1. 1Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
indiana
PharmacisT
third quarter • volume 95 • number 3 • 2014
official journal of the indiana pharmacists alliance
INSIDE
The Heroin Crisis in Indiana pg. 6
2014 Pharmacy Education
Foundation Golf Classic pg. 8
Hey, Hey, Mr. Union Man pg. 17
Inspect: Indiana’s Answer to
the Quest for a Universal EMR pg. 20
4. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 20144
A Word From the President
It sounds cliché, but it is amazing how fast
the summer has flown by and that school
is back in session and we are heading into
fall full-speed ahead in Indiana. Fall brings
football season (Go Colts!), white coat
ceremonies, pharmacy school career expos,
and residency showcases. Another year of
pharmacy student rotations is well underway
and pharmacy residents are now fully
entrenched in the work and training at their
respective sites. Also, it is once again time for
the IPA/CPI Joint Annual Convention!
The Education Council has been hard
at work all summer long with finalizing
preparations for the IPA/CPI Joint Annual
Convention to be held Thursday & Friday,
September 18 & 19th
at the Wyndham
Indianapolis West Hotel (by Indianapolis Int’l
Airport). Led under the fearless leadership of
Jane Krause and Cindy Selzer, the Education
Council has once again put together a fantastic
educational program that offers something for
everyone. With clinical education sessions
on topics ranging from the treatment of hot
flashes, HIV management and heart failure
treatment to clinical pearls on a variety of
topics presented by pharmacy residents from
across the state, there is certainly plenty of
information to take in. The deans of all three
colleges of pharmacy in Indiana will be present
to provide an update on their respective
schools. An in-depth panel presentation and
discussion about advanced roles for pharmacy
technicians (think PPMI!) will be available,
as well as a presentation on a community-
based pharmacy practice model involving
medication reconciliation in the transition of
care (again, think PPMI!). Attendees will be
able to participate in roundtable discussions
on a variety of topics including antimicrobial
stewardship, legislative updates, transitions
of care, corresponding responsibility of the
pharmacist with the dispensing of controlled
substances, involving student pharmacists
in professional service, and a preceptor
development session that will be beneficial
for preceptors of all levels of experience. With
all of this excitement, this year’s convention is
definitely one that no member can afford to
miss! Our profession is rapidly changing, and
legislation is continually moving us forward,
both in Indiana and nationally, to be able to
expand our services. The knowledge gained
by convention attendees will be truly valuable
in any pharmacy practice setting. We are
very excited to be able to offer CE credit for
Pharmacy Technicians at this convention once
again too! Of course, no annual convention
would be complete without the RXPO &
Wine Tasting with vendor exhibits made
possible by our wonderful sponsors, the CPI
student reception, fabulous awards banquet,
hospitality reception, vendor symposium
lunch, annual recognition luncheon and
the IPAC breakfast. I strongly urge you to
register to attend the IPAC breakfast on
Friday morning. We have several legislators
who have been incredibly supportive of the
pharmacy profession and legislation that
has helped us move forward as a profession
and improve patient care in Indiana, and
in particular, Senator Ron Grooms and
Representative Steve Davisson who are both
involved in re-election campaigns this year.
It is vital that we support our legislators who
support us in our work to provide quality
patient care.
The IPA staff has been hard at work all
summer long with the transition of the
IPA’s website to a new website company
that is more user friendly and efficient for
both the IPA member and the IPA staff and
offers more functionality to the user. This
“facelift” includes links to social media sites,
photo gallery of IPA events, calendar views
and more. Thank you to Leslie Feeney for
spearheading this transition as the site looks
wonderful! If you have not yet checked the
new look of the website out, please do so. It is
still found at the same web address as before
the transition, www.indianapharmacists.org.
We are always looking for member feedback
on ways that we can enhance the information
and communication provided to you via our
website as well.
In closing, I would like to remind everyone
about the federally proposed piece of
legislation, HR 4190: Provider Status which
proposes to amend title XVIII (Medicare) of
the Social Security Act to cover pharmacist
services. This important piece of legislation
would help to improve patient access and
quality to certain healthcare services in areas
that are lacking which can have an overall
effect improving healthcare outcomes and
improving cost-effectiveness overall in the
healthcare system. I encourage each of you to
learn more about this key piece of legislation
and to contact our Indiana legislators in
Congress to urge them to support this bill.
National pharmacy organizations such as
the American Pharmacists Association and
the American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists have form letters available on
their websites that you can access to send to
your legislators, which makes it easier than
ever. This legislation is expected to have a
significant impact on improving patient access
in underserved areas to healthcare provided
by pharmacists in the state of Indiana.
Recognizing pharmacists as healthcare
providers on the federal level is critical to
us being able to advance the pharmacy
profession. To date, approximately 100
legislators have signed on in support of this
bill. However, the work continues to ensure
passage of this important piece of legislation.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the
IPA/CPI Joint Annual Convention this year,
and please also consider bringing a student,
a resident and a new or non-member to this
convention as well!
AMY HYDUK, PharmD, MBA
IPA President
5. 5Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
Sage Advice
“The Alliance is
the advocate for the
profession of
pharmacy and is
focused on identifying
opportunities and help
pharmacists achieve
their goals. ”
Later in this edition of the Indiana
Pharmacist, Membership Council
Chairman Herb Hunter discusses what
the Alliance does for its members, relating
the actions to his own experiences with an
auto workers union in his younger days.
