Pictured above from l. to r.: CRMC CMO Dr. Bruce Johnson, Dr. Stacy Brewington, Dr. Jason Hutchens (award recipient), Dr. Christopher Adams and Dr. Vert Cornielle

The Sheepdog Award is presented annually and is given to individuals who desire to help and protect others without concern for themselves or their own benefit

Cookeville Pharmacist Jason Hutchens received this year’s Sheepdog Award at the Cookeville Regional Charitable Foundation’s 15th annual A Woman’s Heart event on Thursday Feb. 2. Charles Sewell of Journey Financial Planning and sponsor of the award made the presentation, citing Hutchen’s dedication to finding new services and ways to enhance health care for patients.

The Sheepdog Award is presented annually and is given to individuals who desire to help and protect others without concern for themselves or their own benefit. Sheepdog recipients often operate in the background without fanfare or notice of their efforts.

Dr. Hutchens provides regular education to patients of the Upper Cumberland through cardiac rehab consultation and education. He is the medication expert and provides drug-information answers to cardiologists and staff at TN Heart.  He sees a large percentage of hospital-discharge patients for follow-up labs and medication adjustments which allows for enhanced medication optimization and adjustment to ensure effective therapy to keep patients well longer.  

Dr. Hutchens also plays a role with patient financial assistance to both obtain manufacturer patient assistance monies but also to ensure that insurance payors and supplements are in line and are treatment cost-effective before initiating new patient therapies.   

“He is instrumental in collaborating with the cardiologists in starting new programs, such as the cardiac amyloidosis screening and treatment,” said Cookeville Regional Medical Center. “This new surveillance and possible treatment avenue provide a service not yet offered in the Upper Cumberland, and although considered a rare disease, if amyloidosis is identified early, this new program has an outstanding impact in prolonging life expectancy. Dr. Hutchens is innovative and dedicated to the patients at Tennessee Heart, Cookeville Regional Medical Center and the Upper Cumberland.  He is constantly looking for new services to provide and ways to enhance the health care of our patients.”

Photos courtesy of CRMC.

Submit your story ideas to the Upper Cumberland Business Journal! via email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.