Charla L. Wagers, Pharm.D.
London
Summary
Dedicated Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator with over two decades of experience in hospital settings. Skilled in team collaboration, written communication, and clinical service management, driving initiatives that promote patient safety and effective pharmacotherapy. Extensive expertise encompasses antimicrobial stewardship, pharmacokinetics, and anticoagulation management.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator
Baptist Health Corbin
Corbin
02.2011 - Current
- Oversee and instruct pharmacy department on clinical services to ensure effective pharmaceutical care for hospitalized patients
- Manage clinical services including pharmacokinetics and renal dosing considerations.
Implemented effective intravenous to oral sequential therapy for patient convenience.
Implemented and oversee anticoagulation management involving heparin, LMWH, DOACs, and warfarin.
Deliver nutritional support strategies tailored to individual patient needs.
Establishing opioid stewardship practices aimed at enhancing safety measures.
Establishing improved glycemic management practices to ensure stable blood sugar levels. - Cultivate skills and knowledge for clinical pharmacy staff and PGY1 pharmacy residents
- Lead local antimicrobial stewardship team and advocate for facility interests within Baptist Health Infectious Disease Council
- Direct local antimicrobial stewardship efforts and communicate performance metrics to NHSN, Kentucky Department of Public Health, and various stakeholders
- Function as comprehensive drug information resource for physicians, pharmacists, allied health professionals, advanced practice clinicians, and general public
- Provide customized therapeutic consultations for patients to providers upon request
- Participate in Baptist Health Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, facilitating communication between system P&T committee and local medical executive committee
- Advocate for local interests on Baptist Health Pharmacy Review Committee regarding order set development and EHR medication warnings
- Support precepting initiatives for Doctor of Pharmacy intern students
- Facilitate comprehensive learning experiences for PGY1 pharmacy residents in internal medicine, infectious disease, and critical care as primary preceptor
- Operated as lead informatics pharmacist from 2011 (Horizon Meds Manager and Horizon Expert Orders) through June 2016 when Epic EHR was implemented
Clinical Pharmacist
Baptist Health Corbin
Corbin
07.1999 - 02.2011
- Reviewed and interpreted medication orders for accuracy and appropriateness.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals to optimize patient medication therapy.
- Educated patients on medication use, side effects, and safety information.
- Monitored patient outcomes and adjusted medications as needed.
- Participated in clinical rounds to provide pharmaceutical expertise to the team.
- Developed and implemented protocols for safe medication practices.
- Reviewed patient medical records for drug allergies, interactions, and contraindications to ensure safe medication use.
- Investigated drug information requests from health care providers including indications, dosing regimens, contraindications, interactions, adverse reactions.
- Collaborated with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals regarding optimal therapeutic outcomes for patients.
- Monitored drug therapies by reviewing laboratory values and adjusting medications as needed.
- Assessed medication appropriateness using evidence-based guidelines along with patient specific factors such as age, weight, concurrent diagnosis.
- Conducted regular reviews of medication profiles to identify possible adverse reactions or duplications in therapy.
- Reviewed data on medication use and recommended changes to established policies.
- Participated in formulary management activities such as evaluating new drugs for formulary inclusion or exclusion decisions based on cost-effectiveness criteria.
- Developed policies and procedures related to clinical pharmacy services at the facility.
- Contributed to hospital committees focused on medication policy, patient safety, and clinical guidelines.
- Provided drug therapy recommendations based on current clinical guidelines.
- Provided pharmacokinetic consultations to optimize dosing regimens for individual patients.
- Educated outpatients enrolled in Diabetes Smart program regarding effective diabetes medication use.
- Operated as primary system administrator for pharmacy software system from 2002 to early 2004
Graduate Intern Pharmacist
Baptist Regional Medical Center
Corbin
04.1999 - 07.1999
- Assisted pharmacists in preparing and dispensing medications to patients.
- Conducted medication inventory management and maintained accurate records.
- Processed medication orders using pharmacy management software efficiently.
- Provided support in compounding medications under pharmacist supervision.