I have no frame of reference for union
membership, having missed that opportunity
in my employment life. But the things that
the Alliance can and does perform for the
profession is right on the mark. The Alliance
is the advocate for the profession of pharmacy
and is focused on identifying opportunities
and help pharmacists achieve their goals.
Herb and his council are to be commended
for their work over the past year to elevate the
image of the Alliance among the pharmacists
of the state and to persuade a number of new
members to join the Alliance. Since October
of 2013, we have had 76 New Members join,
and 53 New Grads join. These new members
are the key to getting the Alliance moving
forward in the future. Each new generation
of pharmacists bring a new viewpoint and
a new set of expectations to the profession.
It’s critical to get new blood involved in the
association and help them find opportunities
to get involved and stay involved in the
profession and their professional organization.
Herb and his council are working to
identify activities and actions that can be
undertaken to provide the entry portals to the
new members who are seeking an opportunity
to contribute to the organization. If you are
interested in being a part of the Alliance and
volunteering your time and efforts, but don’t
see any opportunities tied to your interests,
please let me know. You can email me at
ipalary@indianapharmacists.org and I will
make sure that your ideas are heard. The
membership council came about because a
single member suggested it to the Board of
Directors and they took action to make it a
council. Since its creation, the Membership
Council has been very active, and can actually
point to the recruitment of a number of the
new members as a direct result of their efforts.
It’s always a struggle for many pharmacy
associations to maintain membership, and we
are no exception. We are continually reaching
out to the pharmacists in the state, urging
them to join and to help make the association
and the profession even stronger in Indiana.
I think that we have suffered some
membership non-renewals due to our
problems with offering CE through the journal
and the internet. It has become much harder
to compete with other venues for free CE
to pharmacists. The Alliance no longer has
access to an ongoing series of free CE articles,
and must either commission our own, or
get them from other pharmacy associations.
Although we continue to strive to develop the
articles, we have had problems getting them
finished in a timely manner. There is a very
involved process required to get a CE article
properly authored, reviewed and ready to
publish. For this year, we are just beginning
the process, but hope to have another series
completed early next year. But all that aside,
I want to congratulate Herb and his council
for their work with the newest part of the
Alliance.
Finally, I want to thank Jane Krause and
Cindy Selzer, the co-chairs of the Education
Council and all of the Council members
for their outstanding work of planning the
Annual Meeting CE events. Once more,
they have developed a great program for the
meeting, September 18 and 19. I look forward
to seeing a large crowd of pharmacists there,
and hopefully, a number of them will be new
members.
LAWRENCE J. SAGE
IPA Executive Vice President
ipalary@indianapharmacists.org
6. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 20146
Feature
The distribution and use of heroin has
caused an epidemic problem in the state
of Indiana. It’s inexpensive, easy to get and its
use can be deadly.
Congresswomen Susan Brooks and State
Senator Jim Merritt hosted a listening session
titled “Understanding the Heroin Crisis in
Indiana” on July 1, 2014 at the Noblesville
City Hall. Present at the meeting were
representatives of local, state and federal law
enforcement, as well as representatives of
the Pharmacist Community. The IPA was
represented by its President, Amy Hyduk.
The attendees of the meeting discussed how
to mitigate this problem, which is leading to a
host of other problems such as an increase in
crime, an increase in the number of women in
jail and babies born addicted to drugs.
So why was the pharmacy community
included in this meeting? Nationally, there are
huge increases in heroin use and prescription
drug abuse. There was a widespread consensus
at the meeting that prescription drugs are
considered a gateway to heroin use. There are
many paths by which a person could get their
hands on prescription drugs and sell them on
the street.
For example, many young children can ac-
cess these addictive prescription medications
by raiding their parents’ medicine cabinet at
home. The pills can be sold at a
high cost. When the customer
becomes tired of the high cost of
these pills, the dealer may offer
him heroin for as little as $10 per
use, making this an appealing
alternative to more expensive pre-
scription drugs.
Another issue is synthetic
drugs, like spice and bath salts.
These drugs are available on the
internet and can be purchased
from sources like China. They are
also considered gateway drugs.
Discussion was held at the
meeting about how hard it is to get
out of the cycle of abusing drugs. People who
are arrested go to jail and are sent to detox if
necessary, but there is no follow up treatment
to ensure positive results and relapse can be
nearly inevitable. People become “frequent
flyers” in the prison system.
Law enforcement agencies are making some
progress. According to DEA Special Agent
Wichern, over 45 heroin traffickers were ar-
rested and 42 lbs. of heroin were seized in In-
diana since September of 2013. Four types of
heroin were discussed at the meeting; South-
east Asian, Southwest Asian, Mexican and
South American, known as Columbian White.
Law enforcement agents have noticed that the
purity of heroin has increased to about 80 to
90% as it is not being cut as much with cutting
agents such as Morphine.
There is now an antidote for heroin over-
doses called Narcan, a brand name product
of the drug naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid
antagonist, and will counter the effects of opi-
oid products such as heroin1
. In the event of a
heroin overdose, first responders can adminis-
ter an injection, which can save a life if admin-
istered in time. This antidote has become quite
controversial, as some feel that it may enable
drug users if they know that this safety net is
available. Others worry that although the ad-
dict may be temporarily saved, they will revert
to the cycle of drug use.
The listening session concluded with
various ideas being brought forward on how
to handle this epidemic. The ideas included:
1. Increasing prison sentences for dealers.
2. Increasing youth education by talking to
kids about the dangers of sharing their
prescription drugs. Many school systems
don’t have the support system previously
in place, as funding has been cut in these
areas.
