What began as an after-school part-time job eventually led to a passionate lifetime career for Heather Ruszin. The owner of Stellar Health Services and a longtime volunteer at Media, Pennsylvania-based Every Child Counts, Ruszin has always been drawn to helping those in need.
“My sophomore year of high school, I took a part-time job at our local drug store to help my mom – a single mother of four – pay the bills,” she recalls. “I quickly became aware of how important it is to help others – especially the elderly.” During college, she took a full-time position with a closed-door pharmacy, working closely with nursing home patients.
In the years that followed, Ruszin gained additional experience in retail, long-term care, hospital care and medical billing. Then, in 2000, she met Brian Steltz, a licensed pharmacist and owner of King of Prussia Pharmacy Services (KPPS), while covering a shift for a home infusion company. “Given our combined experience, we agreed that if we could secure a contract with a nursing home, I would come work for Brian’s company,” she says. Not long afterward, she discovered a nursing home looking for a new pharmacy provider. “We set up a meeting with the director of nursing, signed a pharmacy contract one week later, and I joined KPPS. Today, KPPS continues to service that nursing home.”
KPPS was the first of several pharmaceutical ventures for Ruszin. Together with Steltz, she co-founded Stellar Pharmacy Services in 2013. Stellar Pharmacy Services delivers point-of-care education and medications (including asthma, family planning/Long-Acting Reversible contraception (LARC), NARCAN® nasal spray for opioid overdoses, as well as other medications) to patients in physician offices, clinics and hospitals. A unique company, Stellar Pharmacy Services is known to deliver point-of-care medications using a high-tech patented dispensing system called the XpeDose™ machine – a secure unit that allows providers to obtain, administer or educate patients in the doctor’s office/clinic/hospital on how to use medications. “Stellar developed the XpeDose™ unit and technology in 2013 when a managed care organization in Pennsylvania asked us to pilot its point-of-care asthma program,” Ruszin explains. The ability to teach patients how to administer their medication in the doctor’s office or hospital can help prevent return trips or, worse, emergency hospital visits, she points out. “For instance, we can ensure asthmatic children know how to use their inhalers or nebulizers before they leave the doctor’s office,” she says, noting there’s nothing scarier than for parents to witness their children being unable to breathe and racing them to the ER.
“Running these companies has required round-the-clock dedication to my staff and customers, 365 days each year,” she says. “In addition, I’ve had to learn how to balance my family life. I’ve had some great mentors through the years and it’s been a blessing to have helped so many people these past 30 years.”
Changes and challenges
In her early days as a business owner in the pharmaceutical industry, Ruszin faced her share of challenges. In fact, it used to be difficult for small distributors to secure product contracts, she says. “When I launched my family planning business, I was denied three times,” she recalls. “But, I didn’t give up, and in 2017, I was approved to carry family planning medication and could offer a full array of solutions for women.” This was a great step forward, given how important it is for patients to have a choice in their care and the products they use, she notes. “By giving patients a choice, and then educating them on the products and how to use them while they’re still at the doctor’s office or the hospital, we can prevent return visits and wasted time,” she says. “When you believe in yourself and refuse to give up, you’ll see the reward is worth the hard work!”
Securing product lines is only half the battle, of course. Growing a strong client base is equally important. “The most important strategy I have relied on to stay connected with my customers has been to establish – and build – long-lasting relationships, and to be committed to the patients and their outcomes,” she says. “Being accessible and dependable are key. I give my phone number out to everyone and let them know I am available 24/7. It’s also important to be genuine and sincere so that clients and vendors alike can remain confident they can rely on me both professionally and personally.”
Every Child Counts
Fifteen years ago, Ruszin and her husband were looking forward to moving into a new home, in time to welcome their firstborn child who was due soon afterward. Their dreams quickly turned into what could have been a nightmare, had it not been for an astute nurse and an attentive pediatrician.
“Our son, JJ, arrived a few weeks early (before they could move into their new home, due to an unforeseen delay). “Our first pediatric appointment was scheduled for 10 days following his birth. Soon after leaving the hospital, I noticed he wasn’t very active and called the pediatrician’s office to see if I could move up JJ’s first office visit. The office staff told me not to worry – that I was a typical new mom and I should keep my scheduled appointment.”
Fortunately, Ruszin had a home visit scheduled with a nurse the following day. “As soon as the nurse saw JJ, I could tell by the look in her eyes that something wasn’t right,” she says. “The nurse asked me for the name of our pediatrician, Dr. Messam, who took care of him in the hospital, and immediately called her office.” Based on the nurse’s observation, Dr. Messam ordered a bilirubin test. “Shortly afterward, the nurse called to instruct me to meet Dr. Messam on the pediatric floor. Due to his high bilirubin levels, JJ needed to be admitted immediately for phototherapy. The effects of bilirubin toxicity are often devastating and irreversible, so for JJ, we had to react quickly. Because we all worked together, JJ’s levels dropped and he was discharged a few days later – a healthy baby boy.”
Since then, despite the hour-long drive there and back, Ruszin’s family has stayed with Dr. Messam’s practice. Furthermore, they have been active in family charities, including the pediatrician’s non-profit, Every Child Counts. “Since our scare with JJ, my family has been contributing to children and families in need,” she says. “When Dr. Messam founded Every Child Counts, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children from birth to 18 years old living in high risk situations, she asked me to be the vice president. I gladly accepted and have been honored to be part of such an amazing team for many years.
Every Child Counts collects donations and applies for annual grant money to support four programs:
- New Beginning. ECC partners with Wesley House Emergency Shelter in Chester, Pennsylvania, to provide Welcome Kits for families who are seeking emergency shelter at this facility. The kits/supplies are helpful to the families when they move to transition homes and, eventually, more permanent housing.
- Helping Hands at Holidays. The program provides Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to less fortunate families with children under 18 years. It is supported by community donations, and food baskets generally include a turkey or ham with all of the trimmings. In addition, the program provides Christmas presents for low-income and/or high-risk families with children under 11 years old.
- Operation Graduate. This program provides first generation and high-risk students in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with essential college supplies. Eligible students are matched with community mentors who assist them in achieving their goals for graduation from College. Funding for this program is supported by community donations and, in the future, the non-profit expects to procure grant funding.
- Thriving After Adversity. This program serves children who are victims/survivors of trauma. Currently, talk therapy is offered by numerous organizations in the United States for victims/survivors of trauma. Every Child Counts is planning a program that will provide alternatives to talk therapy with a trauma-informed focus. In addition, a healing garden (a peaceful space) will be provided for victims, survivors and their families to visit when they feel the need.
Ruszin’s husband and children, JJ and Jalyn, volunteer with Every Child Counts as well. “We organize through my workplace, our relatives, friends and neighbors to collect food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners,” she says. “And during the Christmas season, we collect books, stuffed animals and unwrapped toys and donate them to Dr. Messam’s office for families in need. Our goal each year is to make sure all of the children at Every Child Counts have gifts to open on Christmas morning. This has been a very successful program and a rewarding experience for my family.”
Laura Thill is a contributing writer to Repertoire.