- Prepared sterile products using aseptic technique when necessary.
- Monitored the effectiveness of therapeutic regimens prescribed by physicians.
- Reviewed patient profiles for drug interactions and allergies.
- Assisted pharmacists with compounding activities such as mixing, diluting, or packaging medications.
- Verified accuracy of prescription information, including dosage calculations.
- Checked expiration dates on all medications prior to dispensing.
- Interpreted and processed medication orders under supervision of pharmacist.
- Prepared for clinical pharmacist role while awaiting licensure
Pharmacy Intern
Laurel Heights Nursing Home Pharmacy
London
05.1994 - 08.1997
- Part-Time position during summers and school breaks
- Dispensed medications accurately for residents in nursing home pharmacy.
- Assisted pharmacists in preparing and labeling prescriptions for patient use.
- Maintained inventory levels of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies efficiently.
- Monitored expiration dates of medications and organized storage areas effectively.
- Supported quality assurance initiatives to enhance pharmacy operations compliance.
- Conducted quality assurance checks on all filled prescriptions.
- Maintained records of controlled substances and monitored inventory levels.
- Assisted in preparing medications by counting, pouring, labeling and verifying doses.
- Monitored patient safety through review of medication profiles for drug interactions, allergies, therapeutic duplication and other potential problems.
- Compounded extemporaneous preparations such as ointments, creams, suspensions, solutions and suppositories according to established standards.
- Managed responsibilities as return goods coordinator
Pharmacy Intern
Home Care Pharmacy
London
05.1994 - 08.1997
- Part-Time position during summers and school breaksAssisted pharmacists in preparing and labeling prescriptions for patient use.
- Maintained inventory levels of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies efficiently.
- Monitored expiration dates of medications and organized storage areas effectively.
- Educated patients regarding proper use of their medications.
- Maintained records of controlled substances and monitored inventory levels.
- Checked pharmacy area regularly to ensure it was kept neat, clean and free of debris.
- Compounded extemporaneous preparations such as ointments, creams, suspensions, solutions and suppositories according to established standards.
- Delivered personable customer service at pharmacy drop-off and pick-up counters.
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy - Summa Cum Laude -
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Lexington, KY05-1999
Some College (No Degree) - Pre-Pharmacy Coursework
University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences
Lexington, KYSkills
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Pharmacokinetics
- Anticoagulation management
- Written communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Clinical expertise
- Critical thinking
- Informatics systems
Affiliations
- University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy Alumni Association: 1999-present
- University of Kentucky Alumni Association Life Member
- University of Kentucky Fellows Society
- Rho Chi Pharmaceutical Honors Society
- Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority
- Baptist Health Corbin Foundation President's Circle
Certification
- Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Registered Pharmacist: License #011808
- Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists Antimicrobial Stewardship Certificate: 2020
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support: certified through 8/31/2026
- American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support: certified through 3/31/2027
- APhA Pharmacy Based Immunization Delivery Certificate: 1999
Accomplishments
- Selected as Poster Presenter for Baptist Excels Roundtable Symposium regarding Implementation of Biweekly Zoom Meetings with Infectious Disease Clinicians to Improve Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Co-Authored "The Utilization of Technicians as Pharmacist Assistants to Augment the Development of Clinical Pharmacy Initiatives in a Rural Community Hospital" - Honorable Mention in Abbott Laboratories 2000 National Hospital Pharmacy Quality Awards
Selected Projects
- Instituted biweekly Zoom meetings between the Infectious Disease team and clinical pharmacists to optimize prescribing of anti-Pseudomonals by exploring opportunities for de-escalation, streamlining, or discontinuation of these ultra broad spectrum agent to improve stewardship. The focus and cadence of this has been revamped in 2025 and is an ongoing collaboration.
- Led the conversion from nursing-driven aPTT based unfractionated heparin infusion dosing to pharmacist driven anti-Xa assay based dosing in June 2023. This has dramatically improved anticoagulation safety at our facility and is consistent with best practices indicating anti-Xa based dosing as a cleaner indicator of true anticoagulation status.
