Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Dr. Thomas Carey, PharmD, Senior Director, Pharmacy Services, UW Northern Illinois

Host: Laura Dearda
Date: January 9, 2026

Overview

This episode explores the evolving role of pharmacy services in health systems, with Dr. Thomas Carey detailing initiatives at UW Northern Illinois. The discussion covers transformative pharmacy-led programs, operational and regulatory challenges (especially around the 340B program), strategies for team agility, leadership vision, and the future of pharmacy automation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Background (00:00–01:38)

• Dr. Thomas Carey introduces himself and UW Northern Illinois (UWNI).
  • UWNI serves both Wisconsin and Northern Illinois with a focus on economically challenged populations.
  • Notable for having one of the largest EDs, L&D units, mental health, and oncology centers in the region.
  • Pharmacy team: 150+ members supporting a diverse, high-volume health system.

"UWNI is the tertiary care hub for University of Wisconsin in the Northern Illinois region. ...we have one of the largest emergency departments in the state... our senior leadership team really has recognized the value of pharmacy..." — Dr. Thomas Carey [00:34]

Major Initiative: Enhanced Med-to-Bed Program (01:54–04:50)

• Focus: Expanding and optimizing the Med-to-Bed (discharge medication delivery) program, especially for high-risk and high-cost patients.
  • Multidisciplinary team: Outpatient and acute pharmacists, techs, nursing, case managers, hospitalists.
  • Objectives:
    • Increase efficiency and reach with limited resources.
    • Ensure high-risk and high-need patients receive medication at discharge.
  • Results: Nearly 30% reduction in 30-day readmissions for patients using the hospital outpatient pharmacy versus external pharmacies.

"Over the past year, we've been able to quantify a nearly 30% reduction in our 30 day readmission rate... for patients who had their prescriptions billed in our outpatient pharmacy versus external retail pharmacies."
— Dr. Thomas Carey [03:50]

Building and Sustaining the Med-to-Bed Program (05:22–07:15)

• Critical Components:
  • Hospital-owned outpatient pharmacy, providing control and integration.
  • Integrated informatics (EHR linkage between inpatient & outpatient).
  • Leveraging pharmacy learners (residents, interns, students) for workflow and patient education.
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration for resource utilization and patient access.

"Having a hospital owned or an entity owned outpatient pharmacy I feel is critical. ...we have the informatics systems...integrated between the outpatient pharmacy and your inpatient pharmacy provides a tremendous amount of efficiency..."
— Dr. Thomas Carey [05:22]

Priorities & Headwinds for 2026: 340B Program (07:28–10:01)

• Ongoing Challenge: Navigating the volatile policy landscape of the 340B drug pricing program.
  • 340B's importance in serving vulnerable populations and stretching limited resources.
  • Uncertainty and frequent regulatory pivots, especially relating to rebates.
  • Stress for frontline staff and need for agile, responsive leadership.

"It's a tremendously challenging time for those individuals and then subsequently stressful because we don't really know what the impact may be of the 340B program from, from a day to day basis..."
— Dr. Thomas Carey [09:05]

Staying Agile Amidst Change (10:38–12:33)

• Organizational Strategy: Weekly multidisciplinary, cross-location team meetings focused on 340B compliance, regulations, and program expansion.
  • Balancing near-term regulatory/compliance work with long-term growth and innovation.
  • Importance of full senior leadership engagement and up-to-date communication.

"...we meet every Friday to discuss not only our compliance, the value that we're providing, local, state and national regulatory challenges, but also program expansion. ...You still have to focus on continuing to expand. Patients are still here every single day."
— Dr. Thomas Carey [10:48]

Leadership Challenge: Setting Vision for the Future (12:41–14:57)

• Biggest Challenge: Providing a visionary roadmap for pharmacy services three to five years out, fostering trust, innovation, and direction amidst uncertainty.
  • Emphasizing proactive leadership versus reactive 'getting through the day.'
  • Alignment on vision prevents complacency and encourages innovation.

"As a leader, it's critical that we are creating that roadmap and the vision for our team... getting an educated guess and being right about what the profession looks like over the next three to five years builds trust in our leaders..."
— Dr. Thomas Carey [13:01]

Opportunities for Growth: Pharmacy Automation (15:20–17:21)

• Future Strategy: Invest in autonomous pharmacy—integrating technology and automation to improve efficiency, safety, and staff support.
  • Eliminating unnecessary steps/handoffs.
  • Quantifying financial impact is crucial, as automation requires significant investment.
  • National recognition as a top destination for pharmacy staff is an aspirational goal.

"A concentrated, strategic, energized effort and working as a system to create that autonomous pharmacy ... is going to be critical. And it's necessary to be able to support our most important commodity, which is our staff..."
— Dr. Thomas Carey [15:20]

Notable Quotes

• "The theory behind Med2Bed program is attempting to eliminate the barrier of access to medication. And in doing so, we'd be able to reduce this as a potential cause for readmission."
  — Dr. Thomas Carey [03:25]

• "We can't lose track of the most important thing which is continuing to expand while also keeping one eye on, on the regular challenges."
  — Dr. Thomas Carey [11:57]

Memorable Moments

• The quantification of a 30% reduction in 30-day readmissions stands out as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of integrated pharmacy services.
  [03:50]

• Candid acknowledgment of the uncertainty and "phenomenal agility" needed to manage 340B-related disruptions, with specific references to week-by-week pivots.
  [07:50–09:45]

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction and Background – 00:00–01:38
• Med-to-Bed Program & Results – 01:54–04:50
• Operational Structure & Staffing – 05:22–07:15
• 340B Challenges & Strategic Agility – 07:28–12:33
• Leadership, Vision & Future Planning – 12:41–14:57
• Automation & Growth Opportunities – 15:20–17:21

Conclusion

Dr. Carey offers a comprehensive, candid look into the strategic and operational complexity of leading pharmacy services in a large, safety-net health system. His insights on program development, regulatory headwinds, team engagement, and the future pursuit of automation are applicable to pharmacy leaders nationwide navigating rapid healthcare transformations.