Dr. Jerad Cox, PharmD | Independent Pharmacist

Dr. Jerad Cox, PharmD, is an independent pharmacist dedicated to advancing patient-centered care through clinical pharmacy services, collaborative practice, and evidence-based medication management. As a rendering provider for Idaho State University’s pharmacist-led Suboxone clinic, Dr. Cox emphasizes the expanding role of pharmacists in the identification, treatment, and ongoing management of opioid use disorder (OUD).

As a panelist for ECHO, Dr. Cox will provide a pharmacist’s perspective on the integrated, in-house model of care, highlighting the role of clinical pharmacists in patient assessment, diagnosis, prescribing, medication dispensing, and longitudinal follow-up. He will discuss the importance of standardized assessment tools, including the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), to evaluate withdrawal severity, guide treatment decisions, identify potential mental health concerns, and determine when referral for additional behavioral health services is warranted.

Dr. Cox will also address the practical considerations of initiating buprenorphine therapy, including appropriate patient selection, assessment of withdrawal severity, timing of induction, individualized dosing, and strategies to minimize the risk of precipitated withdrawal. Particular emphasis will be placed on safely transitioning patients from full opioid agonists to buprenorphine, providing appropriate monitoring, and establishing protocols that promote safe, effective, and sustainable treatment outcomes.

Dr. Cox is enthusiastic about collaborating with physicians, advanced practice providers, behavioral health professionals, and other members of the healthcare team to expand access to evidence-based treatment, strengthen integrated care models, and improve outcomes for patients living with opioid use disorder.