Studies in the Area of Managed Care Reported from A. Bagwell and Co-Researchers (Advancing Patient Care Through Specialty Pharmacy Services in an…

Studies in the Area of Managed Care Reported from A. Bagwell and Co-Researchers (Advancing Patient Care Through Specialty Pharmacy Services in an Academic Health System)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- A new study on Managed Care is now available. According to news originating from Nashville, Tennessee, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "With the rapid growth of specialty pharmacies, including those within academic health systems, pharmacists have the opportunity to improve patient care through the management of specialty medications. Specialty pharmacists within academic health systems are uniquely positioned to overcome restrictions to medication access, financial constraints, and provider burdens that often lead to obstacles for patients to start and maintain necessary treatments."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research, "The Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy (VSP) model at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) provides an example of a patient-centered, collaborative care prototype that places pharmacists directly into specialty clinics to assist with comprehensive management of patients on specialty medications. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: VSP integrates specialty pharmacy services within existing specialty clinics based on the needs of each individual clinic. Each clinic is staffed with at least 1 clinical pharmacist and 1 pharmacy technician. The pharmacist is integrally involved in medication selection, initiation, and monitoring. The specialty pharmacy team ensures appropriate medication access and cost, provides extensive medication education, ensures patients are adherent to treatment, and coordinates care between patients and providers using the electronic medical record. OBSERVATIONS: Integration of pharmacists within specialty clinics at VUMC benefits providers, the health system, and patient care. This model has demonstrated decreased provider and clinic burden, decreased time to medication approval and initiation, excellent patient and provider satisfaction, substantial patient cost savings, optimal medication adherence, and overall improved continuity of care for patients on specialty medications. Since its inception in 2011, VSP has integrated 24 clinical pharmacists and 17 pharmacy technicians into 20 specialty clinics, with continued quarterly growth. The VSP model advances the role of pharmacists in managing patients on specialty medications in collaboration with providers."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "The integrated collaborative approach as presented by VSP represents a best practices model for those establishing and advancing specialty pharmacy services within academic health systems."

For more information on this research see: Advancing Patient Care Through Specialty Pharmacy Services in an Academic Health System. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 2017;23(8):815-820. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy can be contacted at: Acad Managed Care Pharmacy, 100 N Pitt St, 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-3134, USA.

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from A. Bagwell, Vanderbilt Specialty Pharm, Nashville, TN 37232, United States. Additional authors for this research include T. Kelley, A. Carver, J.B. Lee and B. Newman.

Keywords for this news article include: Nashville, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America, Managed Care.

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