3. Increasing funding for treatment. After
detox, there needs to be rehab available for
those who do not have health insurance.
Congresswoman Susan Brooks thanked
the pharmacy community for coming to the
meeting and stated “I appreciate that you are
trying to become part of the solution.”
The Heroin Crisis in Indiana –
can pharmacists be part of
the solution to this problem?
LESLIE FEENEY
IPA, Director of Communications
leslie@indianapharmacists.org
7. 7Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
professional competency in drug abuse
prevention, assisting in the identification of
heroin or other drug abuse persons, providing
heroin abusers and/or their family members
information and referral to support groups
specializing in illicit drug addiction, providing
pharmaceutical care to individuals being
treated for heroin or other drug abuse and
serving as a resource for education on abuse of
illicit substances.”
Feature
1
Harm Reduction Coalition: HarmReduction.org
Susan Brooks concluded the meeting by
stating that she would like to hear from more
treatment providers to find out how to pull
people out of the cycle of drug use.
Following the meeting I asked
Congresswomen Brooks how she felt the
pharmacy community could be part of
the solution to this problem. She replied,
“Prescription drug abuse is a gateway to
heroin addiction which means pharmacists
are at the forefront of fighting our heroin
epidemic. During the listening session,
I was pleased to hear Indiana’s pharmacy
community is committed to working with law
enforcement officials to prevent the spread
of prescription drug abuse. I learned that
too many people, both legally and illegally
obtaining prescription opioids, become
addicted to the opioid high. They cannot
maintain the expensive prescription drug habit
and turn to heroin because it is cheaper.”
Brooks also said, “I was shocked to learn
that Indiana ranks first in the number of
pharmacy robberies. It’s truly disturbing that
pharmacies are robbed for their prescription
drugs so that drug dealers can hook people
on opioids and eventually transition that
addiction to heroin’s cheaper high. I am
committed to working with law enforcement,
pharmacists and others to address these
extremely important issues. It will take a
concerted effort from all stakeholders to
combat this dangerous illegal drug. It’s
important that we continue to talk to one
another and identify challenges and solutions.”
IPA President Amy Hyduk stated,
”Pharmacists can become part of the solution
in curbing heroin abuse by maintaining
729 N. Pennsylvania Street | Indianapolis, IN 46204 | 317.634.4968
The Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
will be updating their membership database and website.
Our new site has GONE LIVE!
• Easier Membership Renewal and Event Registration
• Photo gallery of past IPA Events
• New Communication and Social Networking Features
Thank you for your patience during our transition.
8. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 20148
Feature
The Trophy Club,
a breathtaking
championship course
in Lebanon, Indiana
was the perfect course
to hold our annual
PEF Golf Classic on
June 17th
. Sixteen
teams competed for
“Best Winning Team”
on the beautiful
rolling terrain. A new
exciting competition, the Joseph E. McSoley
Scholarship Challenge, supporting students
attending Purdue University, Manchester
University and Butler University Colleges of
Pharmacy in Indiana, brought together three
teams from each school for a chance to win
2014 Pharmacy Education
Foundation Golf Classic
Joseph E. McSoley Scholarship Challenge
Bragging Rights for the day. A handsome
Traveling Trophy, with plates designating the
winning college each year will be displayed
at their school until next year’s challenge.
Purdue University’s Student Team was the
winning college this inaugural year for the
McSoley Challenge (photo below).
During our ‘Burger and Brat Grill Out’
luncheon in the clubhouse after the Classic,
tickets were drawn for raffle prizes, and a
lively Silent Auction featured a gold putter,
golf foursome, restaurants, goods, college gear
and service gift cards donated by numerous
businesses to help raise monies to support our
cause.
We would like to recognize and extend a
sincere THANK YOU to all our supporters,
the dedicated golf committee members
FIRST PLACE WINNING TEAM JOSEPH E. McSOLEY CHALLENGE TEAM WINNER
Derek Fields, Tim Goodin, Jordan Root and Steve Speth
Winnie Landis displays the McSoley Traveling Trophy as
Skip Tucker reviews the rules of the game.
CVS Team. Plews, Shadley, Racher and Braun, LLP sponsored a drink
cart.
Purdue University Student Team – Andy Campbell, Lance Kruger,
Sean Lombardo, Mitch Love
By Carol Dunham
and volunteers who made this great event
a success. Our generous sponsors include:
Community Pharmacies of Indiana (CPI),
Crowders Pharmacy, Hall Render Killian
Heath and Lyman, KB Parrish & Co, KWK
Management, Old National Bank, Pharmacists
Mutual Insurance Co., South Central Regional
Indiana Pharmacy Society (SCRIPS),
SMARxT Med Reminder Systems, and local
businesses that made gift card donations. The
Pharmacists Recovery Network of Indiana
(PRNIndiana) provided a light Continental
Breakfast before the event and Plews Shadley
Racher Braun Law Firm provided cold
refreshments, snacks, and golf towels all day
on the course.
Traveling Trophy
9. 9Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
Feature
One way pharmacy students can prepare
for the working world they are about to
enter is by attending the Future Pharmacists
Conference, hosted yearly
by the Indiana Phar-
macists Alliance. Jes-
sica Triboletti, PharmD,
BCACP and Rob Beckett,
PharmD, BCPS, were
instrumental in the plan-
ning and execution of
this year’s conference.
