In her work as an operational consultant with Alegria Specialty Pharmacy, Melville, NY, resident Ellen Scharaga has assisted patients in managing a number of chronic conditions. Ellen Scharaga has assisted patients dealing with HIV, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis, among other conditions.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a difficult condition to live with for a number of reasons, many of which serve as reminders of how diverse and unpredictable MS symptoms can be. Although there are plenty of early signs that can indicate the onset of MS, an individual may feel only one, none, or several of the symptoms at once. Vision problems have long been associated with the earliest stages of MS, with blurred vision and a lack of contrast ranking among some of the more common troubles an MS patient might experience. Despite the occasional accompaniment of pain, this symptom can be overlooked as natural degeneration of eyesight over time. Other vision problems resulting from MS, which physicians refer to as optic neuritis, include double vision and dulled colors.
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Ellen Scharaga serves as the senior vice president of oncology pharmacy services at OncoMed Pharmaceutical Services. With an outside interest in volunteer service, she supports several charitable organizations in the Melville, NY, area. In addition to her support of the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Ellen Scharaga contributes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary agency committed to curing lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and Hodgkin’s disease. With its commitment to improving the lives of individuals with blood cancers, the LLS manages several campaigns to increase public involvement and awareness. This includes the Someday Is Today initiative, which the organization launched in early 2013. After the success of this campaign, the LLS made an additional call to the public to support the work of the organization. Through its new platform, called “Declare It. Cancer Ends With Me,” the society will show the public that everyone can have an impact in the fight to cure blood cancers. Ellen Scharaga of Melville, NY, is the senior vice president of operations for OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, located in Great Neck, NY. The pharmaceutical company has a number of divisions, including Onco360, which focuses on prescription refills and deliveries.
The following are some frequently asked questions about prescriptions that Ellen Scharaga and other OncoMed executives often address: How can patients obtain refills? Patients can call OncoMed any time of the day or night to request a refill. After confirming the prescription, the company will send the medication out as soon as possible. What are the payment options for medication? There are a host of payment options, and OncoMed is willing to work with patients individually to create a payment plan, if necessary. OncoMed provides a list of financial assistance organizations on its website. How long do the prescription delivery services take? Excluding holidays, prescription deliveries take between one and three days from the date of the order. Patients can learn more about refilling their prescriptions with OncoMed at www.onco360.com. The senior vice president of oncology pharmacy services at OncoMed Pharmaceutical Services, Ellen Scharaga is responsible for managing inventory, developing procedures, and maintaining operations of the pharmacy call center. When she has free time, Ellen Scharaga enjoys walking around Melville, NY, and reading.
In addition to the recognized benefits of reading, such as building vocabulary and spelling skills, other additional benefits exist. One of these benefits is increased self-esteem. Due to the improved knowledge that comes with reading, individuals often exhibit higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. Further, reading promotes creativity through the exposure to new thoughts, ideas, and information. The brain requires exercise, just like other muscles in the body, and reading serves as a great way to build the brain’s strength. New studies show that individuals who read throughout their lives show decreased rates of memory loss, and some research suggests that reading helps decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals who experience regular stress or have difficulty sleeping also benefit from reading. Reading a book helps relax the brain, allowing it to de-stress and prepare for sleep. Since 2009, Ellen Scharaga has served as the senior vice president of oncology pharmacy services at OncoMed Pharmaceutical Services, located near Melville, NY, in Great Neck. Through her maintenance and development of company policies and procedures, Ellen Scharaga has decreased turnaround time for prescription fills, thus making the company more efficient.
When developing office policies, one of the main goals is to improve efficiency. Most customers and clients who enter an office expect to see a well-managed area where they receive services quickly. By creating policies that improve efficiency, businesses ensure customers are happy and comfortable in the office setting. Successful office policies also ensure employees complete the necessary tasks throughout the day in a professional manner. When creating new policies, several things help ensure understanding and adherence. Office policies are basic statements containing predetermined guidelines and principles that work to support the office’s objectives. When writing policies, it is important to keep sentences short and avoid unclear wording. Policies should be in line with the organization’s values and should build stability in the office. The senior vice president of oncology pharmacy services for OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Ellen Scharaga has played an important role in many of its endeavors since 2009. In 2010, Ellen Scharaga, a resident of Melville, NY, spearheaded the successful campaign to acquire Joint Commission accreditation for all branches of the firm.
