Q: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in southern Connecticut and lived there my entire childhood.
Q: What are your favorites?
Food: Indian, pizza, soft-serve ice cream
Movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Anchorman, Raising Arizona
Musicians: Prince, Leon Bridges, Bob Dylan
Destinations: New Zealand, New York City, Switzerland
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
I am an avid, talent-deficient golfer and a crossword puzzle enthusiast. Those hobbies have survived parenthood much more gracefully than my love of basketball and world traveling have.
Q: What kind of work does your company do in 340B and what makes it stand out?
Avita Care Solutions is a national healthcare services organization committed to promoting health equities by providing comprehensive, compassionate, and inclusive healthcare 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 am not a clinician, but I love working in healthcare. Our healthcare system is full of talented, compassionate people delivering care, yet can also be truly challenging for patients to navigate. I like working in a segment of the healthcare industry where I collaborate with grantees that deliver critical services in their communities, and tapping into my experience in technology, data, and innovation to do so.
Q: What do you feel is your most significant contribution to the 340B world or to a 340B customer/client?
I make sure our teams are fully aligned with our organization’s goals around providing the best possible care and service to patients and clients. Information Technology groups are at their best when their strategic direction and operational imperatives are in lockstep with the teams on the front lines, improving the lives of patients and helping clients deliver on their missions.
Q: What advice do you have for a young professional who has recently launched a career in the 340B space?
Be a sponge. Soak up as much information and expertise as possible from as many different people and perspectives as you can. It’s a space with a lot to learn and a lot of nuances. Providers, payers, and manufacturers look at the space in different ways, and each has its own lens. Understanding each of these perspectives is valuable in ensuring the best patient outcomes.
Q: What’s your top piece of advice for covered entities in terms of how to make sure they’re leveraging their service providers’ tech stacks in a way that moves their missions?
Talk to your partners and challenge them to deliver the visibility, security, and tools you need to serve your patients. It should be a collaborative relationship. Don’t just purchase a service. Find partners who are as invested in your mission as you are.
For questions, Troy can be reached at troy.polan@avitacaresolutions.com
