April 28, 2025
With its multiple, large-scale health facilities, Indiana University Health (IU Health) required assistance a few years back managing their demand for intrathecal pain pump–compounded medications. The need for more pain-pump refills, and the accompanying federal compliance regulations posed significant operational challenges. So they sought a trusted outsourcing partner that could reduce overhead, streamline access, and maintain the highest possible standards.
The Challenge: Navigating Regulatory and Operational Challenges
IU Health’s pain clinic was tasked with delivering roughly 100 intrathecal pain pump refills per week. Between significant compliance hurdles, and the escalating risk exposure associated with in-house compounding, it became clear that trying to do everything in-house was unsustainable.
Tate Trujillo, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, FASHP, CPEL, Executive Director of Pharmacy, Clinical Nutrition & Indiana Poison Center at IU Health, explained, “We were trying to manage this out of our satellite pharmacy and were not meeting the need, particularly as the clinic was adding more and more providers.” This led the pharmacy leadership team to explore outsourcing solutions that could provide both regulatory, compliance, and workflow improvements.
The Solution: AIS Healthcare—The Right Compounding Pharmacy Partner
IU Health needed to identify a pharmacy specializing in Category 3 medications that could meet USP <797> standards. Ideally, this pharmacy could integrate with IU Health’s existing workflows and streamline administrative burdens. After a thorough evaluation, IU Health chose AIS Healthcare, an outsourcing partner with advanced infrastructure, providing the highest standards in sterile compounding.
AIS immediately began providing:
Accurate billing was another hurdle. “Trying to actually bill effectively and get reimbursed appropriately is a challenge, and since AIS does a direct bill for us, those solutions have been solved,” said Tate Trujillo.
A Smooth Transition to Outsourced Compounding
The transition, which took place more than 6 years ago, was designed for minimal disruption. AIS facilitated staff training and pharmacy onboarding. They also implemented a streamlined ordering process. This groundwork has allowed IU Health to integrate outsourced compounding services with remarkable efficiency to this day.
The Future: Driving Better Outcomes for Patients and Providers
“Our top priority is ensuring patient safety while maintaining compliance with evolving regulations,” said Tate Trujillo. “AIS Healthcare’s robust processes, including double-gloving, redundant checks, and terminal sterilization, gave us confidence that they could deliver the quality and compliance we require.” Josie Klink, PharmD, Pharmacy Manager of Business Operations & Procurement, reaffirms that, “AIS has been an outstanding partner for us regarding the intrathecal pain pumps and this critical patient population.”
IU Health’s experience with AIS serves as a model for other health systems facing similar challenges. By prioritizing compliance, patient safety, and financial sustainability, IU Health has successfully navigated the complexities of Category 3 compounding and created a framework for continued excellence in patient care.
Watch the Full Video Case Study
See the case study video on AIS Healthcare’s partnership with IU Health at: aiscaregroup.com/videos/#case-studies
To learn more about how AIS Healthcare can help health systems navigate Category 3 compounding challenges, visit aiscaregroup.com or contact Chad Jeske, PharmD, Vice President, Hospital and Health Systems TDD Sales at cjeske@aiscaregroup.com.