Melissa Chase, PharmD, BCSCP, CPEL, Director of Pharmacy at Valley Children’s Healthcare

In this episode of the Becker's Pharmacy Leadership Podcast, Ella Jeffries interviews Melissa Chase, Director of Pharmacy at Valley Children’s Healthcare, about the strategic planning behind major pharmacy infrastructure projects. Chase emphasizes the critical importance of pharmacy leaders securing a seat at the table from the earliest stages of architectural and operational planning, advocating for early involvement to avoid costly redesigns and workflow disruptions. She shares practical strategies for engaging frontline staff, contractors, architects, and cross-functional teams like IT, legal, and infection prevention to ensure comprehensive, collaborative project execution. Chase also discusses the role of automation and emerging technologies—such as gravimetric systems, robotics, RFID tagging, and AI—in enhancing patient safety, staff efficiency, and operational resilience, while cautioning against adopting technology without aligning it with workflow and safety goals. Key takeaways include the necessity of early stakeholder engagement, the value of frontline input in design decisions, the importance of change management during transitions, and the need to balance innovation with safety and sustainability. Chase underscores that infrastructure projects are not just about physical spaces but about people, processes, and long-term adaptability. Her insights offer a roadmap for pharmacy leaders navigating complex hospital expansions and modernization efforts, particularly in pediatric care where precision and safety are paramount.