Interventions for Patients Utilizing External Pharmacies: Quantifying Health-System Specialty Pharmacists' Impact and Effort

This study quantified VSP pharmacists’ work performed to facilitate specialty medication education, access, adherence, and persistence for patients who do not use VSP. Across 3 clinics over 5 months, pharmacists performed 1,645 actions for 714 non-VSP patients, equating to 375 hours and $30,429.48 in estimated pharmacist compensation. Lack of visibility in the patient journey and increased workload on providers and health systems is created when payers and manufacturers lockout IHSSPs.

ASHP Survey of Health-System Specialty Pharmacy Practice: Practice Models, Operations, and Workforce–2022

The Vanderbilt Health System Specialty Pharmacy Outcomes Research Consortium partnered with ASHP to disseminate a national survey assessing clinical services provided by health-system specialty pharmacies (HSSPs). Results demonstrated that HSSPs are a clinical and educational resource for specialty clinics and have developed robust patient care services that encompass the patient journey from before specialty medication selection through treatment monitoring and optimization.
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Development and Implementation of Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements in an Integrated Health System Specialty Pharmacy

This qualitative study used focus groups of pharmacy leadership and clinical pharmacists and semi-structured interviews with physician champions to evaluate the development and implementation of CPPAs in an IHSSP. Results demonstrated that implementation of a CPPA in a specialty clinic was thought to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care and was favorably accepted by clinic staff. The IHSSP structure allows CPPAs to be easily integrated in workflow.

Multispecialty Collaboration Benefits Efforts at Expanding Donor Pools: Transplanting HCV Positive Grafts into HCV Negative Heart Transplant Recipients

This podium presentation discusses experiences in liver transplantation and the management of HCV into opportunity for successful donor expansion.
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Retraining of Transplant Pharmacy Staff to Reduce Medicare Part B Prescription Billing Errors in Post-Transplant Recipients

Because MedB billing error fines can be costly for pharmacies dispensing high-cost medications, identifying common errors and training staff can be useful and financially prudent. The aim of this quality improvement project was to retrain certified pharmacy technicians (CPhTs) on common monthly billing errors and evaluate changes in error rates and potential fines.
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2022 ASHP Survey of Health-System Specialty Pharmacy Practice: Clinical Services

This multi-phased survey aggregated data to describe clinical services provided by health-system specialty pharmacies (HSSPs). Results demonstrate that HSSPs are a clinical and educational resource for specialty clinics and have developed robust patient care services that encompass the patient journey from before specialty medication selection through treatment monitoring and optimization.
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Exploring healthcare providers' experiences with specialty medication and Limited Distribution Networks

The goal of this study was to explore healthcare providers’ experiences with specialty medications distributed via Limited Distribution Networks (LDN) that do not include IHSSPs. Participants reported barriers to navigating LDNs that can interfere with clinic workflow and patient care. IHSSPs may reduce clinic burden by helping patients access, afford, and remain on therapy.
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Pharmacist review of chronic inhaler therapy appropriateness for hospitalized patients with COPD or asthma

This study assessed the appropriateness of the chronic inhaler regimen for patients admitted to the hospital based on clinical practice guidelines and insurance coverage.
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Building a Hepatitis C Clinical Program: Strategies to Optimize Outcomes

An increasing number of specialists and non-specialists are developing clinical programs to treat and cure hepatitis C virus (HCV). The goal of this paper is to evaluate and describe optimal strategies to improve outcomes related to HCV care delivery.
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Addressing the Challenges of Novel Oncology and Hematology Treatments Across Sites of Care: Specialty Pharmacy Solutions

This report discusses reasons anticancer therapies may need to be initiated on admission, challenges of doing so, perspectives and experiences from 3 unique HSSPs on addressing these challenges, and finally, best practice recommendations in managing high cost oral anticancer therapies for admitted patients.
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