The event was held at
the Marriott East Hotel
on July 25, 2014. Students that attended
learned valuable interviewing skills, how to
promote themselves on social media, and how
to plan for their futures financially. This year
the students also had the opportunity to have
their CV’s reviewed in advance by a new prac-
titioner. This was a valuable resource to the
students who will be entering the interviewing
arena shortly.
The day began with
Darin Ramsey, PharmD,
BCPS, BCACP, giving an
informative presentation
on interviewing skills.
Next, Amanda Legler,
financial advisor with
Principal Financial
Group discussed how
the students should best
manage their finances after they begin earning
a salary. She spoke about investing options as
well as student loan debt repayment. Later,
Lynn Fletcher, PharmD, BC-ADM, gave a
presentation titled “Knowing Yourself as a
Leader,” which encouraged the students to
consider their management strategies and
leadership skills.
The students also took part in round table
discussions related to various topics, and they
found these to be one of the highlights of the
day. In this segment, pharmacists from well-
known career paths interacted with students
to determine their level of interest with these
positions.
Finally, Rob Beckett, PharmD,
BCPS, conducted the CV
Workshop. Students learned the
most effective way to represent
themselves on their CV or
resume. Students who took
advantage of the opportunity
to have their CV’s reviewed by
new practitioners were given
feedback to help improve their
CV.
New to the event this year
was a presentation on Creating
Your Own Brand with Social
Media, given by Claudine
Melink, Senior Career Services
Consultant with the Center for
Career Opportunities at Purdue
University. Claudine discussed the do’s and don’ts of online profiles with Facebook and LinkedIn,
and how to market yourself to employers via social media.
Thank you to our corporate sponsor, Cardinal Health, for making this event possible!
Cruzin’ into Your Chosen’
Career –
A Review of the Future Pharmacists Conference
Veronica Vernon, BCPS, BCACP, led a round table discussion.
Jessica Triboletti,
PharmD, BCACP
was the MC for the day.
Darin Ramsey,
PharmD, BCACP
KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LATEST
NEWS & CONVERSATIONS!
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/indianapharmacists
@INPharmacists
IPA IS NOW SOCIAL!!
10. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201410
Indiana Academy of Community Pharmacists
“Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!”
As my friends and family will tell you
this is one of my favorite quotes! I’m
always amazed at how time does really seem
to fly-even if you’re not always having fun!
Here I am writing my 3rd
quarter/Fall article
already. It has been an interesting year in the
legislative arena, as many controversial bills
have been discussed. There have been some
developments for pharmacy in the last session,
and I would like to discuss those as well as
mention what may be on the agenda for the
upcoming session.
At this time each year, the IPA turns its
thoughts on what the next legislative session
may bring. The Board of Directors and staff
at the IPA have been hard at work trying to
determine how to continue to advance the
profession of pharmacy in the upcoming
legislative session. In June, a survey was sent
out to IPA members to determine what they
considered to be the most important issues
for the IPA to support in the next legislative
session.
From 1st
to 3rd
the results of the survey were
tallied and ranked in the following order:
1. Pharmacists as providers (Federal level)
2. Medicaid reimbursements for Medication
Therapy Management services
3. PBM transparency
Some other ideas that were suggested
include continuing to expand the
immunization capacity of pharmacists,
advocating appropriate drug disposal for
controlled substances, and implementing a
statewide ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies.
I think everyone will agree that these issues
are extremely important to our profession
and the future of pharmacy practice in
Indiana. The board meets in August and
will be using this information to develop the
IPA legislative agenda for this year. As always,
I am interested in your thoughts on any of
these issues or any that may not have been
included. Please feel free to contact me via
e-mail. I always appreciate any additional
ideas on potential legislative agenda.
I also wanted to discuss a couple of the bills
that were introduced in the last session. One
of these bills was passed and the other was
not. Both these bills deal with issues that will
have a significant impact on how pharmacists
practice in the future. Let’s start with the bill
that did pass:
HB 1218
Requires the Indiana professional licensing
agency to study the impact of including all
prescription drugs in the INSPECT program
and sets forth requirements of the study.
Requires the legislative council to assign an
interim committee to study: (1) the security
of the INSPECT program. The bill also
shortens the delay for reporting to INSPECT
to three days from July 1, 2015 to December
31, 2015. Beginning on January 1, 2016 the
reporting period gets shortened to 24 hours after
dispensing.
This bill was passed and signed by the
governor and at the time of writing this article,
2 of the 3 summer study sessions have been
held. Many issues need to be addressed,
including how to make this process secure.
Also, there are concerns related to the fiscal
impact on both the state and healthcare
providers if the program is expanded. To be
efficient, this must be done without causing
a significant burden on the care givers who
utilize this system on a daily basis. If the
system creates too large of a burden, it will
discourage use of the program by providers.
Depending on your perspective, this may
or may not appear to be worthwhile. If this
system can be utilized efficiently, it provides
pharmacists with a new tool to improve
patient care. If the system is inefficient, it will
become a tremendous hassle. I personally
believe that if the functionality of the process
can be sufficiently improved, then it would
provide an effective comprehensive database
of a patient’s medications, both control and
non-control, regardless of the pharmacy at
which they have been previously filled.
In order to optimize the system, a few
suggestions have been made. These include the
ability to easily find the controlled medications
on a patient’s profile without a significant
delay, and figuring out what to do if the
prescription is filled but then never picked up
by the patient, that this process might provide
some significant benefits to patient care in
Indiana.
