This two-part study aimed to identify the rates and reasons of PMN for specialty oral oncolytic agents. In Part I, we used 24 methods to calculate PMN based on combinations of three parameters. In Part II, we reviewed electronic medical records of 198 prescriptions considered PMN by our previous calculation.

This randomized prospective study evaluated the effectiveness pharmacist interventions had on specialty medication adherence using proportion of days covered (PDC). After 8 months post-enrollment, median PDC in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group. Currently, 3 products related to this research are below:

Patients are recommend to receive all necessary vaccines prior to starting immunosuppressive specialty DMARD therapy. This quality improvement project developed a vaccine screening protocol for patients initiating new specialty medications at an outpatient rheumatology clinic. This protocol was effective in delivering patient-specific vaccine recommendations and was rated as efficient by specialty pharmacists.

This study demonstrated high medication adherence rates and low patient out-of-pocket costs for patients in an integrated clinic and specialty pharmacy. Adherence measured using mean proportion of days covered was 0.89 and 80% of patients were adherent (PDC≥0.80). Rates of financial assistance were high and low out-of-pocket costs were associated with higher adherence.

This study assessed DMARD switching, cycling, adherence, and persistence at an outpatient rheumatology clinic with an integrated health-system specialty pharmacy.

This study evaluates rates and reasons for switching and cycling in patients with RA. The most common reasons for switching and cycling were loss of efficacy, no efficacy and intolerable adverse effects.

This study assessed the appropriateness of the chronic inhaler regimen for patients admitted to the hospital based on clinical practice guidelines and insurance coverage.

This retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients with PAH prescribed PDE-5I therapy through an integrated model fournd that patients achieved high adherence rates despite almost half reporting side effects and a quarter reporting hospitalization. Median out-of-pocket costs were $14, indicating the important role specialty pharmacists play in ensuring affordable therapy.

This evaluation assessed the impact of a pharmacist-managed lithium consult service. Implementation of this service resulted in an increase in obtaining a serum lithium level within 24 hours of hospitalization as well as time savings to providers.