Budgeting for CAR T-Cell Therapy

Lyndsay Ridgway, Manager of Financial Counseling at Penn Medicine, specializes in overseeing the development of key financial navigation programs within the organization, leading to exceptional boost in overall patient satisfaction.  An industry professional with over ten years of experience working alongside Revenue Cycle and Patient Access leaders, Lyndsay manages a team of 20 highly skilled Patient Financial Advocates and Financial Counselors.  

A strong believer in enhancing the patient experience, Lyndsay is dedicated to creating best practices within the health industry in order to reduce patient financial toxicity. Lyndsay holds a Master’s degree in Organization Development and is a member of various organizations such as the ACCC, NAHAM, and AAHAM. Her skillset includes team building, strategic planning, and change management. Lyndsay is currently working on extending her team’s outreach to a broader patient audience in order to create a more transparent patient experience through her organization. Lyndsay aspires to continue sharing her knowledge in Financial Navigation and leveraging that knowledge across the healthcare industry. Lyndsay firmly believes in the power of connection and feels that transparency is a true driver in ensuring patient trust and confidence in their care.

Robb Richards has over 20 years of experience in oncology, initially with a private practice in Southern New Jersey and more recently the University of Pennsylvania Health System. He comes to Penn after serving as the IT Manager for the Center for Cancer and Hematologic Disease in Cherry Hill, Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) in New Jersey Division Chief Operating Officer, and RCCA corporate VP and Chief Information Officer.  He has provided oversight in the integration of the South Jersey medical oncologists onboarding to Penn Medicine while working with the Cell Therapy and Transplant program (CTT) and has been the lead in overseeing operationalizing/implementation of CAR T cell therapy for commercial use.  He is currently the Corporate Director of the Cell Therapy and Transplant program at Penn Medicine, with oversight of both commercial and research work, and its expansion into community hospitals within the Penn system. Robb received his BS from Drexel University and both his MS and MBA at St Joseph’s University and specializes in oncology informatics.

I began my nursing career in the Summer of 2000, working in ICU in a community hospital setting.  Most recently, I completed my Master’s in Nursing Education at Gardner-Webb University, graduating in the Summer of 2016, the recipient of an academic excellence award. 

I’ve served as a staff nurse in both ICU and Stem Cell Transplant, an Assistant Manager for the Medical Oncology floor, and then transitioned to Coordinator for the SCTCT Program.  As a Coordinator,  I worked autonomously under the scope and practice of an RN and within the policy and procedure guidelines set forth by the program.  I learned leadership skills by assisting in clinical decision making.  I collaborated with members of the medical team and hospital leadership to develop an outpatient transplant program and bring our CAR T program to fruition.   I participated in clinical research trials including eligibility, implementation, education, collection of samples and data.   

In June of 2021 I was promoted to Manager of the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy program.  As Manager for the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy program, I provide administrative, financial and quality leadership through planning and implementation of inpatient and outpatient services for the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program. My responsibilities include quality management oversight, financial analysis and management, managed care contracting, RITN grant submission, operational efficiencies with respect to a number of metrics, personnel management, BMT survivorship initiatives, coordination of administrative matters for the SCTCT team and strategy. There is a matrixed leadership reporting for the apheresis and cellular collections as well as the stem cell processing laboratory.  Under my leadership, the program has grown to include a financial team to assist with day to day financial responsibilities.     

I oversee operations of the clinical practice and ensure that all policies and procedures are implemented appropriately, and that compliance is consistent.  Management of the SCTCT program also includes identifying opportunities for improving quality outcomes and cost savings related to improving clinical and operational processes. Key to my role is accountability for ensuring that compliance is maintained with all relevant regulatory and oversight bodies to include TJC, CMS, NMDP, CIBMTR and FACT.