In my opinion, this would make providing
optimal care to patients easier for pharmacists
as they would have access to all of their
medications in one location. If you have ever
tried to get a patient medication history from
a patient or family member, you can imagine
how this would be extremely helpful! This
also would have a significant advantage for our
colleagues in the Hospital and Long Term care
areas as well. Think of the resources they are
utilizing now to do medicine reconciliation in
their facilities.
The second bill, HB 1115, did not make it
through the session but appeared on the list of
the top 3 issues that our members wanted to
address legislatively.
HB 1115
Specifies requirements that apply to a
pharmacy benefits manager, including fiduciary
duties owed a covered entity and contractual
requirements for contracts with pharmacies.
Provides that a pharmacy benefits manager
who knowingly or intentionally violates these
provisions commits a Class B misdemeanor.
MAX BARNHART, RPh
IACP President
iacpmax@yahoo.com
11. 11Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
2014
Event CalendarThis bill was supported by the IPA and we
will continue to bring light to the predatory
advantages that the PBM’s seem to have in
pharmacy today. I believe that as we continue
to work toward more transparency in this
industry it can benefit not only the employers
who are paying the bills and the pharmacists
who are filling the prescriptions, but more
importantly, the patients who are negatively
impacted by some of the problems that arise
around this issue.
I would be remiss if I did not also
mention how important it is to have some
wonderful partners in the legislature! As
most of you know we are very lucky to have
2 pharmacists in the Indiana legislature,
Senator Ron Grooms and Representative
Steve Davisson. Both of these gentlemen are
practicing pharmacists, so they understand
how these issues can impact our practices
and make it difficult to do what we all want to
do—take care of our patients! They both are
wonderful supporters of the profession and
in most cases are the supporters and standard
bearers for us and our interests. Please take
a moment to thank them when you see them!
Also, remember that both of these men are
currently in battles for re-election and can use
our support. I urge you to support Ron and
Steve financially or in any other way. They
deserve our support and help! The IPA will be
holding its annual IPAC breakfast on Friday,
September 19th
right before the 2nd
day of the
convention in Indianapolis. The money raised
will support both pharmacists in their re-
election bids!
So that is a very brief update on some of the
things that I see coming down the road for us
in late 2014 and early 2015. I urge all of you
to participate in the debates and follow the
legislative agenda this year. I know we will
need your support to contact your legislators
to make sure they understand these issues and
ask for their support as well! I can be reached
at my E-mail address: iacpmax@yahoo.com
I look forward to hearing from you and thank
you for allowing me to represent you as the
IACP president in 2014!
ADVOCATING COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE
REALIZE YOUR DREAMS!
Join nearly 165 Independent Pharmacy Owners in Indiana!
NOW is the time to exercise your entrepreneurship through Pharmacy Ownership!
• $88.7 billion marketplace
• Average independent pharmacy sales: $3.854 million.
• 23,029 independent community pharmacies.
• Independent pharmacies offer a wide range of patient services: Immunizations (61%), delivery
(77%), durable medical goods (61%), diabetes training (39%), blood pressure monitoring (557%),
and compounding (63%).
Visit us online: www.cpi-ind.com
Contact us at (800) 298-2744 or (317) 624-4400. All inquiries are confidential.
Contact Roy Haney at (765) 288-0905 or by fax at (765) 287-2514.
Source: 2013 NCPA Digest
SEPTEMBER
September 18 - September 19, 2014
IPA/CPI Joint Annual Convention
September 24, 2014
PRN Indiana Annual Recovery Meeting
OCTOBER
October 10, 2014
The Pharmacist & Patient-Centered
Diabetes Care
NOVEMBER
November 14, 2014
MTM Delivering
Medication Therapy Management
Be sure to check out indianapharmacists.org
for updates and announcements.
12. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201412
environmental factors that must be overcome;
changing payment models, legislative barriers,
and education gaps for starters. Together, we
must be strategic and thoughtful about how
we address some of the biggest healthcare
issues: increasing costs, drug shortages,
clear focus on quality, and limited access to
preventative medicine and primary care, just
to name a few. Our ascent will require us
to be resourceful; yet we must continue to
examine our path and change directions when
needed. We need to persuade those colleagues
who may be resistant to change to help see
the benefit of advancing practice; fortunately,
there are so many exciting adventures along
our path. Our march towards provider status
has quickened with the introduction and
groundswell of support for H.R. 4190 co-
introduced by Indiana’s own Congressman
Todd Young. Additional progress is being
made around statewide adverse drug event
reduction, medication therapy management,
and innovative clinical practice.
To help keep this momentum, IPA’s fall
meeting scheduled for September 18th
and
19th
in Indianapolis is packed with the
programming and networking sessions you
need to continue your role in improving
the profession and the care we provide our
patients. Clinical presentations, ranging
from HIV diagnosis to heart failure, coupled
with clinical pearls will ensure our frontline
pharmacists stay on top of best practice.
For instance, legislative updates, a review of
advanced roles for pharmacy technicians,
and innovative presentations on topics
in transitions of care and antimicrobial
stewardship will ensure that we all stay on the
leading edge of pharmacy practice. Hopefully,
you will be able to attend the IPA/CPI Joint
Annual Convention.
As you read this, I anticipate you are already
planning your next steps in your own work,
ensuring that your daily practice improves
patient care no matter the location or setting.
As for me, I will continue my own climb,
knowing full well, that once I reach the top,
I will be able to see farther; and then, I will
continue on my professional journey down the
other side of the mountain towards the next
peak.
