Pain Management Patient Care

Curriculum Vitae

Stephen Ford, BS, PharmD, BCGP

Personal Information

Home Address: **** ***** ****** ******, *********, PA 15931

*** – 392 – 0908

***************@*****.***

Business: Diamond Pharmacy Services, 645 Kolter Drive, Indiana, PA 15701

800 – 882 – 6337 (x 2829)

******@***************.***

Honors Eagle Scout

Military Experience PA ARNG; Combat Medic (Honor Graduate); Ft. Sam Houston, TX

Education Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh

Post-Graduate Pharmacy Practice Residency, Hamot Medical Center, Erie, PA

Licensure (Current) Pharmacist (PA #RP041782L)

Certifications/Advanced Training

Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP)

ASHP Pain Management Certificate

Medication Therapy Management Certificate

ASCP Foundation Pain Management Traineeship Certificate

Online Instructor Certification (CANVAS) Certificate

Professional Memberships

American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP)

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)

American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

Adjunct Clinical Instructor/Academic Affiliations/Preceptorships

LECOM; Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice; School of Pharmacy Preceptor (Active)

University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy; Preceptor (Active)

Current Work Experience

Clinical Pharmacist, OPTICS (2015 - Current)

•Formulary management, to include adjudication of non-formulary medication requests, providing alternative, cost-effective treatment recommendations, directly engage site level providers and medical directors when necessary.

•Participated in company marketing and clinical efforts of the Drug Information Center (DIC), including website integration.

•Present select clinical information with respect to cost utilization to our clients and forums upon request, including traveling to select local, regional, and national correctional venues.

•Assist in preparation of clinical slide sets for Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committee meetings and conduct research for pharmacy consultants when needed.

•Assist in establishment of a variety of tele-pharmacy clinical initiatives, integrating direct clinical pharmacy consultations with providers, allied healthcare personnel and clients.

•Travel to correctional care facilities to engage providers with clinical cost utilization recommendations when deemed appropriate and necessary at the request of clients.

•Scope of work for OPTICS includes (but not limited to) providing in-depth clinical consultations with site providers on specific, individual patient case/chart reviews, developing and providing CE accredited educational programming (via webinar) to clients, monitor specific disease state and polypharmacy parameters through daily-monthly reports and by making recommendations directly to the client.

National/Regional Presentations

•Updates in Heart Failure: “Beating the Symptoms”, National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL

•Pharmacology Seminar. Department of Food and Nutrition, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Kovalchick Center, Indiana, PA

•Antibiotic Stewardship: Using the Tools of Today for the Promise of Tomorrow; National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), Annual Conference, Chicago, IL

•Basic Bug and Drug: Principles of Antibiotic Use; National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), Spring Conference, Atlanta, GA

Long-Term Care Conference Presentations

•Use of Herbal Medicines, Essential Oils

•Herbal Remedies

•Vitamins: The Not-So VITalAMINs

•Life Begins…When Pain Ends

•Palliative Care – Focus on Symptom Management

•Polypharmacy

•Pharmacy Implications in the Elderly

Correctional Care Webinar Presentations

•Heart Failure – 2024 Update

•"Pick Your Poison", Pain Management Primer

•Pain Management in Substance Use Disorder

•Osteoarthritis

•Antiplatelet Review, VitalCore Health Strategies

•Pharmacotherapeutic Options for Acute Seizure Management

•Updates in Heart Failure, "Beating the Symptoms"

•Anticoagulation Update, Focus on DOACs

•Pain Management in Patients with Substance Abuse Disorder

•Antibiotic Stewardship

•Antibiotics 101: Basic Bugs and Drugs

•Chronic Pain Management; Focus on NSAIDs

•Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT); Live In-service

•Update on Antidepressants and Antipsychotics

•Diabetes; Management of Complications and Primary Prevention

•Neuropathic Pain

•Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Professional Development Conferences/Seminars Attended

•VA Office of Rural Health/Healthcare Transformation – The Geriatric Scholars Program: GeroNet Health & Aging Resources 31st Annual UCLA Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine/Board Review, Los Angeles, CA

•Making the Transition from Staff to Supervisor, Fred Pryor Seminars, Johnstown, PA

•Management of Human Capital, The Grant Group, VA Medical Center (VISN 4), Coatesville, PA

•Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Training, Pittsburgh, PA

•ASCP Pain Management Traineeship, Heartland of Mentor, Hospice of Western Reserve, Mentor, OH

•VHA Coaching and Mentoring Certification Workshop, Altoona, PA

•ACCP/ESCP International Congress on Clinical Pharmacy, Orlando, FL

•The 2nd Annual VA Clinical Pharmacy Programming Conference: “Managing VA Clinical Pharmacy Programs into the Future”. Denver, CO

•Preceptor Training Program, LECOM School of Pharmacy, Erie, PA

•Professional Seminar: Managing Multiple Priorities, Projects, and Deadlines. Fred Pryor Seminars, Erie, PA

•Faculty Development Seminar, LECOM School of Pharmacy, Erie, PA

•Effective Teaching Through Understanding the Student’s Modality of Learning, Dr. A. S. Stano, Education Administrator, LECOM

