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.
In episode 11 of Beyond the Drip, we sit down with Rowena Birnel, President and CEO of Infusion Solutions, to hear one of the most inspiring stories in home infusion. After the company she helped lead was acquired by a national pharmacy chain, Rowena was laid off during the 2008 recession. But she didn’t look for another job—she built a new company from the ground up. Fifteen years later, Infusion Solutions spans multiple sites and serves the entire state of Washington with high-acuity infusion care.
Her journey is a masterclass in perseverance, leadership, and patient-first care. Years later, Rowena purchased the same building where she had been laid off—after the national pharmacy closed its doors and left town. She even scraped their name off the signage herself. Today, that building is home to Infusion Solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Starting Infusion Solutions – After a national pharmacy acquired the company she helped lead, Rowena was laid off during the 2008 recession. Instead of pausing her momentum, she attended NHIA and came home inspired to start her own infusion company. Within a year, Infusion Solutions was born.
- Patient Care – From the beginning, Rowena built Infusion Solutions around one principle: doing what’s best for patients. That meant saying yes to complex therapy like chemotherapy, even when its challenging.
- National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) – Rowena credits NHIA not just for education and resources, but for the peer-to-peer learning that happens in every hallway and session. Her advice? Surround yourself with people who are doing it better—and be hungry to learn from them. Today, she serves on its Board of Directors and urges every home infusion professional to get involved.
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Guest Speaker:
Rowena Birnel
Rowena Birnel is the President and CEO of Infusion Solutions, a trusted partner in infusion therapy, delivering compassionate, patient-centered care across Western Washington. For 15 years, Rowena and her team have worked tirelessly to ensure their patients receive the highest quality infusion treatments in the comfort of their homes or at Infusion Solutions’ welcoming infusion suites. Their commitment to personalized care, clinical expertise, and innovation continues to set them apart.
Beyond the Drip Co-hosts:
Paula Roth, VP of Pharmacy Services at Prochant
As 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 our 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, software management and more. 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 for The O’Sullivan Group, Inc. 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.
