Banner Health is improving medication management and providing more convenient access to pharmacy services for patients by launching a new Banner Pharmacy Services division. The new division will include a Banner Family Pharmacy network and a Compounding Pharmacy Center and will ensure improved care and services for patients and provide opportunities for cost savings through an integrated operational approach to pharmacy services throughout Banner.

The Banner Family Pharmacy will include a network of retail pharmacies placed within Banner Health hospitals and larger Banner Medical Group (BMG) health centers to provide patients with more convenient access to pharmacy services and medications. Banner Health pharmacists will provide counseling to improve outcomes, limit side effects and negative drug interactions and recommend cost-effective alternative medications. Most patients can also receive first doses of many medications before they leave the care setting, which will help with medication compliance.

Banner Health will also establish a Compounding Pharmacy Center that will insource and centralize compounding, packaging and distribution of many medications to Banner Health hospitals and Banner Family Pharmacies, ensuring greater quality control and cost savings.

Pam Nenaber has been named chief executive officer of Banner Pharmacy Services. Nenaber has extensive health care leadership experience. She most recently served as the chief operating officer for Banner Medical Group and prior to that, as chief executive officer at Banner Gateway Medical Center and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Joining Nenaber in development of the new division is Tina Aramaki, PharmD, who has been hired as vice president of Banner Pharmacy Services. Aramaki has 33 years of pharmacy experience in progressive leadership positions and most recently served as system director of pharmacy services for Intermountain Healthcare. She will lead the design, development and implementation of Banner Health’s pharmacy services delivery model and will be responsible for all pharmaceutical operations across the system.

“The launch of our new Banner Pharmacy Services division allows us to implement a unique and comprehensive approach to pharmaceutical care for the benefit of our patients,” said Jim Fernando, Western Region president for Banner Health. “I’m confident that Pam and Tina’s leadership will guide us as we integrate pharmacy services across Banner’s entire continuum of care.”

Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system manages 24 acute-care hospitals, the Banner Health Network and Banner Medical Group, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.