AIS Healthcare opened its second 503A specialty compounding pharmacy in Dallas, creating a fully redundant targeted drug delivery operation that goes beyond state and industry standards to produce medications of the highest quality.

The acquisition marks AIS Healthcare’s expansion into ophthalmology and a continuation of its commitment to providing patient-specific medication of the highest quality.

Contact:
Simon Castellanos
877.443.4006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2020

COVID-19 response: AIS Healthcare continues to go above and beyond to protect patients and support providers

In addition to our industry-leading safety and quality standards across all three of our care divisions, AIS Healthcare is implementing additional measures in response to COVID-19.

Dallas, Texas—AIS Healthcare is committed to doing what’s right, not just what’s expected, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

From pharmacies that put patient safety first to highly skilled nurses dedicated to doing more for patients and providers, AIS Healthcare has the standards, procedures and services in place to support patients and
providers during this time:

  • We exceed industry safety and sterility standards in our pharmacies, including more robust environmental monitoring, and have an independent, full-time quality team on site
  • Our comprehensive care services give patients flexibility in where they receive care
  • We offer 24/7 nursing and pharmacist support for patients and providers

We will continue to go above and beyond across our three divisions.

Targeted Drug Delivery:

  • With a proven, proprietary process that combines aseptic processing with terminal sterilization—a pharmaceutical industry standard—we are able to achieve sterility assurance of 1:1,000,000 and a Beyond-Use Date of 21 to 45 days for all formulary medications1
  • Our state-of-the-art 503A compounding pharmacies in Dallas, Texas, and Ridgeland, Mississippi, are fully redundant, allowing for uninterrupted supply of medication to our patients
  • By exceeding USP <797> standards for particle testing, we are able to quickly detect contaminants, and use virucidal disinfectants in our cleanings
  • None of our active pharmaceutical ingredients are sourced from outside countries affected by the virus, all ingredients undergo rigorous testing prior to compounding and we have a year’s supply on hand to continue service in the event of a shortage
  • Home Connect provides in-home implanted pump refills and maintenance, allowing patients to avoid trips to healthcare facilities

1 All patient-specific dispenses within maximum concentrations (based on AIS Healthcare in-house data for 120,000 aseptically processed and terminally sterilized patient-specific prescriptions in 2019)

Advanced Infusion Care:

  • Close collaboration with physicians ensures the consistent delivery of patient-specific, specialized in-home infusion services, without patients needing to travel to clinics
  • No product or supply comes from an outside country, and we currently have a stable supply
  • All plasma used in our immunoglobulin infusions is sourced from the United States

AIS Healthcare Ophthalmics:

  • Our compounding facilities meet all USP <797> standards for sterility and patient safety, and our environmental monitoring exceeds these standards
  • We have a large, local inventory of our most commonly used medications, helping to ensure consistent supply
  • All extended-BUD products undergo sterility testing

Additionally, AIS Healthcare has a preparedness and business continuity plan in place, which has been communicated to all staff members.

Additional COVID-19 response measures:

  • Starting March 10, AIS Healthcare has limited access to our facilities and implemented enhanced illness screening, based on CDC guidance, for all staff and visitors
  • Vendor interactions have been moved off-site and employees are equipped to work from home where needed
  • We are working with our strategic logistics partners to ensure capacity in and out of our pharmacies
  • All nursing staff members are following the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines for healthcare personnel and are equipped with additional sterilization equipment
  • All AIS Healthcare nurses are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while inside patients’ homes, and are educating patients and caregivers on CDC-recommended preventative measures, including hand hygiene

If you have any questions about AIS Healthcare’s response to COVID-19, you can:

AIS Healthcare
18451 Dallas Parkway
Suite 150
Dallas, TX 75287

623 Highland Colony Parkway
Suite 100
Ridgeland, MS 39157

P: 877.443.4006
F: 888.298.2220
aiscaregroup.com

About AIS Healthcare
Advancing quality. Improving lives.
As the leading provider of targeted drug delivery (TDD), infusion care and ophthalmology solutions, AIS Healthcare is committed to doing more of what matters. From pharmacies that put patient safety first to comprehensive services that enhance the entire care experience, we go beyond the expected in everything we do.

