Tuesday Apr 14, 2026

Efficiency to Excellence: AI’s Role in Modern Pharmacy Practice

AI is rapidly reshaping pharmacy practice, raising both concern and opportunity for healthcare teams. Vizient host Kerry Schwarz is joined by Dr. Jason Chou, Vice President of the System Pharmacy Service Line, and Dr. Catherine Oliver, System AVP of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Ochsner Health, to explore how AI is improving efficiency while redefining how pharmacy teams spend their time. They discuss where technology is already making an impact and where its limits still require human expertise.

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Jason Chou, Pharm.D., MS
Vice President, System Pharmacy Service Line
Ochsner Health

Dr. Catherine Oliver, Pharm.D., BCPS, DPLA, CPGx
System AVP, Clinical Pharmacy Services
Ochsner Health

Host
Dr. Kerry Schwarz, Pharm.D., MPH
Senior Clinical Manager, Evidence-Based Medicine and Outcomes
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 

Shownotes:

00:05 — Introduction

Announcer welcomes listeners to VerifiedRx, produced by the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence.

00:14 — Episode Overview

Host Kerry introduces the topic: the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and pharmacy.
Key themes:
- Addressing fears of job replacement
- Identifying real-world use cases
- Understanding limitations of AI
- Practical strategies for adoption
Guests:
- Dr. Jason Chou, VP, System Pharmacy Service Line, Ochsner Health
- Dr. Catherine Oliver, System AVP, Clinical Pharmacy Services, Ochsner Health

01:04 — Will AI Replace Healthcare Jobs?

Concern exists, but largely driven by misunderstanding
AI is expected to:
- Augment, not replace, pharmacy roles
- Improve efficiency in daily workflows
AI is not capable of:
- Independent clinical judgment
- Meaningful patient interactions
Human elements—trust, empathy, and nuance—remain essential.

02:20 — Where AI Can Add Value Today

Focus should shift from fear to practical use cases
Ideal applications:
- Reducing non-value-added tasks
- Improving efficiency
- Supporting clinical decision-making preparation (not replacing it)

02:39 — Early Use Cases: Operational Efficiency

AI can reduce administrative burden such as:
- Prior authorizations
- Insurance-related communications
- Data gathering and documentation
Opportunity to eliminate “busy work” and improve staff satisfaction

03:31 — Clinical Workflow Support

AI can:
- Summarize patient charts, labs, and notes
- Organize large volumes of clinical data
Enables pharmacists to:
- Spend less time preparing
- Spend more time in patient care and provider interaction

04:08 — Additional Opportunities: Supply Chain & Operations

AI can support:
- Inventory management
- Purchasing optimization
- Multi-site coordination
Benefits include:
- Cost savings
- Improved efficiency
- Better resource utilization

05:00 — Where to Draw the Line

AI should not replace clinical decision-making
Limitations include:
- Lack of experience and judgment
- Inability to incorporate patient values and preferences
Final decisions must remain with clinicians.

05:42 — Preserving the Human Element

Patient care involves:
- Trust
- Empathy
- Relationship-building
Over-reliance on AI risks eroding patient confidence.

06:11 — Patient Interaction & Transparency

Patients want to know:
- When AI is used
- How it impacts their care
Transparency and communication are critical

06:48 — AI in Direct Patient Care: Ambient Listening

AI tools can:
- Capture conversations during patient visits
- Reduce documentation burden
Important considerations:
- Patient consent
- Ability to opt out
- Privacy concerns

07:31 — Risks of Poor Implementation

Poorly designed AI interactions can:
- Frustrate patients
- Reduce trust
Healthcare AI must avoid:
- Impersonal experiences
- Inefficient automation

08:21 — AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement

Comparable to tools like:
- Search engines (e.g., Google)
Enhances efficiency without replacing professional roles.

09:12 — Early Success Stories

Prior Authorization Optimization

AI improves:
- Data extraction
- Documentation speed
- Approval timelines
Benefits:
- Faster patient access to therapy
- Improved staff satisfaction

10:07 — Clinical Decision Support Enhancements

AI-driven rule systems:
- Identify high-risk patients
- Reduce unnecessary chart reviews
Example outcome:
- Reduction in time spent reviewing charts without intervention
Frees pharmacists for:
- Medication reconciliation
- Patient counseling

11:11 — Impact on Workforce Engagement

Staff report:
- Increased satisfaction
- More time for meaningful work
AI seen as an enabler rather than a threat

12:03 — Vendor Landscape & Challenges

Rapid growth of AI vendors addressing niche problems
Key risks:
- Data security concerns
- Vendor quality variability
- Overlapping or redundant solutions

12:51 — Integration & Workflow Considerations

Successful AI tools must:
- Integrate with EHRs
- Align with pharmacy workflows
- Avoid siloed systems
Poor integration leads to inefficiency and adoption barriers

14:04 — Vendor Evaluation Considerations

Assess:
- Clinical and operational expertise
- Product maturity
- Implementation effort
- Risk vs benefit
Balance between:
- Ready-made solutions
- Custom-built tools requiring internal resources

14:56 — Practical Advice for Health System Leaders

Develop a system-wide AI strategy
Collaborate across departments (not siloed decisions)
Engage:
- IT
- Legal
- Ethics teams
Avoid duplicative solutions across service lines

15:31 — Building Organizational Readiness

Be open to learning and experimentation
Ask questions and maintain healthy skepticism
Focus on:
- Improving workflows
- Enhancing patient outcomes
- Supporting workforce engagement

16:02 — Infrastructure & Speed of Innovation

AI vendors move quickly
Organizations must:
- Be prepared to adapt rapidly
- Avoid delays that hinder innovation
Balance speed with governance and safety