A Systemwide Commitment to Excellence in Pharmacy
Intermountain Health is a nonprofit health system serving patients across six states through 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, and a broad network of medical groups. With more than 1,900 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, Intermountain’s pharmacy services are deeply integrated into acute care, ambulatory settings, community pharmacies, and home health. Guided by the mission “helping people live the healthiest lives possible,” pharmacists at Intermountain play a central role in ensuring safe, accessible, and high-quality care across every community they serve.
“BPS Certification was a critical inclusion because the rigorous standards established by BPS ensure pharmacists that attain certification possess an in-depth understanding of pharmacy practice in that specialty area, an ability to synthesize complex patient care scenarios and a personal drive to practice at the highest level within a specialty.”
Jeffery L Olson, PharmD, MBA, BCACP, FASHP
Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Director,
Canyons and Desert Regions
Intermountain Health
Why Board Certification Matters
In 2018, Intermountain Health Pharmacy Services established a credentialing and privileging process for pharmacists practicing under collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) in the ambulatory care setting. From the start, board certification through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) was defined as a core requirement, with nearly 400 pharmacists holding board certification in one of 15 BPS Specialty areas.
Board certification ensures pharmacists bring advanced knowledge, the ability to manage complex patient care scenarios, and a commitment to practicing at the highest level of their specialty. For those joining Intermountain without board certification, a memorandum of understanding requires completion of BPS Certification within a set timeframe, highlighting its importance in the organization’s care model.
Impact on Care and Workforce
The results of this focus on certification have been measurable:
- 71% of ambulatory pharmacists privileged under CPAs are BPS-certified in 2024, up from 44% in 2018.
- Certification has driven improved documentation, stronger regulatory compliance, and streamlined clinical processes, directly enhancing patient safety and efficiency.
- Intermountain has seen a 160% increase in the number of pharmacists delivering advanced clinical care, reflecting both elevated expertise and an expanding scope of services.
This transformation is felt across the care team. Providers describe ambulatory pharmacists as having “the biggest impact on patient care and quality of all our care team” and even as “the most dramatic improvement in clinical care in my 30+ years of practice.”
“The privileging of pharmacists has proven valuable to Intermountain as an organization and the primary care service line more specifically. Provider satisfaction has improved and most importantly patients have benefited.”
Jesse Spencer, MD
Senior Medical Director Family Medicine,
Canyons Region
Intermountain Health
A Direct Benefit for Patients
For patients, the expertise of board-certified pharmacists means increased access to clinical providers, avoiding unnecessary complications and hospitalizations, improved health outcomes, and a focus on proactive care. BPS-certified pharmacists provide both clinical expertise and personal support, empowering patients to better manage chronic conditions and navigate complex medication regimens with confidence.
Looking Ahead
At Intermountain Health, BPS Board Certification is more than a professional milestone. It is a driver of workforce excellence, patient quality and safety, and sustainable innovation in care delivery. By embedding BPS Certification into credentialing and privileging, Intermountain ensures that its pharmacy workforce consistently meets the highest standards while advancing access to care and strengthening the entire healthcare team.
More information about Intermountain Health can be found here.