The Other Side of the Mountain
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
-Mark Twain
On the heels of my recent attendance at
both the American Society of Health-
System Pharmacist’s Summer Meeting in
Las Vegas and IPA Future Pharmacists
Conference, I have renewed enthusiasm for
the pharmacy profession and where we are
headed. Earlier messages to the membership
have discussed the Pharmacy Practice Model
Initiative (PPMI) and the importance of
integrating safety, quality, and continuing
to improve patient outcomes in any practice
change we implement. Often, when I think
about this ongoing journey towards pharmacy
practice advancement, an enormous, majestic
mountain comes to mind; the imposing
and inspiring nature of a mountainous
environment is beautiful, but also inherently
challenging. Many of my colleagues and
I have been a large advocate for the re-
evaluation and improvement of the services
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
provide our patients. Now, having seen the
continued swell of support for these principles
on the national stage in Las Vegas, I am more
excited than ever to continue to advocate for
change; I feel confirmation that this, truly, is a
landmark time for the pharmacy profession.
For these reasons I feel privileged to be
a pharmacist today. Amidst professional
change, we have the opportunity to be in the
thick of the debate, offer opinions, work with
colleagues to develop innovative solutions,
and interact with exemplary friends and
professionals around the state and country
to implement change. Upon returning from
these national and local meetings, I had the
chance to reflect upon my personal role in
in the profession today. The following quote
from J. P. Morgan sums it up best; “Go as far as
you can see; when you get there you’ll be able
to see farther.”
These are changing times for healthcare
and the pharmacy profession; fortunately,
the members of the Indiana Society of
Health-System Pharmacists and the Indiana
Pharmacists Alliance (IPA) have continued
to demonstrate their role as national
pharmacy leaders. Indiana continues to
emerge as a “best practice” in many facets
of practice advancement referenced as part
of PPMI. Increased emphasis on safety,
quality, accountability, and outcomes offers
pharmacists the chance to impact care in ways
never before explored. Our value is without
question, yet we must seize the day if we hope
to continue our climb up this mountain of
better care and increased professional growth.
This mountain is not without impasses
and treacherous terrain. Specifically, we have
“These are changing
times for healthcare
and the pharmacy
profession; fortunately,
the members of the
ISHP and the IPA
have continued to
demonstrate their role
as national pharmacy
leaders.”
JOHN B. HERTIG, PharmD, MS,
CPPS
ISHP President
Indiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists
13. 13Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
Indiana Academy of Pharmacy Technicians
ing. A great way to stay motivated and excited
about your career is to stay abreast of changes
and advances that are occurring. If you haven’t
already done so, become certified, join phar-
macy technician organizations, attend semi-
nars, etc. Get to know other pharmacy techni-
cians that are not necessarily at your place of
employment. This will help you build lasting
personal and professional relationships.
Pharmacy is constantly growing evolving
and changing. For these reasons, Pharmacy
Technicians are in need more now than ever
before! I would like to personally encourage
current Pharmacy Technicians to take this
career to the next level. WE NEED YOU!
Sometimes, it is OK to say no. If you are a hard
worker, people recognize that anyway. Saying
no to some things will make you feel less over-
whelmed.
Tip 3: Work/Life Balance
Find that balance between home life and
work life. Try not to bring work home. It will
be there when you get back!
Tip 4: Find a Hobby
Take a kickboxing class, run, crochet, work-
out, scrapbook, or whatever you love to do.
Having a hobby is a great way to keep your
mind off of work related stress.
Tip 5: Professional Networks
Pharmacy is always evolving and chang-
Pharmacy Technician – A Great Career
Iam excited to be serving as the IAPT presi-
dent this year! Pharmacy is a great profes-
sion. A career as a Pharmacy Technician is a
great career to have. Today is all about uplift-
ing and sending encouragement your way!
After working in the same field for a few
years, sometimes things may seem boring or
routine. You wake up in the morning and go to
the same job, fill the same prescriptions, and
interact with the same coworkers. Sometimes
you may even question your career choice. As
I stated before, a career as a Pharmacy Techni-
cian is a great career to have so I have listed a
few tips that may help you dig deep and find
the love that you once had for this awesome
career.
Tip 1: Goal Setting
Set a goal for yourself. What is it that you
want out of your career? Where do you see
yourself in 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years from
now? Once you set your goals evaluate your
current state and begin making steps towards
achieving your goal.
Tip 2: Learn to say NO
Often times we shy away from saying no to
new projects or requests from our boss or co-
workers. We often feel that we are super men
and women and can handle EVERYTING.
A Buying group for independent retAil phArmAcies
...owned by 19 state pharmacy organizations
...a leader negotiating on behalf of
independents
...saving pharmacies money for
more than 25 years
...financially supports the
state pharmacy organizations
...serving pharmacies nationwide
1-888-200-0998 | www.pacealliance.com
VENNETTA McCRAY, B.A. CPhT
IAPT President
vennetta.mccray@gmail.com
14. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201414
Indiana Academy of Managed Care Pharmacists
Specialty Pharmacy, The Changing Managed
Care Environment, Current Clinical Concepts,
Research and Evidence in Managed Care, and
Fundamentals in Managed Care. You will find
topics such as Evaluating Companion diag-
nostics using Comparative Effective Research,
and Impact of New Guidelines on Managing
Cholesterol, and Preparing for Biosimilars in
the US: What are the Prevailing Controver-
sies? Of course there are several sessions on
management of Hepatitis C. Let us know if
you are planning to attend!