Academic Teaching Experience

Saint Francis University (SFU) – Adjunct Faculty, Nursing, School of Health Sciences and Education (Current)

Saint Francis University (SFU) – PHTH403 Physical Therapy in Rehabilitation Pharmacotherapy, Lecturer

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) – Pharmacology, HPED 620, Exercise Prescription for Chronic Disease, Guest Lecturer

Gannon University Physician Assistant Program/Pharmacotherapeutics Adjunct Clinical Instructor in Pharmacotherapeutics; Gannon University Graduate MSN (Nurse Practitioner) Program Adjunct Clinical Instructor in Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics

Previous Work Experience

Chief, Pharmacy Service – James E. van Zandt VA Medical Center

The Chief, Pharmacy Service is responsible to many activities involving aspects of administrative/supervision, clinical, education, program management.

•Plan, direct, and coordinate comprehensive pharmacy activities at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

•Responsible for operations for all facets of inpatient, outpatient, and clinical programs. The Pharmacy Service offers a full range of pharmaceutical and clinical services including but not limited to: decentralized unit dose dispensing, intravenous (IV) admixture program (USP 797 compliant), total parenteral nutrition service, inpatient and outpatient anticoagulation services.

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS/PACT) – James E. van Zandt VAMC

•Provision of formal consultations upon request in the areas of pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapy, including writing orders for and adjusting doses of these medications as clinically indicated.

•Conduct comprehensive patient evaluations (medication histories) as necessary to assess response to drug therapy.

•Evaluate drug therapy through direct patient involvement, communicating and documenting those findings and recommendations to appropriate individuals and in the appropriate records.

•Prescribe or recommend medication to include initiation, continuation, and discontinuation, monitoring and altering of drug therapy as clinically indicated, within scope of practice.

•Order and review appropriate laboratory tests required to monitor drug therapy and analyze laboratory and diagnostic test data to modify drug therapy and dosing as necessary.

•Interact with other health care providers to develop and promote rational and cost-effective drug therapy management.

•Function as a source of drug information to healthcare professionals, advising medical staff in the areas of pharmacotherapy and pharmacokinetics.

•Provide in-service education to physicians, nurses, and other allied healthcare professionals and patients.

•Served on various committees/teams/projects/task groups, to include: VISN 4 Pharmacy Utilization Management (PUM) Committee; VISN 4 Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, VISN 4 Clinical Pharmacy Group Council, Medication Use and Nutrition Committee (Co-Chair), Patient Safety Committee, Special Care Units Committee, Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Oversight Committee

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Saint Vincent Health Center

•Promote and demonstrate rational, cost-effective drug therapy.

•Develop and conduct target drug programs and drug usage evaluations as needed and report results to Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

•Participate on institutional committees and teams when required.

•Provide inpatient consultative services in the areas of Cardiology, Anticoagulation, Pain Management, Nutrition Support and Pharmacokinetics consultation services.

•Preceptor for pharmacy students in Internal Medicine/Cardiology rotation

•Participation in Pharmacy Practice Residency Program

•Development and implementation of medication protocols, order sets, and nursing guidelines

•Participate in the investigational drug study program.

•Provide pharmaceutical care to patients in the coronary care unit, cardiothoracic surgery unit, step-down/telemetry, and cardiac catheterization laboratory.

•Participation on various teams and committees, including: Stroke Team Steering Committee (Subcommittee – Written Care Protocols), Surgical Care Improvement Project Team (SCIP), Subcommittee – VTE Prophylaxis and Perioperative Beta Blockade, Critical Care Committee – Pharmacy Representative, DVT Prevention Team (Clinical Quality Initiative/EBP), Continuing Medical Education Committee (Pharmacy Representative), Subcommittee – Planning Committee, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (Voting Member), Detoxification (Alcohol, opioids, smoking) Project, VTE Prophylaxis Order Set Work Group, NPSG 3E - Anticoagulation Therapy Management Task Force

•Educational activities included: Hemodynamic Management, Family Practice Medical Residents and Clinical Faculty, Annual Critical Care Curriculum Nursing Review Course, Hemodynamic Medications, Antiarrhythmic Medications ACLS Provider Course/Recertification Program, Pharmacology Review

•Participation on Quality Assurance/Utilization Review/Clinical Pharmacy Programs

•Joint Commission - National Patient Safety Goal 3E (Champion)

•Development of DVT Risk Assessment and Prophylaxis Order Set, Adult Moderate (Conscious) Sedation Order Set, Vitamin K MUE

•Participation in Surgical Care Improvement Project (VTE Prophylaxis), Dopamine MUE, Pharmacist Automatic Renal Dosing Program, Adult Vasoactive Infusion Order Set/corresponding nursing guideline policy

•Evidence-based best practice; part of Highmark™ Hospital Performance Incentive Program; Project value worth $75,000 to SVHC; Received PSHP Innovative and Collaborative Practice Award

•Vitamin K DUE; distribution of pocket guides

•Development/expansion of clinical pharmacy services in cardiology and anticoagulation

