In this study, we conducted a quality improvement initiative to increase the number of patients taking standard of care maintenance therapies, including cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor (CFTR) modulators. With implementation of a specialty pharmacist directed protocol, rate of standard of care medication use increased for all therapies. The highest rate of increase was in CFTR modulator use.

In this case series, we discuss 7 males between 17 and 39 years of age who reported testicular pain or discomfort within the first two weeks of starting therapy. The precise mechanism of this side effect is unknown, but it may be related to restoration of CFTR function in the male reproductive tract. All patients experienced resolution of this side effect within a week after onset, regardless of the management, exception for one patient.

This article highlights the challenges in standardizing adherence methodologies as well as the key elements to consider when interpreting adherence results. Specialty pharmacies should consider using adherence measures to identify and intervene on patients with adherence challenges. In addition, integrated specialty pharmacies should work to link adherence to clinical outcomes and healthcare cost savings.

Because of the growing focus on outcomes research within Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy (VSP) and the need for more student research opportunities, VSP developed a longitudinal student research training program. This report describes the development and outcomes of that program as of June 2021.

Most institutions utilize a Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee to create a formulary for inpatient administered medications that promotes cost effective treatment options to reduce hospital related drug costs. Due to their high cost, most specialty therapies are omitted from inpatient formularies. We describe the non-formulary process developed at our institution to expedite and overcome challenges created by inpatient administered specialty medications.

This report describes VSP's development of an ASHP-accredited community based residency program in the health-system specialty pharmacy setting.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a dashboard to prevent therapy gaps by prospectively identifying patients on biologic therapy needing a new prescription with outdated labs. The new dashboard was highly effective at reducing the number of patients with a therapy gap, number of gap days, and days to receipt of a new prescription. Pharmacists and nurses reported high satisfaction rates with the new dashboard.

Pharmacists at health system-based specialty pharmacies have the opportunity to improve patient care by providing comprehensive medication management for patients prescribed specialty medication. This manuscript describes how Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy integrated pharmacy services into existing outpatient specialty disease clinics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which improved patient access to therapy and continuity of care.

Pharmacy technicians facilitate medication refills for patients following transplant by conducting phone calls and scheduling medication shipments. Standard prescribing of these medications required calls to be made every 30 days. However technician’s ability to service an increasing number of patients was limited by high call volume workload. In this study, we found that converting medication supply from 30 to 90-days reduced daily call volume and allowed the technician to service more patients

This report describes a health-system pharmacy department’s response to recovering from a natural disaster and preparing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). By detailing our experience and efforts, we hope to help other institutions who are or will be in a similar crisis-response mode.