Chris Haviland says the most difficult part of his job is getting people to understand that giving patients medication without the appropriate information can cause more health problems than it solves. Another challenge is explaining exactly what the company he works for, Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care, is all about.

“It’s a 5-year-old medication management company that offers a menu of services to help consumers, employers and health plans get the most from their medication purchases,” he said. “We give community pharmacists training, positioning and our tools to get people on the right medications and to achieve the best results.”

The Des Moines-based company’s Web site gives examples, such as an Outcomes patient who presented a prescription for an expensive brand-name drug to a participating pharmacy. The pharmacist suggested a generic version, which the doctor approved. The patient’s health improved, and he saved hundreds of dollars. The site also tells the story of an Outcomes client whose pharmacist called to check on him, found him ill and consulted with his doctor to find a solution, saving the client a trip to the doctor’s office.

Haviland says he loves his job as director of sales for Outcomes. The West Des Moines native says it’s not too far a leap from his previous job as a job recruiter. Haviland graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1996. He then joined the Johnson & Higgins/Kirke-Van Orsdel Inc. insurance company in the human resources department. He was with the company through several changes, including its sale to Marsh & McLennan Cos. and his department’s subsequent sale to Automatic Data Processing Inc. ADP then laid him off and moved his job to Atlanta.

At that time, Haviland was doing some recruiting as an independent contractor, which he continued until he joined Outcomes in 2002.

“Sales isn’t that different from recruiting,” he said. “As a recruiter, you’re basically selling your organization to people.”

Haviland keeps busy when he’s out of the office, spending time with his wife, Stacy, and their Labrador retriever. He serves on the boards of directors of the Des Moines AM Rotary, Link Associates and the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, of which he is a graduate and co-chair of the curriculum committee. He also coaches a team at the West Des Moines Soccer Club.