•Initiation of an inpatient clinical pharmacy pain management service

•Initiation of inpatient pharmacy-based anticoagulation services (orthopedics)

•Development of clinical pharmacy services in internal medicine

•Inpatient presentations, including:

•Crystalloid vs Colloid - Nursing Back to Basics (CVICU)

•Problem Cases in Anticoagulation, The Saint Vincent DVT Prevention Team

•Implementing a Surgical VTE Prophylaxis Program; Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, SCIP IPG

•DVT Prevention Team; Update to Highmark Quality Blue (Pay-for-Performance Program)

•Update in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT). ICU Unit Conference

•Transforming Surgical Care: Moving from Good to Great: VTE Prophylaxis. The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania (HAP)/Quality Improvement Program (QIP)

•Current Issues in Anticoagulation

•Management of Dyslipidemia, Annual Northwest PA Nurse Practitioner Association Conference (NPNPA)

•How Not to Clot – An Evidence-based Best Practice Initiative in DVT Prevention

•Riding the Surf of Pain, Pennsylvania Association of Peri-anesthesia Nurses Inc. (PAPAN) Annual Peri-anesthesia PRIDE XII Conference

•Anticoagulation/LMWH Renal Dosing Program, Pharmacy Education Retreat

•Conscious Sedation In-service, Catheterization Lab Nursing Team

•Heart Failure…Made Easy, Family Practice Medical Residents and Clinical Faculty

•Emergency Medicine Case and Literature Review: Treatment of DVT – A Focus on Outpatient Management (Emergency Department)

•The Pharmacist Role in Pain Management. A PSHP-endorsed CE program provided to community pharmacists as part of a recruitment seminar.

•Clinical Use of Antihypertensives: A review of JNC VI and Hypertensive Crisis. Family Practice Medical Residents and Clinical Faculty

•Update in Pain Management; Pharmacy CE Program, Northwestern Chapter of Pennsylvania Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (NWPSHP)

•Update on Anticoagulation. Pharmacy Education Retreat

•Anticoagulation and Anesthesia: Department of Anesthesia

•Overview on Anticoagulation (Nursing Inservice): Intensive Care Unit

•Hemodynamic Management (Nursing Inservice): Cardiology Care Unit,

•Nursing Back to Basics Seminar: Pain, the 5th Vital Sign/JCAHO 2000 Standards Review

•Pain Management and Cancer: Introduction to Oncology Nursing Program

Independent Consulting/Contracting/Advisory Boards

•Council Member, Advisory Board Life Sciences, Gerson Lehman Group (GLG) – Current

•Sanofi-Aventis U.S., LLC (Lovenox®); Speaker Training, DVT Aware Care

•Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Integrilin®); Pharmacy Advisory Board

•Coreg® Clinical Advisory Panel

•Scios, Inc (Natrecor®); Pharmacy Advisory Board

•The Medicines Company (Angiomax®); National Hematology Advisory Board

•GlaxoSmithKline (Argatroban®); Speaker Update Training

•Organon Sanofi-Synthelabo, LLC (AriXtra® Advisory Board)

Publications/Posters

•Gelles S and Ford SJ. Current heparin protocols: validation and assessment of compliance. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.

•Ford SJ, Cooney M, Parenti H, DiSantis B, Miller J, Felege E, and Geopfarth P. Implementation of a thromboprophylaxis model in a community hospital setting – a multidisciplinary approach. ACCP Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO. Kuneman M and Ford SJ. A prospective evaluation of anti-factor Xa levels in obese patients receiving fixed-dose venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following elective major orthopedic surgery. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Anaheim, CA.

•Fagan S and Ford SJ. Prospective evaluation of enoxaparin usage in patients with renal insufficiency in a community hospital environment. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Anaheim, CA.

•Nick-Dart RL, Ford SJ, Scola JM. Evaluation of the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equations for estimating renal function and implications for renal dosing adjustments of enoxaparin and eptifibatide. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Las Vegas, NV.

•El Annan R, Grimone A, Ford SJ, Coxson R. Evaluating Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor Use in Outpatients with Heart Failure (HF): A Retrospective Study. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Orlando, FL. Ford SJ, Cacchione J, Goepfarth P. Implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) using automated information technology for acute myocardial infarction in a community hospital. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Orlando, FL.

•Scola JM, Ford SJ, Grimone AJ, Amann C. Pharmacist Impact in Pain Management Following Elective Total Knee or Hip Replacement Surgery. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

•Ford SJ, Kim J, Davis D, Danek M, Richmond RG. First annual (Pennsylvania) student and resident research forum. International Pharmaceutical Abstracts ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; 1994;29(Dec); P-277(D);31-12199. Ford SJ, Tullock WC, Richmond RG. Simulated measure of geriatric psychomotor performance. International Pharmaceutical Abstracts ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; 1994;29(Dec); P425 (R);31-12109.

Pharmacy-Specific Awards/Honors

PSHP Innovative and Collaborative Practice Award

Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society

University of Pittsburgh Blue and Gold Society

ASHP Student Leadership Award

Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society

Reuben Helfant Memorial Scholarship Award; Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society

Dean’s List

References

Available Upon Request

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