CATHY FURFARO, RPH

Cliffside Park, NJ ***** 201-***-****

adz8uj@r.postjobfree.com linkedin.com/cathyfurfarorph/

CLINICAL PHARMACIST

Pharmacist with diverse pharmacy experience in retail, long term care, pharmacovigilance reporting, pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and specialty drug hub services delivers high quality pharmaceutical support to patients. Utilizes clinical drug knowledge and strong critical thinking skills to optimize drug therapies, assist patients with prescription adherence and address patient safety issues. Develops good rapport with customers and prescribers. Highly adaptable and thrives under pressure in fast paced, dynamic environments. Well organized in prioritizing workloads and working independently to meet deadlines. Effectively resolves customer inquiries regarding adverse drug experiences, product queries, insurance payer coverage and eligibility issues. Skillful in developing business relationships and working collaboratively with both internal and external partners. With strong written and verbal communication skills, provides drug information to prescribers and counsels patients on proper medication usage/disease state management. Effectively communicates with insurance payers in resolving prescription reimbursement issues. Detail oriented in reporting adverse event and product complaints to manufacturers in order to meet compliance requirements in drug safety. Expertise includes:

− Specialty Drug Hub Services − PBM Knowledge

− Clinical Drug Knowledge − Effective Customer Service Skills

−Adverse Event/Product Complaint Reporting − Healthcare Industry Payer Landscape

−System and Process Compliance − Medication/Disease Therapy Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Asembia, Florham Park, NJ Oct. 2017- Present

Specialty Pharmacy (Hub Call Center Clinical Pharmacist)

Counsel patients on proper medication usage of various high touch, high cost drug products for complex disease states. Transfer referrals in and out of the specialty pharmacy network so to assist patients with obtaining medication in a timely manner. Evaluate incoming referrals for accuracy and completeness and when necessary, communicate with prescribers regarding clinical clarifications of referrals and prior authorization requests.

●Knowledgeable in all aspects of coverage determination and appeals process. Assist in meeting clients expectations regarding efficiency, service levels, privacy maintenance and quality decision making,

●Commended for providing outstanding customer service and making a significant impact on patient outcomes by resolving customer service issues and minimizing any delay of products to patients.

●Recognized for exceeding company performance metrics in all areas of specialty hub services including patient consultations, prescriber collaboration, quality control evaluation and prescription transfers.

●Document and report adverse drug events and product complaints according to specific manufacturers’ protocol procedures and company policies.

●Serve as a quality improvement coordinator by evaluating prescriptions for clinical appropriateness and review the benefit verification process for referrals in order to meet company compliance policies.

●Oversaw a Prior Authorization Pilot Program for 2000 referrals of an anaphylactic medication; evaluated the initial benefit verification process, clinical review and concluded with the transfer of referrals to dispensing pharmacies.

●Implemented quality assurance process to accurately review over 10,000 dermatological prescriptions prior to assigning to in network and out of network filling pharmacies.

EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC. (Formerly Medco), Franklin Lakes, NJ Aug 2007-Apr 2017

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (Work at Home Staff Pharmacist)

Analyzed prescription orders for validity, accuracy and regulatory compliance. Conducted drug utilization review functions on incoming prescription orders reviewing drug interactions, duplicate therapies, under / over drug use, adverse drug reactions, and allergy reviews at largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) organization in United States.

●Utilized clinical experience to recommend to prescribers formulary alternative medications or modifications to current drug therapies through quantity limits and step therapies

●Commended for attaining outstanding quality (zero errors) in order processing by accurately evaluating prescriptions for patient safety and clinical appropriateness. (800 prescriptions per day)

●Review clinical coverage determination using Medicare and client specific requirements.

●Chosen for Employee Relations Council. Designed and executed various developmental programs that engaged and rewarded NJ Work at Home Pharmacy Team; topics included time management, workload balance, and career advancement.

●Selected as key member for prestigious Internal Quality Peer Coaching Program. Identified process compliance issues and coached staff for improved performance; driving 62% improvement in efficiencies. Accomplished this by mentoring colleagues regarding prescription processing, professional judgement, and appropriate order routing; thus preventing errors and prescription delays and led to higher customer/client satisfaction.

●Recognized for aligning with “Express Scripts Values” of Service, Passion, and Collaboration for driving company growth and improving team performance.

PFIZER, Bridgewater, NJ 2004- 2007

Senior Drug Safety Associate

Prepared drug safety reports of marketed and investigational products by accurately coding and assessing adverse events. Submitted a high volume of case reports into global safety database according to standard operating procedures and consistently met regulatory reportability timelines.

●Recognized for displaying the “Pfizer Leadership Behaviors and Values” of Teamwork and Performance by supporting critical business timelines and compliance.

●Triaged adverse event cases based on report type and assessed regulatory requirements of case reports based on seriousness, causality, and expectedness / listedness of adverse events in accordance with safety case processing procedures and product labeling.

●Collaborated with Metabolic / Ophthalmology Team, Atherosclerosis / Lipitor Team, and Allergy / Pulmonary Team, reconciling database reports and preparing for interim analyses and clinical trial unblindings.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTHCARE, Parsippany, NJ

Drug Safety Scientist

Managed and reconciled drug safety reports of over the counter drug products using ARGUS Global Drug Safety Database.

MEDCO PRESCRIPTION SERVICES, (Formerly Merck Medco), Parsippany, NJ

Staff Pharmacist / Lead Pharmacist of Control/Narcotic Department

Discussed adverse drug events with patients during customer service calls and submitted FDA MedWatch reports based on severity of events. Consulted with physicians on managed care interventions and geriatric drug utilization. Selected to manage activities in control / narcotic drug departments.

RITE AID PHARMACY, Bergenfield, NJ

Pharmacy Manager

EDUCATION AND LICENSURE

Bachelor of Science (BS), Pharmacy, St. John’s University, Queens, NY

New Jersey Registered Pharmacist Medication Therapy Management Certification

Diabetes Medication Therapy Management Certification Pharmacy Based immunization Certification

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Pharmaceutical Association New Jersey Pharmaceutical Association

Contact this candidate