- Know how your market pays. CSP’s growth came from building services around California’s delegated managed care and IPA model.
- Limited distribution drugs are about continuity. Access helps keep a patient’s care with one pharmacy instead of splitting it across several.
- Different audiences, different data. Payers look for savings and operational performance. Manufacturers look for clinical outcomes and patients staying on therapy.
- Protect the patient experience during integration. Combining acquired pharmacies means harmonizing data, but not at the expense of how patients are cared for.
- Use AI carefully. It may help pharmacies keep up as margins tighten, but automation could change how pharmacies communicate with patients.
Welcome to Beyond the Drip, where we dive into the fascinating world of Infusion Pharmacy, from Home Infusion to Ambulatory Infusion Centers. Expect topical conversations on the latest happenings in Infusion from industry leaders who will bring you the latest news, trends and innovations in the infusion industry, as well as expert insights and stories to keep you informed and inspired.
George Kridner was on his way to medical school, MCAT completed, when a pharmacist who shopped at his father’s gas stations suggested he try a pharmacy internship first. He took the advice, and it shaped everything that followed. Today Kridner is President & CEO of Acelpa Health, a national network of specialty pharmacy and infusion providers.
In Season 3, Episode 21 of Beyond the Drip, Jon Love, Pamela McIntyre and Brandon Carpenter ask Kridner what that the “pharmacist first, businessman second” mindset looks like at scale. After roles at CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group, he joined California Specialty Pharmacy (CSP) and spotted an opening in the state’s managed care market. By his recollection, revenue grew to roughly $27 million in his first year and $44 million in his second. The company he helped build is now close to $1 billion.
The conversation goes well beyond the growth story. Kridner explains why he pursues limited distribution drugs even though they aren’t big profit drivers, what payers and manufacturers each want to see in a pharmacy’s data and why he is both excited and cautious about AI.
Kridner’s story comes back to one idea: when you take care of the patient first, the business tends to follow. That belief shows up in how he built CSP around a real market need, how he thinks about limited distribution drugs and how he approaches data, acquisitions and AI. For pharmacy owners and leaders weighing their own next phase of growth, his experience offers practical lessons on staying focused on continuity of care while scaling.
Guest Speaker
George W. Kridner IV, PharmD, President & CEO at Acelpa Health
George W. Kridner IV, PharmD, is a healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience across specialty pharmacy, pharmacy operations, healthcare strategy, and business growth. He has led strategic and operational initiatives focused on expanding patient access, optimizing specialty pharmacy services, building high-performing organizations, and advancing innovative care models within complex healthcare environments. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Acelpa Health, George leads the company's national network of specialty pharmacy and infusion providers, overseeing strategy, operations, and business development with a focus on delivering exceptional patient care, strengthening manufacturer partnerships, and driving sustainable growth. Since joining Acelpa Health more than a decade ago, George has succeeded in growing the organization from a single-state specialty pharmacy provider into a national specialty pharmacy platform serving patients, providers, payors, and pharmaceutical manufacturers across the country. George has held senior executive leadership positions at UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health. He also served as Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at A-Med Health Care, now Kroger Specialty Pharmacy, where he helped shape clinical strategy and expand specialty pharmacy services. George earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific.
Beyond the Drip Co-hosts
Paula Roth, EVP of Pharmacy Services at Prochant
As Executive Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at Prochant, Paula leads an expert team focused on enhancing the home-based care industry through innovative technology and streamlined processes. With more than 20 years of experience in revenue cycle management for alternate sites of care, Paula leverages technology and teams to ensure clients achieve or exceed their financial targets.
Jon Love, President & Chief Growth Officer at MedEdge Solutions
Jon Love joins MedEdge with leadership experience in the infusion and specialty pharmacy industries. He has previously served in sales at WellSky, chief operating officer at Rock-Pond Solutions, and senior VP of pharmacy services at Prochant.
Pamela McIntyre, Founder and Owner of Expert Infusion Nurse Consulting
With 40 years of experience in infusion nursing, Pam founded Expert Infusion Nurse Consulting to advance excellence in infusion and mentor other infusion professionals. Her certifications include CRNI, IgCN, OCN, and VA-BC, and she has an immersive background in home infusion and ambulatory infusion in the fields of acute and chronic care, including oncology nursing.
Brandon Carpenter, President of MedEdge Solutions
Brandon Carpenter is the owner and founder of MedEdge Solutions. With more than 12 years of experience in pharmacy solutions, process improvement, and data analytics, Brandon takes an active role in each of their projects. Prior to forming MedEdge, Brandon was the Director of Products and Professional Services at Rock-Pond Solutions where he worked with over 250 pharmacies nationwide to solve problems ranging from system integrations, financial reporting, 340B, Limited Drug Distribution, and software management. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas where he received his bachelor’s in business & information systems, as well as his Master of Business Administration.
Brian O’Sullivan, President of The O’Sullivan Group
Brian O’Sullivan formed The O’Sullivan Group, Inc. in February 1999 to serve health care providers with managed care and provider business development services. Over the years, The O’Sullivan Group has also been sought out by Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid plans to assist with network development needs. His vision was to bring real world know-how by offering the same level of service and expertise for both large and small companies that are enjoyed by major Fortune 1000 organizations.
Beyond the Drip Co-hosts
Paula Roth, EVP of Pharmacy Services at Prochant
As Executive Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at Prochant, Paula leads an expert team focused on enhancing the home-based care industry through innovative technology and streamlined processes. With more than 20 years of experience in revenue cycle management for alternate sites of care, Paula leverages technology and teams to ensure clients achieve or exceed their financial targets.
Jon Love, President & Chief Growth Officer at MedEdge Solutions
Jon Love joins MedEdge with leadership experience in the infusion and specialty pharmacy industries. He has previously served in sales at WellSky, chief operating officer at Rock-Pond Solutions, and senior VP of pharmacy services at Prochant.
Pamela McIntyre, Founder and Owner of Expert Infusion Nurse Consulting
With 40 years of experience in infusion nursing, Pam founded Expert Infusion Nurse Consulting to advance excellence in infusion and mentor other infusion professionals. Her certifications include CRNI, IgCN, OCN, and VA-BC, and she has an immersive background in home infusion and ambulatory infusion in the fields of acute and chronic care, including oncology nursing.
Brandon Carpenter, President of MedEdge Solutions
Brandon Carpenter is the owner and founder of MedEdge Solutions. With more than 12 years of experience in pharmacy solutions, process improvement, and data analytics, Brandon takes an active role in each of their projects. Prior to forming MedEdge, Brandon was the Director of Products and Professional Services at Rock-Pond Solutions where he worked with over 250 pharmacies nationwide to solve problems ranging from system integrations, financial reporting, 340B, Limited Drug Distribution, and software management. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas where he received his bachelor’s in business & information systems, as well as his Master of Business Administration.
Brian O’Sullivan, President of The O’Sullivan Group
Brian O’Sullivan formed The O’Sullivan Group, Inc. in February 1999 to serve health care providers with managed care and provider business development services. Over the years, The O’Sullivan Group has also been sought out by Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid plans to assist with network development needs. His vision was to bring real world know-how by offering the same level of service and expertise for both large and small companies that are enjoyed by major Fortune 1000 organizations.