Need something closer?
Midwest AMCP Affiliate’s 6th
Annual Day of
Education is on September 6th
in Plymouth,
Michigan. You can get 4 hours of CME fo-
cused on managed care topics and of course
information on management of Hepatitis C.
Check out http://www.amcp.org/Midwest/ for
more information.
Even Closer:
IPA/CPI Joint Annual Convention is Sep-
tember 18th
and 19th
. This is a great opportu-
nity to network and get CME close to home.
Register at www.indianapharmacists.org.
AMCP Student Chapters: Butler, Purdue
The new school year is starting and you
should know that both Butler and Purdue now
have student AMCP chapters. This is a great
way to volunteer and help train our upcoming
colleagues. Are you a managed care phar-
macists and need a small project done? How
about those analytics you have been putting
off because of bandwidth? That business plan?
What about a pharmacy student interested in
managed care? Guaranteed that there is inter-
est by these students in getting to know what
you do and learning more about it. Reach out
today to one of those chapters and volunteer!
Contact any of your IAMCP leadership to help
if you need it.
As always, I want you to acknowledge our
academy leadership: Suzanne Reber R.Ph, is
our President Elect and Dale Bultemeier P.D.
is our Member at Large. If you have any ques-
tions, please feel free to reach out to any of us.
I hope to see you at our annual meeting!
All the best!
Kathleen Shoemaker Pharm D, MBA
Academy President IAMCP
Recently in the INDYStar, there was an
article about “Costly Health Plans: Study:
State workers’ pay higher rates and share of
costs”. The article was not too sensational, and
represented the study findings that Indiana
has one of the greatest uses of high-deductible
plans that are combined with health savings
accounts. Also, there was a discussion around
the average monthly premium cost of $622
compared with $580 nationally. The article
went on to discuss how much more state
employees pay for health insurance. But the
elephant in the room: the health of those state
employees. The article failed to mention that
Indiana is one of the top states for smoking,
obesity and diabetes, three health factors that
really impact the cost of insurance. The article
could have gone on to discuss the fact that
Hoosier’s health status is costing the state in
health benefit costs. Then, it could have talked
about the ways different health plans offer
disease management and health incentives to
stop smoking, lose weight and control diabe-
tes. Managed care pharmacists know this as
they try to design drug formulary, medication
therapy management programs and disease
management programs that give patients tools
and incentives to improve their health. A little
good news about this would have been helpful.
Upcoming Managed Care Pharmacists CME
Opportunities:
AMCP NEXUS. The upcoming Academy
of Managed Care Pharmacy Fall Education
program, AMCP NEXUS is the place to find
answers while completing some CME targeted
to managed care pharmacists. This fall (Octo-
ber 7-8 in Boston, MA) the meeting is divided
into tracks making it easier to customize
your educational needs. The tracks include:
KATHLEEN SHOEMAKER, PharmD, MBA
IAMCP President
kathleen.shoemaker@heart.org
Indiana Academy of Managed
Care Pharmacy
Welcome to IAMCP
“Indiana is one of the
top states for smoking,
obesity and diabetes,
three health factors
that really impact the
cost of insurance.”
15. 15Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
Indiana Society of Senior Care Pharmacists
Nursing facilities are vital to providing
care for our loved ones. Often, families
have to make quick decisions due to an
emergent need, which can lead to improper
placement. To avoid this, I encourage anyone
with a family member in declining health to
become familiar with the facilities near their
community. Over the past six years, I have
consulted at nearly one hundred different
nursing homes. Here are the things I would
look for and the questions I would ask to
navigate this important decision.
Originally, I assumed that all homes were
similar. However, there are many different
types of facilities. Homes come in all sizes,
from ten patients up to the hundreds which
can directly impact social interaction
opportunities. Certain homes have financial
restrictions, as some only accept private
pay and others primarily accept Medicaid
patients. Financials directly impact staff,
amenities, services and activities. Some
homes also have waiting lists to become a
resident. Many homes provide specialized
care. There are rehabilitation facilities that
focus on getting residents well and back home.
Others specialize in Alzheimer’s patients who
need individualized care. Some facilities
predominantly accept patients with behavioral
disturbances due to dementia or other
psychological illnesses. Additionally, facilities
can specialize in ventilator support, obesity,
developmental disabilities and traumatic
injuries among others. Understanding the
demographics of a facility will help to narrow
the search.
The next step is to meet the leaders of the
facility; the Administrator and the Director of
Nursing (DON). The administrator oversees
the facility from a financial prospective. I
believe the best administrators have some
medical background, allowing them to
approach decisions from a care viewpoint
first and a cost standpoint second. They
understand the needs of the residents and staff
and can help if a medical emergency arises.
The DON oversees the facility from a medical
perspective and sets the tone for the quality of
care throughout the facility. The DON should
be well respected by staff and approachable.
While the DON has a great deal of paperwork
to oversee, they should still be active helping
out staff and overseeing the floor. I would talk
with various staff members to get an honest
opinion on the DONs managerial style and
involvement at the facility. I would schedule
a meeting with the DON to ask the following.
How do you provide individualized care?
What is the training process for nurses and
aides? How do you staff the facility? What are
the strengths and weaknesses of your facility?