Medical organizations ranging from hospitals to behavioral treatment health facilities benefit from Joint Commission accreditation. Clinics offering an exceptional quality of health care receive the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval to acknowledge their dedication to providing the best medical experience. Additionally, the Commission offers specific designations based on specialty and recognizes the best in home care, ambulatory health care, disease-specific care, and palliative care, among other fields. To decide who receives the honors, the Joint Commission uses an objective standard created using the insights of health care professionals, government agencies, experts, and other entities. The Board of Commissioners approves its science-based qualifications, and amendments only occur when new data becomes available about how to enhance patient health and safety or if relevant laws change. Improve Pharmacy Productivity for Improved Customer Service, ProfitabilityBy Ellen Scharaga12/6/2013 In today’s health care environment, pharmacy owners and managers find that streamlining operations and developing efficient procedures enable their staff to fill prescriptions with greater accuracy and speed. The increased productivity enhances profitability while also enriching customer experience and satisfaction. An assessment of operations and practices often reveals areas for improvement; new methodologies can be implemented without interruption of regular business.
Adopting new time management practices allows pharmacies to decrease both customer wait time in their location and turnaround time for those receiving their medications and supplies via delivery or shipment. Technology tools often facilitate more effective management of incoming and outgoing prescriptions; they also promote inventory control that prevents over-supply or under-supply of product. Moreover, regular updates to the system ensure that safety protocols are recognized at the time of fulfillment. Finally, preventing employee turnover fosters the development of a knowledgeable, cohesive team. About Ellen Scharaga: A pharmacist with 30 years of experience, Ellen Scharaga serves as the Senior Vice President of Oncology Pharmacy Services at California-based OncoMed Pharmaceutical Services. She proves adept in such areas as operations management and training. Ellen Scharaga graduated from St. John’s University in New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology. Volunteers can support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with as much or as little time as they have. Often, the organization can capitalize on the skills that an individual already possesses or provide training in new areas.
The range of volunteer opportunities at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is extremely diverse. Individuals can provide services to patients and family support groups, develop the existing network of donors, or work with various fundraising initiatives, such as the Light The Night Walk or Team In Training. Other volunteers advocate for the organization before local legislators or assume leadership roles in education programs. Some individuals may wish to consider the organization’s internship opportunities, which provide great experience with marketing and management in the nonprofit sector. This experience proves ideal for individuals just beginning their career or thinking about graduate study. About the author: A dedicated volunteer in her community of Melville, NY, Ellen Scharaga is actively involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, an organization that raises funding to fuel research on blood cancers. As Ellen Scharaga tells potential volunteers, the organization depends on donated time in order to run effectively. The health benefits of walking include lower blood pressure, higher levels of good cholesterol, and lower levels of bad cholesterol. Studies have also shown that regular walking reduces an individual’s risk for type-2 diabetes and can help individuals struggling with diabetes better manage their disorder. Walking also improves general mood for many individuals.
Many athletes stick to the adage “no pain, no gain,” but people reap the health benefits of walking by simply maintaining a brisk pace. Of course, individuals must still take precautions to avoid injury, just as in any form of exercise. Walkers should wear proper footwear that fits well and provides adequate arch support. Before walking, individuals should warm up by slowly picking up the pace and then stretching leg muscles. After walking, individuals should repeat their stretches and give themselves time to cool down to avoid soreness. About the author: Dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Ellen Scharaga regularly walks to stay fit and to prevent various diseases. Walking, Ellen Scharaga explains, provides many of the same benefits of running, without the high impact on legs and knees. By Ellen Scharaga
Cancer drugs are a booming business, and pharmaceutical companies (such as Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company) are willing to devote impressive resources to developing new drugs. This surge in interest in cancer drugs is due in part to new research discoveries, but it is also driven by the high cost that cancer drugs can command. Patients who are desperate for a new treatment will pay high sums to get it, and insurance companies don’t want to be seen as denying a dying person’s last hope. The company where I work, OncoMed Pharmaceutical Services, helps deliver cancer drugs and care-management services to patients. We also work with drug manufacturers, allowing us to streamline distribution while reducing the out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Although there is a lot of money to be made on new cancer drugs, OncoMed is devoted to helping patients receive these costly drugs at a fair price. |