with family and friends.
Q: What kind of work does your company do in 340B and what makes it stand out?
Avita Care Solutions is a national health care services organization committed to promoting health equities by providing comprehensive, compassionate, and inclusive health care and pharmacy services to underserved communities. Avita’s community care management strategy enables patients and covered entities to remove barriers across the care continuum by offering pharmacy services (Avita Pharmacy), 340B program administration, digital health (Q Care Plus), and delivery of clinical care (Q Care Plus and AvitaCare Atlanta) for more than 180,000 patients through over 400 pharmacy services agreements with covered entities at 60+ locations nationwide.
The result is a unique turnkey business model that serves as an irreplaceable “connector” for our patients, covered entities, and providers. Our integrated care offering empowers our partners to improve patients’ medical adherence, increase patient retention, and ultimately enhance clinical outcomes.
Q: Why did you choose to work in the 340B space?
I began working in the 340B space nearly 15 years ago in Chicago, where I managed a district of over 40 stores for Walgreens. Many of our patients struggled with access to healthcare, and I began to partner with FQHCs and DSH hospitals in the neighborhoods where our patients received care. I saw firsthand how the power of the 340B program was critical to sustaining community healthcare services, and I’ve continued this work in my role with Avita. I’m passionate about the 340B program because of its impact on an organization’s ability to fund services for some of America’s most vulnerable patients living with a host of complex conditions.
Q: What do you feel is your most significant contribution to the 340B world or to a 340B customer/client?
One of the most important contributions I bring to a 340B partner is my 20-plus years of experience in pharmacy operations. I’ve driven growth, efficiency, and patient satisfaction across various industry sectors, including onsite FQHC and hospital pharmacies, community-based specialty pharmacies, employer worksite pharmacies, and retail pharmacies. By leveraging these insights and understanding the unique needs of the patient populations each partner serves, I can help covered entities strategically integrate 340B pharmacy solutions into their organizations in a way that drives the growth of their missions and improves patient care goals.
Q: What advice do you have for a young professional who has recently launched a career in the 340B space?
Always keep the patient at the center of everything you do. While the 340B program is complex, overwhelming at times, and seemingly constantly in the news, its core purpose is ensuring that vulnerable patient populations have access to comprehensive healthcare. For covered entities to continue providing care for millions of under- and uninsured patients across America, the 340B program is critical. As you’re getting up to speed, be sure to spend time learning all areas of the 340B ecosystem; that’s crucial to understanding the end-to-end program. And remember: At the end of the day, the program’s purpose is to positively impact the health of the patients we all serve. They depend on us.
Q: What’s your number-one piece of advice for covered entities in the process of selecting an onsite pharmacy partner?
Make sure your pharmacy partner understands the patient population you are serving and aligns with your covered entity culturally. There are many different players in the pharmacy and 340B space. Your organization will maximize its pharmacy partnership by choosing one that shares your mission and offers complementary levels of clinical expertise and cultural competency. Think of the pharmacy partner as an extension of your team, one that provides compassionate care to patients while helping your program achieve its goals.
Chris can be reached at chris.creamer@avitacaresolutions.com