Learn more at aiscaregroup.com

AIS Healthcare is dually accredited by URAC and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).

Watch our webinar, hosted April 9th, in response to COVID-19: Managing Pumps in the New Paradigm. The webinar provides insights into the pandemic and best practices on adapting your targeted drug delivery care models from members of our medical advisory board and physician partners. 

If you have any questions, please contact us or find your rep to learn more.

Webinar agenda: 

  • Welcome and introduction
    Dr. Anish Patel, Chief Medical Officer of AIS Healthcare
  • COVID-19 update
    Dr. Peter Staats, Chief Medical Officer of National Spine and Pain Centers
  • AIS Healthcare’s response to COVID-19
    Dr. Amitabh Gulati, Director of Chronic Pain at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • The new paradigm and how AIS Healthcare can help
    Dr. Anjum Bux, Director of Chronic Pain Management at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center
  • Triaging and workflow during COVID-19
    Dr. Michael Danko, Premier Pain Treatment Institute
  • Panel Q&A and close
    Dr. Anish Patel, Chief Medical Officer of AIS Healthcare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2020

AIS Healthcare goes above and beyond to supply needed medication for COVID-19
ventilator patients

AIS Healthcare is leveraging its industry-leading 503A compounding facilities to help address a national medication shortage while continuing to provide existing patients with medications of the highest quality and sterility.

Dallas, Texas—As part of our commitment to doing what’s right—not just what’s expected—in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), AIS Healthcare is working with hospital systems across the country to produce in-demand medications for ventilator patients. AIS Healthcare has provided fentanyl to hospitals in Georgia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

“We want to help and we are thrilled that we could help the healthcare community,” said Blaine Forshage, Chief Commercial Officer of AIS Healthcare.

A national medication shortage for ventilator patients

Ventilators have become life-saving tools in the fight against COVID-19. However, the use of ventilators requires certain opioid medications, including fentanyl, morphine and hydromorphone, that have long been on the drug shortage list. The growing number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators has exhausted the supply of these medications at many hospitals and traditional suppliers are unable to meet current needs.

Proactively supporting patients and providers during a critical time

AIS Healthcare’s state-of-the-art facilities are fully equipped to compound these specialty
medications for ventilator patients with COVID-19. We’re proactively engaging with regulators and hospitals to be able to leverage our capabilities to produce needed medications and get them to where they’re needed most.

For example, when Chief Executive Officer Simon Castellanos learned that Phoebe Putney Health System in Georgia needed fentanyl for its ventilator patients, he quickly took action. The AIS Healthcare team, spearheaded by Jonathan Hamer, Director of Pharmacy and Pharmacist in Charge for the Dallas pharmacy, worked over the weekend to deliver critically needed drugs to the hospital system.

“We’re committed to doing what’s right, not just what’s expected—and producing these medications is what’s right,” said Castellanos. “We’re able to safely and efficiently produce in-demand medications, and we will keep working with hospital partners to use our capabilities to fight this pandemic.”

In addition to addressing the COVID-19 shortages, AIS Healthcare continues to produce high-quality, patient-specific prescriptions for more than 30,000 targeted drug delivery patients and provide comprehensive care services to help them thrive.

About AIS Healthcare

Advancing quality. Improving lives.
As the leading provider of targeted drug delivery (TDD), infusion care and ophthalmology solutions, AIS Healthcare is committed to doing more of what matters. From pharmacies that put patient safety first to comprehensive services that enhance the entire care experience, we go beyond the expected in everything we do.

Learn more at aiscaregroup.com

Contact
Phone 877.443.4006

Simon Castellanos, Chief Executive Officer
scastellanos@aiscaregroup.com

Blaine Forshage, Chief Commercial Officer
bforshage@aiscaregroup.com

John Finley, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
jfinley@aiscaregroup.com

Jonathan Hamer, Director of Pharmacy and Pharmacist in Charge, Dallas
jhamer@aiscaregroup.com

On April 28, we hosted our second webinar in response to COVID-19: Managing Pumps in the New Paradigm. This webinar offered up-to-date information on the national COVID-19 response and outlook, and included insights on the impact of COVID-19 on academic medical centers. 

