Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Edith Okolo, PharmD, RPh, Director of Pharmacy at Cedar Crest Hospital
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Ella Jeffries (A)
Guest: Dr. Edith Okolo (B), Director of Pharmacy at Cedar Crest Hospital
Episode Overview
This episode features Dr. Edith Okolo, Director of Pharmacy at Cedar Crest Hospital, discussing pivotal pharmacy initiatives from the past year, the primary priorities and challenges as she plans for 2026, and the emerging opportunities for both patient care and organizational growth in the psychiatric health sector. Dr. Okolo offers insights into technology upgrades, ongoing medication safety efforts, addressing medication shortages, and the broader role of pharmacy in mental health care.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Introduction & Facility Context
- [00:30] Edith Okolo’s Role and Cedar Crest Overview
- Cedar Crest Hospital (Belton, Texas) is an inpatient psychiatric facility with 158 beds for both children/adolescents (including residential treatment) and adults.
- Pharmacy department provides medication management for both acute and residential units.
- Facility is part of Acadia Healthcare’s national network.
Major Pharmacy Initiative of the Past Year
- [02:06] Technology Upgrade – Omnicell Med Machines
- Upgraded from older MedDispense machines to Omnicell automated medication management systems in all seven medication rooms.
- Implementation included:
- Procuring, staging, and programming new machines.
- Staff training and role/permission assignments.
- Interfacing with pharmacy order-entry software.
- Benefits cited:
- Real-time monitoring for potential medication diversion.
- Error reduction and tracking.
- Barcode scanning for every medication: improved medication safety, traceability, and delivery accuracy.
- Enhanced operational workflow and regulatory compliance.
- Quote:
“Having to walk every employee through it and having to assign roles and permissions and all that, you know, that took a lot of our time. But... I was really grateful to have those machines in because the ones we had were kind of older.” – Edith Okolo [06:39]
Priorities & Headwinds for 2026
- [07:46] Focus on Patient Safety
- Safe medication practices to ensure no delays, errors, and appropriate treatment.
- Emphasis on giving the right drug to the right patient at the right time.
- Ongoing drive to eliminate errors and keep patients safe during care.
- Workflow Efficiency
- Staff productivity and workflow management to facilitate patient care and avoid obstacles.
- Quote:
"My biggest thing is patient safety because at the end of the day, when we have patients, we expect them to be safe. We don't want patients getting worse under our care." – Edith Okolo [07:50]
Planned Initiatives for 2026
- [09:35] Improving Access to Long-Acting Injectables
- Focused effort to stock and monitor expensive psychiatric medications (long-acting injectables) for patients unable to afford them.
- In-hospital trial and monitoring prior to discharge to optimize treatment efficacy and safety.
- Coordination to secure ongoing access after discharge.
- Quote:
“We see if there are side effects, if this medication is working for them, if it's something they need to be on, and then we'll work out how to get them on this medication so that they can have a life outside the facility.” – Edith Okolo [10:28]
Main Challenges for the Coming Year
- [11:01] Medication Shortages
- Regular shortages require creative alternatives and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
- Example: Recent shortages of lorazepam injectable, critical for seizure, agitation, and emergency management.
- Budgetary Pressures
- Need to maintain financial balance amid rising drug costs and manage resources carefully.
- Quote:
“When we have medication shortage... patients are on these medications, they need it on a day-to-day basis and trying to either switch them to something else or find alternatives to these medications is a big, a big deal.” – Edith Okolo [11:02]
Opportunities for Organizational Growth
- [13:13] Community Education and Early Intervention
- Expanding efforts to educate society about mental health signs and symptoms to promote early intervention.
- Quote:
"Educating the community, you know, about signs of mental health and how you can handle it, how you can find help. You know, those are areas for growth." – Edith Okolo [14:08]
- Adolescent Residential Treatment Expansion
- Growth in residential programs (RTC) for children/adolescents, especially those affected by family dysfunction, providing therapeutic housing and education.
- Facilities Expansion
- With additional funding and staffing, potential to broaden capacity and services for more youth in need.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Staff Engagement with Technology:
“It sounds easy saying it, but it wasn't like that when it was happening. Because a whole brand new machine, having to walk every employee through it and having to assign roles and permissions and all that, you know, that took a lot of our time.” – Edith Okolo [06:39]
-
On the Impact of Medication Shortages:
“If patient is having a seizure, what can I do immediately to bring this situation? So we had to collaborate and kind of come up with alternatives that... are also going to be efficient for the patient.” – Edith Okolo [12:05]
-
On the Need for Societal Change:
"One out of five Americans is affected in one way or the other by mental health condition... there's so much opportunity for growth." – Edith Okolo [13:26]
Key Timestamps for Reference
| Time | Segment/Event | |----------|-------------------------------------------------| | 00:30 | Introduction of Edith Okolo & Facility Overview | | 02:06 | Omnicell Med Machine Initiative | | 07:46 | Priorities for 2026: Patient Safety, Workflow | | 09:35 | Long-Acting Injectables Access Initiative | | 11:01 | Managing Medication Shortages & Budgeting | | 13:13 | Growth Opportunities: Education & Residential |
Conclusion
Dr. Edith Okolo’s insights illuminate the continuous evolution within pharmacy leadership in psychiatric care—from leveraging technology to safeguard and streamline medication management, to ensuring patient access, and responding to real-time challenges like shortages. Her focus remains on patient safety, operational efficiency, and expanding Cedar Crest’s capacity to serve its community’s mental health needs.