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Of Hopewell Pharmacy and Compounding Center in Hopewell, New Jersey
Years in Compounding: 21
Path to Compounding:
My father is a pharmacist. He owned a store for over 20 years, and I worked for him for 17 years. It was a family-oriented store—independent—and my parents, my brother and I worked together there. I loved filling prescriptions and learning the field as well as working with customers who became like family to us. It was the kind of job you enjoyed going to every day.
After my father sold the business to a pharmacy chain, I worked there another three years until I found a job opening at Hopewell, and applied. I interviewed for the technician job, and was told it was in compounding. It sounded very interesting, and a bit of a challenge, so I took the job. I loved it instantly. My favorite thing to do is make capsules using the Jaansun Capsule Machine.
We did some minor compounding at my father's store, but nothing like what goes on at Hopewell. I have watched this business grow from making tryptophan capsules and many hormones when Gene Ragazzo, RPh, and Jim Palmieri, RPh, first started compounding, to expansion of the labs, flow hoods, and finally the USP <800> lab under our new owners, Joann Hobson and Eric Jaderlund, RPh.
Hopewell is moving forward, always developing ways to improve products, reduce the risk of cross-contamination and deliver quality medication that we techs are very proud to call our own. By working hand in hand with our knowledgeable pharmacists, and formulas from PCCA, our team is able to improve our products and provide answers for our customers’ needs.
Compounding has proven to be a unique way of tweaking medication to fit all the special needs of our customers. Whether it's developing something that tastes good or relieving pain with a cream, I only see a positive flow for the compounding business. There’s always something new coming down the pike. It keeps things interesting!
I love knowing that the medication I make is helping someone feel better. It's very satisfying to work with formulas to create a product you are proud of. There is a camaraderie between the technicians in my lab, a constant feeling of teamwork every day as we prepare the prescriptions and send them on their way.
Working together with the pharmacists, creating new products and fulfilling the customers’ needs is very satisfying to me. You really feel like you are making a difference. It's a very unique job, which takes a lot of hard work, training and dedication. All of our employees together make it quite an operation.
Favorite Formulas:
I have loved making capsules from the first time I used the Jaansun Capsule Machine. If I had to talk about a favorite, it would be making nasal irrigation capsules. Budesonide is the one we make the most of, but we are seeing more and more made with antibiotics and combinations.
Check out the PCCA-exclusive Jaansun Capsule Machines and accessories here. PCCA members can find capsule formulations for nasal irrigation that include budesonide here.
Success Stories:
There have been so many successes at Hopewell. Most are just a simple “thank you” for caring enough to get their medication to them in a timely fashion. I feel that our whole team, from the pharmacists to the clerks, work very hard to make sure our operation proceeds in a positive and timely fashion. We are always striving to satisfy the customer’s every need, from the moment we receive the prescription to when they pick it up. We are part of a community, one that we value very much.
Advice for New Compounders:
It takes a certain kind of person to understand all that goes into compounding a medication. There are definitely techniques to learn, and a good technician will develop their own style. I've learned a lot since the beginning of my career, and I never seem to stop learning about new products, new formulas and new ways to satisfy any customer. It could be mastering the flavor of a suspension, or how smooth their creams are—many times experimenting to get them just right.
The views and therapies expressed in the above article are those of the interviewee and may not be endorsed by PCCA. The statements are provided for educational purposes only. They have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not to be interpreted as a promise, guarantee or claim of therapeutic efficacy or safety. The information contained herein is not intended to replace or substitute for conventional medical care, or encourage its abandonment. Every patient is unique, and formulas should be adjusted to meet their individual needs.
Hopewell Pharmacy and Compounding Center is owned by Joann Hobson and Eric Jaderlund, RPh.