If you have any questions, please contact us or find your rep to learn more.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2020

The designation reflects AIS Healthcare’s commitment to advancing quality throughout the
care continuum.

Dallas, Texas—AIS Healthcare is proud to announce that its state-of-the-art pharmacy in Ridgeland, Mississippi, which produces patient-specific prescriptions for targeted drug delivery (TDD), has received the prestigious URAC accreditation for Home Infusion Therapy Supplier (HITS). AIS Healthcare is the first organization to secure this specific accreditation with URAC showcasing its drive to deliver specialized, in-home infusion services of the highest quality.

URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation. The new HITS accreditation from URAC focuses on the key role that pharmacists play in providing infusion therapy services, and recognizes the pharmacies that excel in this area. Additionally, home infusion therapy suppliers must be accredited by January 1, 2021 to qualify for bundled payment reimbursement from Medicare.

“Attaining HITS accreditation is not easy, nor should it be,” said URAC President and CEO Shawn Griffin, M.D. “When an organization like AIS Healthcare achieves this distinction, it says they are quality-driven and posting results at the highest levels. We’re pleased to recognize their hard work and success.”

By earning a HITS accreditation AIS Healthcare has demonstrated its commitment to going above and beyond to support patients and empower their providers. From pharmacies that put patient safety first to comprehensive services that enhance the entire care experience, the company goes beyond the expected in everything it does.

“Throughout AIS Healthcare, we’re focused on doing more of what matters throughout the care continuum,” said Pam Carter, Chief Nursing Officer at AIS Healthcare. “This recognition from URAC shows how doing more to advance quality truly does result in meaningful improvements for patients and providers.”

AIS Healthcare also has Specialty Pharmacy and Health Call Center accreditations from URAC, and is accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), further setting it apart from other compounding pharmacies and infusion services providers.

The URAC accreditation for Home Infusion Therapy Supplier at the Ridgeland pharmacy is effective through February 1, 2023.

About AIS Healthcare

Advancing quality. Improving lives.
As the leading provider of targeted drug delivery (TDD), infusion care and ophthalmology solutions, AIS Healthcare is committed to doing more of what matters. From pharmacies that put patient safety first to comprehensive services that enhance the entire care experience, we go beyond the expected in everything we do.

About URAC

Founded in 1990, URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation. URAC is a nonprofit organization using evidence-based measures and developing standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare. Our portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the healthcare industry, addressing healthcare management, healthcare operations, health plans, pharmacies, telehealth providers, physician practices and more. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability.

Learn more at aiscaregroup.com

Contact
Phone 877.443.4006
Simon Castellanos, Chief Executive Officer
scastellanos@aiscaregroup.com

July 10, 2020

At AIS Healthcare, we’ve always focused on doing more of what matters. More to advance medication quality, more to support patients, more to empower providers.

Now, in this moment of social unrest over the persistent injustice in our society, we must continue to do more. Not just for our patients and providers but also for our employees, our neighbors and our communities.

We have long promoted diversity and inclusion within our organization, and we’re committed to valuing all our differences—in race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status and more—throughout our company.

But now is the time to do more. We must build upon our commitment to diversity and do everything we can to move toward more inclusivity and equality, both within our company and out in our world. Here’s where we will start:

  • Through organization-wide diversity training, all AIS Healthcare employees will learn what it truly means to work with respect, inclusivity and understanding
  • CEO Simon Castellanos will lead a new inclusion council task force to promote diversity at the leadership level
  • We will analyze our own hiring practices and talent management programs, and make the necessary changes to help us increase our company’s diversity and help ensure each of our employees feels included, respected and valued
  • We have secured an external diversity consultant partner who will help us put a plan in place to move these actions forward
  • We will evaluate all of our marketing, including our website to ensure we’re representing the diversity of the communities we serve
  • Simon Castellanos will seed a new fund that will support nonprofits focused on diversity issues and education
  • AIS Healthcare will provide a corporate match to this new fund of up to $50,000
  • We will also make a meaningful contribution to support diversity and inclusion efforts in our local community of Dallas, Texas

Our company has long been committed to doing what’s right, not just what’s expected. We’re proud to live that commitment in each of these actions, at a time when doing what’s right is more important than ever.

