Diversified Express

APPE Experience Types
Non-Patient Care (Elective)

Address
6625 W. 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55439

Phone
800-344-3405  
952-820-7000

Region
Twin Cities Region

Main Contact
Cheryl Dugan, R.Ph., MBA, Vice President
Clinical Program Management
cdugan@express-scripts.com    
952-837-7682

Teaching Philosophy

Learning will primarily be in the form of hands-on, self-driven projects to actively engage the student. Active thinking and learning, as well as student’s input will be emphasized.

Detailed Site Information

Institution
Founded in 1986 and never owned by a drug manufacturer, Express Scripts aligns its interests with those of plan sponsors and their members. This legacy of independence means that the company’s programs and original research on the pharmacy benefit serve its clients.

Express Scripts drives to lowest net cost by enabling better health and value at the consumer level. As evidence, Express Scripts’ generic dispensing rate leads the industry. 

We call St. Louis home, but there are administrative, pharmacy, and customer service operations throughout the United States and Canada. Express Scripts continues to expand its services and today there are more than 11,500 employees focused on our mission to make the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable.

The Bloomington, MN location is a corporate campus setting for administrative functions, including Clinical Program Management, Information Technology, Drug Evaluation, PharmacoAnalytics, Prior Authorization Services and a Patient Care Contact Center.

Institutional Mission Statement and Vision
Express Scripts makes the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable for more than 50 million Americans through thousands of employers, managed care plans, governments and labor unions.

Express Scripts handles millions of prescriptions each year through Home Delivery and at retail pharmacies.

We share a common cause with each of our clients — to help offer a healthy prescription-drug benefit today and into the future. In support of this effort, we’ve launched The Center for Cost-Effective Consumerism. The Center and its Advisory Board provide forward thinking and key insights to drive better health and value in the pharmacy benefit. The Advisory Board includes nationally recognized experts in the science of human behavior and decision making.

By combining insights from the Center with Express Scripts' proven ability to develop, test, and implement industry-leading programs, we provide the greatest opportunity to encourage smarter prescription-drug choices and achieve the lowest total plan cost.

Pharmacy Services
Over 50 million Americans count on Express Scripts to supply the information and treatment they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing members, clients, and healthcare professionals with services that offer safe and affordable pharmaceuticals.

Express Scripts understands that everyone has unique needs, especially when it concerns prescription drugs. Whether you’re looking to save money on your prescription, manage your account online, or gather the latest information about a particular drug, Express Scripts has you covered.

Clients can benefit from our ability to create systems, processes and products that help them effectively manage benefits and trends relevant to their organization’s needs. It’s our clients’ interest that matters

Professionalism and Assessment

• Student will comply with ESI professionalism and ethical code of conduct.
• Student will not disclose any health information to any person within or outside this organization without express written consent of primary preceptor.
• Student will follow all HIPAA laws. 
• As part of their activity they will be asked to complete ESI HIPAA training modules, even if the student has had outside training in HIPAA.
• Student will participate in all assignments with a positive attitude and put forth efforts to gain as much information as possible during this rotation.

Resources
Parking: Park in Visitor parking in the parking ramp.

Regular hours:  8 hour day; we are flexible on time but like some consistency so 8-4 or 9-5 but we can flex on that and on a day by day as needed basis.  It is a typical professional business environment.

Attire:  Business casual M-Th; Casual (jeans) on Fridays

Lunch:  There is a cafeteria on site and refrigerators available for storage of lunch (many folks bring lunch)

Desk and computer:   Assigned for use during the internship.

Clinical Program Management

Primary Preceptor 
Lois Dellwo R.Ph., Senior Director, Clinical Program Management
952-837-7589

APPE Structure

• To understand clinical pharmacy practice in a managed care organization, specifically, a pharmacy benefit management company.
• To know what pharmacy benefit management is and what role it plays in today’s health care.
• Become familiar with and be able to define managed care terminology.
• Understand how medication utilization data pertains to health plan formulary designs, and be able to integrate cost trend analysis based on the utilization data, in recommending formulary changes.
• Understand the processes involved in client’s formulary, and the considerations of new pharmaceutical products.
• Learn clinical data analysis skills by actively utilizing computer-based reports to help clinical manager(s) in their consultation to health plans.  Students will run reports, analyze the data, and formulate a thoughtful recommendation.
• Develop skills in integrating clinical, business, and trend considerations in formulating recommendations pertaining to pharmacy benefits.
• Enhance student’s communication skills by participating in scheduled conference call meetings with health plans and in assisting with presentation materials.
• Learn about clinical programs and protocols used to manage trend and improve patient care.

Student Roles and Responsibilities

• Specific activities and projects will vary depending on business issues at hand.  Students may work with several clinical managers for diverse project exposure.
• Learn and assist with preparing clinical packet for Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee meetings.
• Learn the formulary review process for new drugs, and the maintenance procedures for health plans formularies.
• May learn how to use Express Scripts’ proprietary formulary modeling tool, and assist clinical manager(s) in recommending formulary changes based on both clinical considerations and cost implications.
• Learn information management strategies and communication skills utilizing emerging therapeutics issues (new drugs, drug withdrawals, etc.) and other direct clinical information services.
• Learn how to consult with a client organization by working with advanced reporting tools to analyze comprehensive utilization data in order to make formulary and clinical program recommendations. 
• Learn the concepts and practices of clinical business planning and strategies as part of an account team. 
• Participate in various conference calls and committee meetings with clinical manager(s).
• Develop research skills by supporting clinical manager(s) with various projects.  This may include scientific and lay literature search using the internet, as well as on-site drug information library or phone inquiries to pharmaceutical companies, etc.
• Creative thinking and thoughtful opinions will be encouraged during interactions with clinical manager(s). 
• Attend clinician meetings and 1 hour educational sessions.
• Student ideas and suggestions for projects or special work are welcomed.
• Passive reading assignments and duties may be assigned for educational reasons

Educational Opportunities
see above

Other Requirements
None