- Developed the BH Corbin Clinical Pharmacist General Antibiotic Therapy Assessment Tool in March 2024 to assist clinical pharmacists in critically analyzing each antimicrobial regimen each day. The overarching goal is to promote shorter courses of therapy , discontinue unnecessary therapies, and prevent antimicrobial associated adverse effects and antimicrobial resistance.
- Established general clinical pharmacist review goal of promoting shorter course antimicrobial therapy for UTI and pneumonia in February 2025 to improve local antimicrobial stewardship practices and provided education regarding "shorter is better" practices accordingly.
- Established additional general clinical pharmacist review focus in July 2025 regarding pneumonia antimicrobials to promote discontinuation/de-escalation by leveraging respiratory PCR panel results and procalcitonin measurements. A renewed targeted focus on promoting discontinuation of anaerobic coverage for aspiration events (unless specific criteria exist) was also part of this initiative.
Selected Presentations
- June 2023 The Monthly Dose Antimicrobial Stewardship Newsletter: "Clostridioides difficile Risk: Are all antibiotics the same?" Audience: pharmacists, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, microbiology laboratory staff, nursing leadership
- August 2023 The Monthly Dose: "Tools for Stewardship Success: The Antibiogram." Audience: pharmacists, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, microbiology laboratory staff, nursing leadership
- September 2023 The Monthly Dose: "Newer is Not Always Better: Amoxicillin/Ampicillin for Enterococcal Cystitis." Audience: pharmacists, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, microbiology laboratory staff, nursing leadership
- May 2024 The Monthly Dose: "A Deeper Dive into Reported Penicillin Allergies." Audience: pharmacists, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, microbiology laboratory staff, nursing leadership
- August 2024 The Monthly Dose: "Shortening Antimicrobial Courses in Intra-Abdominal Infections." Audience: pharmacists, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, microbiology laboratory staff, nursing leadership
- April 2025 The Monthly Dose: "One and Done: Single Dose Aminoglycoside Therapy for Uncomplicated UTI." Audience: pharmacists, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, microbiology laboratory staff, nursing leadership
- "Antimicrobial Stewardship Updates for Clinical Pharmacists: Shorter is Better." February 2025. E-mail training module for pharmacy management, residents, and clinical pharmacists
- "Spring Training 2025: Antimicrobial Stewardship Updates for Clinical Pharmacists." April 17, 2025. In-service presentation for pharmacy management, residents, and clinical pharmacists
- "Pneumonia Antimicrobial De-escalation." June 2025. E-mail training module for pharmacy management, residents, and clinical pharmacists
Timeline
Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator
Baptist Health Corbin
02.2011 - Current
Clinical Pharmacist
Baptist Health Corbin
07.1999 - 02.2011
Graduate Intern Pharmacist
Baptist Regional Medical Center
04.1999 - 07.1999
Pharmacy Intern
Laurel Heights Nursing Home Pharmacy
05.1994 - 08.1997
Pharmacy Intern
Home Care Pharmacy
05.1994 - 08.1997
Doctor of Pharmacy - Summa Cum Laude -
University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
Some College (No Degree) - Pre-Pharmacy Coursework
University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences
Similar Profiles
Kasey RisingerKasey Risinger
Environmental Services Housekeeper at Baptist Health CorbinEnvironmental Services Housekeeper at Baptist Health Corbin
Lauren SandersLauren Sanders
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department at Baptist Health CorbinRegistered Nurse, Emergency Department at Baptist Health Corbin
Pam BennettPam Bennett
MRI Technologist at Baptist Health CorbinMRI Technologist at Baptist Health Corbin
Michelle MiracleMichelle Miracle
Advanced CMA, Phlebotomy, EKG at Baptist Health CorbinAdvanced CMA, Phlebotomy, EKG at Baptist Health Corbin
Muhammad SamiMuhammad Sami
Door supervisor at Blink Security ServicesDoor supervisor at Blink Security Services