About AIS Healthcare

Advancing quality. Improving lives.

As the leading provider of targeted drug delivery (TDD) and infusion care, AIS Healthcare is committed to doing more of what matters. From pharmacies that put patient safety first to comprehensive services that enhance the entire care experience, we go beyond the expected in everything we do.

Learn more at aiscaregroup.com

Contact:
Simon Castellanos
877.443.4006

On July 22nd, we hosted the third webinar in our informational series for providers. This month, we focused on the benefit of developing a targeted drug delivery (TDD) pump practice, and how AIS Healthcare can help give these practices the time and flexibility to grow.

If you are interested in learning more about AIS Healthcare’s TDD services, please contact us or find your representative..

As severe winter weather impacts pharmacies across the country, AIS Healthcare is drawing on its robust emergency preparedness and taking additional measures to continue to deliver vital, patient-specific medications on time. 

If you believe you will be impacted by the storms, please call us at 877.443.4006. 

Dallas, Texas—In the wake of a severe winter storm that has affected both the pharmaceutical supply chain as well as national shipping services, AIS Healthcare has gone above and beyond to ensure all of its patients have uninterrupted access to critical targeted drug delivery (TDD), infusion and ophthalmics medications. 

AIS Healthcare is always prepared for inclement weather. Its seven pharmacies are spread across six states and have production and operational redundancies, allowing medication compounding and delivery to continue even if severe weather impacts one or more locations. The pharmacy teams in all seven locations continuously monitor the weather and potential disruption to distribution services and adjust shipping accordingly. In addition, extended Beyond-Use Dates on many patient-specific prescriptions allow providers to order prescriptions in advance of severe weather and offer flexibility in scheduling appointments during storms.

AIS Healthcare also has a robust emergency contingency plan, which accounts for a variety of natural disasters and severe weather. Over the past seven days, this plan has been activated and AIS Healthcare teams have been proactively partnering with providers to get prescriptions to patients. 

This emergency contingency plan includes:

  • Immediate and ongoing communication with both patients and providers
  • Collaboration with national delivery partners to develop safe and effective shipping plans
  • Wellness checks for all in-home infusion care and TDD patients, regardless of care schedule or refill date
  • Focused effort throughout the week and weekend at all pharmacies to produce and ship patient-specific medications as quickly as possible
  • Partnership with providers to make sure patients have continuity of care plans

AIS Healthcare has also taken some extraordinary steps to deliver medication on time, including chartering cross-country flights to avoid shipping delays. The TDD division recently sent more than 40 prescriptions via private plane to waiting providers and patients in Indiana and Kentucky. When the ophthalmics team identified more than 30 surgical patients who could be impacted by shipping delays, another private plane was chartered to fly the medications to the divisional headquarters in Maryland, where the medication could be more quickly delivered to the affected patients. 

To support its own staff during the winter storm, AIS Healthcare has provided hotel accommodations and personal generators to employees in need. This ensures that all staff members are safe and able to continue to provide high-quality care and support during this time. 

“I am proud of everything we have done to ensure all of our patients have the medication they need, when they need it,” said Simon Castellanos, Chief Executive Officer of AIS Healthcare. “We will always be the pharmacy provider that does more—for our patients, our providers and our staff.”

About AIS Healthcare

Advancing quality. Improving lives.

As the leading provider of targeted drug delivery (TDD), infusion care and ophthalmic solutions, AIS Healthcare is committed to doing more of what matters. From pharmacies that put patient safety first to comprehensive services that enhance the entire care experience, we go beyond the expected in everything we do.

Learn more at aiscaregroup.com

Contact:
Simon Castellanos
877.443.4006