Hello, and Happy Friday! For this week’s Employee Spotlight Series, we are featuring Rachel Freeman. Rachel is a 340B Lead Analyst and has been a part of the SpendMend team for about two years. When asked why she looks forward to coming to work every day, she stated, “I love my co-workers and supervisors. They are amazing people. I also love the challenge that my job entails.” Rachel is very dedicated to her job and enjoys the part she plays in helping prepare entities with their HRSA audit. She is highly motivated when working with 340B clients because she believes 340B is a great program that creates many opportunities to provide care that may have never been possible, and it changes people’s lives! Check out the rest of the interview below to learn how Rachel stays informed about 340B programs and changes! Rachel is originally from Susanville, California and now haslived in Reno, Nevadafor about seven years. A fun fact about Rachel is she has been skydiving and bungee jumping. When asked what inspired her to go skydiving and bungee jumping, she stated, “I like to push myself by facing my fears and doing things that scare me. Skydiving and bungee jumping were goals of mine for years before I got the courage to do them.” Out of the two experiences, she said bungee jumping was scarier! She recommends both adventures but recommends you take a friend so you can’t back out. A hobby Rachel likes to do in her free time is reading! Rachel and her sister have a book club where they catch up every two weeks and discuss. She loves talking about books and the insights she gets from the book club. Also, she gets to read books she wouldn’t usually come across on her own! Rachel’s favorite book genre is classical, and her favorite author of all time is Charles Dickens!
Rachel is a star in her role and is appreciated by many co-workers! We asked Heidi Larson, Director of Pharmacy Services, Compliance, and Client Solutions/Lead Pharmacist Auditor, about Rachel, and she said, “Every day, Rachel impresses me with her knowledge, desire to learn, and her ability to tackle even the toughest of tasks with a smile. She is always ready to offer assistance, even without being asked. She is a true asset to the SpendMend Pharmacy team. I could not do my job without her.” Thanks for going above and beyond, Rachel! We are thankful to have you as a part of the team!
Interview with Rachel:
What is your role at SpendMend?
340B Lead Analyst
How long have you been with SpendMend?
Two years
How did you first learn about SpendMend?
Turnkey was the company that conducted our annual audits at the covered entity for which I worked.
What 3 words would you use to describe SpendMend?
Uplifting, Supportive, Expert
Where are you located/from?
I live in Reno, Nevada, about seven years after moving from Susanville, California.
Where did you go for higher education?
I attended Lassen Community College in Susanville to pursue an AA degree.
Why do you look forward to coming to work?
I love my co-workers and supervisors. They are amazing people. I also love the challenge that my job entails.
Before working at SpendMend, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
Most interesting was working for a hospital.
What is one fun fact about you?
I have been skydiving and bungee jumping. I love trying things that scare me.
What inspired you to try skydiving and bungee jumping?
I like to push myself by facing my fears and doing things that scare me. Skydiving and bungee jumping were goals of mine for years before I got the courage to do them.
Which experience was scarier: Skydiving or bungee jumping, and why?
They were both incredible experiences, but bungee jumping was definitely scarier! When all you have is a rope attached to you and you are leaning over a 200ft ledge face first and somehow you have to force yourself to let go and fall, it was intense!
Would you recommend skydiving or bungee jumping to others, and do you have any advice for first timers? She recommends both adventures and make sure you take friend with you so you can’t back out.
What type of music or podcasts do you listen to during the workday?
I will listen to classical music and my favorite podcasts are Christy Wright Get your Hopes Up, Smart Money Happy Hour and Maranatha Chapel San Diego.
Do you have any hobbies or participate in any activities outside of work?
Book Club, Gardening, Bike Riding, Golf, Crafting
How did you first get involved with your book club?
My first book club started with my sister Emily and me. We both love books, and we wanted to stay in touch more, so we started our book club. We catch up and talk about the book we are reading every two weeks.
What type of books does your book club usually read, and how do you choose?
We have both read a lot of different books, so we each bring different genres and books to the table. We also both have a list of books that we have wanted to read but have not gotten to yet, so we try to pick something from our lists. However, if there is a new book we come across, we will throw that into our book list, too.
Do you have a favorite genre?
My favorite type of books are classical, mainly Charles Dickens. He is my favorite author of all time!
What do you enjoy most about participating in a book club— the reading or the discussions with others? I love the discussions and insight that I get from discussing books at book club. I also get to read books that I may have never come across on my own!
Who do you interact with at SpendMend?
Clients and Potential Clients.
Can you describe an interaction when you helped a client or a supplier that stands out in your mind?
Not one in particular that stands out. I help a lot of clients prepare for their upcoming yearly audits. Anytime I can help a client clarify an issue, provide a template that can help save them time, or schedule weekly meetings to review and gather any data that they need for an audit is always a lot of fun for me and hopefully helpful for our clients.
What was the best compliment you’ve ever been paid by a client or supplier?
Appreciative of the help or grateful for understanding their situation.
What is the best part of serving the healthcare market?
The best part is serving 340B clients. I know this program is critical for so many covered entities to allow them to serve patients and without it those people would not get the care they need. I help support a program that can make a difference in so many people’s lives and that is a great feeling!
What motivates you most when working with 340B clients?
340B is just a great program. It is a very complicated program, but it creates so many opportunities to provide care that may have never been possible. It really helps improve people’s lives! I have been involved in many Health Resources and Services Administration – HRSA audits, and I know how intense and stressful they can be. In my role at SpendMend, I get to help prepare entities for these audits so when they get selected for an HRSA audit, they are prepared, and it is not such a huge, stressful process.
How do you stay informed about changes and challenges within the 340B program to support your clients better?
There are a lot of podcasts, webinars, articles, and training opportunities that allow me to stay up to date on what is happening in 340B. I have to mention the best 340B podcast, which is 340B Unscripted! 340B Insight and 340B Insider podcasts also contain great information. 340B Health and Apexus have a ton of training tools. 340B Health and 340B Report send newsletters out all the time, and any SpendMend, Ladies Who Lunch and Learn, and NACHC webinars always contain great information as well. We also have an amazing team here that is always finding and communicating the most up-to-date information.
What has been your experience with SpendMend community service events?
They have been wonderful! They are always a lot of fun and working remotely it is so great to get to see the people you work with in person and meet new people.
Do you want to shout out a co-worker who has helped or inspired you at SpendMend?
Jennifer Hagen and Heidi Larson are incredible role models.
What advice do you have for prospective candidates who want to join the SpendMend team?
This is the best company I have ever worked for. It is such a positive, uplifting, supportive environment.
What has been your proudest accomplishment at SpendMend?
ACE certification
What is something you’re looking forward to for your future at SpendMend?
One day I hope to become an auditor.