Next, ensure you are comfortable with the
medical director. This physician is responsible
for the oversight and quality assurance of
medical care in the facility. Patients and
their families can decide if they want to
use the medical director or stay with their
current outside practitioner. I would typically
recommend choosing the medical director
since they examine your loved one onsite, visit
the facility multiple times per month, and
are responsible for ensuring compliance with
care. However, the quality of care between
medical directors can vary so asking the staff
these questions will help to make an informed
opinion. How often does the MD visit the
facility? How long do they stay? What time of
day do they visit? How many patients do they
typically see on each visit? How receptive are
they to staff, other practitioners’ and families’
input? Do they send nurse practitioners to see
their patients? Is the medical director easily
accessible at night and on the weekends if
necessary?
The heart and soul of a nursing facility are
the nurses and certified nursing aides (CNAs).
They have daily interaction with your loved
one. There are typically three shifts of workers
and the quality of care can vary greatly so it
is important to observe each shift. The first
shift normally employs the most senior staff,
and support is available from other facility
departments staffed only during the day. At
first glance, this may make the facility appear
to be running smoothly. Instead, I would
recommend observing the second or third
shift to get a truer picture, as these shifts often
have nurses and CNAs with less experience,
and there is less staff to lean on. Observe if
residents are attending activities, staying in
their rooms, or aimlessly sitting in the hallway,
as I often unfortunately see. Ask the DON
about the staff during your meeting. What
level of education and how many years of
experience do the nurses have? How many
residents does each CNA take care of? How
often are there call offs and how does the
facility handle this? How do the nurses spend
their time during a typical day?
The average nursing home stay is about
three years, so it is important to choose the
right facility for your loved one. I encourage
starting the process early so that the best
decision can be made when the time comes.
Meet as many people and ask as many
questions as possible to become informed on
the facilities. Visit at different times of the
day unplanned, to truly see how each facility
operates. This will help you find a facility that
properly suits your loved ones financial means,
cognition and physical capabilities to make a
smooth transition.
Choosing the Proper Nursing Facility
CHRISTOPHER P. SAMMON, PharmD, CGP
ISSCP President
christopher.sammon@gmail.com
“The average nursing
home stay is about
three years, so it is
important to choose the
right facility for your
loved one.”
16. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201416
Financial Forum
While the Idea of Retirement
has Changed, Certain Financial
Assumption Haven’t
Pat Reding and Bo Schnurr may be reached
at 800-288-6669 or pbh@berthelrep.com.
Registered Representative of and securities
and investment advisory services offered
through Berthel Fisher & Company Financial
Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. PRISM
Wealth Advisors LLC is independent of Berthel
Fisher & Company Financial Services Inc.
This series, Financial Forum, is presented by
PRISM Wealth Advisors, LLC and your State
Pharmacy Association through Pharmacy
Marketing Group, Inc., a company dedicated
to providing quality products and services to
the pharmacy community.
We’ve all heard about the “new
retirement”, the mix of work and play
that many of us assume we will have in our
lives one day. We do not expect “retirement”
to be all leisure. While this is becoming a
cultural assumption among baby boomers,
it is interesting to see that certain financial
assumptions haven’t really changed with the
times.
In particular, there are two financial
misconceptions that baby boomers can
fall prey to – assumptions that could prove
financially harmful for their future.
#1) Assuming retirement will last
10-15 years.
Previous generations of Americans planned
for retirements anticipated to last only 10-15
years. Today, both men and women who reach
65 can anticipate around 20 additional years
of life. It’s important to note that this is just
an average; a quarter of people reaching 65
will live beyond 90 and ten percent will live
another five years or more.1
However, some of us may live much longer.
The population of centenarians in the U.S. is
growing – the Census Bureau counted 53,364
folks 100 years or older in 2010 and showed
a steady 5.8 percent rise in centenarians since
the previous count in 2000. It also notes
that between 1980 and 2010 centenarians
experienced a population boom, with a 65.8%
rise in population, in comparison to 36.3%
overall.2
If you’re reading this article, chances are
you might be wealthy or at least “affluent.”
And if you are, you likely have good health
insurance and access to excellent health care.
You may be poised to live longer because of
these two factors. Given the landmark health
care reforms of the Obama administration, we
could see another boost in overall American
longevity in the generation ahead.
Here’s the bottom line: every year, the
possibility is increasing that your retirement
could last 20 or 30 years … or longer. So
assuming you’ll only need 10 or 15 years worth
of retirement money could be a big mistake.
Many people don’t realize how much
retirement money they may need. There is a
relationship between Misconception #1 and
Misconception #2 …
#2) Assuming too little risk.
Our appetite for risk declines as we get older,
and rightfully so. Yet there may be a danger in
becoming too risk-averse.
Holding onto your retirement money is
certainly important; so is your retirement
income and quality of life. There are three
financial issues that can affect your quality
of life and/or income over time: taxes, health
care costs and inflation. Over time, even 3-4%
inflation gradually saps your purchasing
power. Your dollar buys less and less.
Here’s a hypothetical challenge for you:
for the rest of this year, you have to live on
the income you earned in 1999. Could you
manage that?
This is an extreme example, but that’s what
can happen if your income doesn’t keep up
with inflation – essentially, you end up living
on yesterday’s money.
Taxes may be higher in the years ahead. So
tax reduction and tax-advantaged investing
have taken on even more importance whether
you are 20, 40 or 60. Health care costs are
climbing – we need to be prepared financially
for the cost of acute, chronic and long-term
care.
As you retire, you may assume that an
extremely conservative approach to investing
is mandatory. But given how long we may live
- and how long retirement may last - growth
investing is extremely important.
No one wants the “Rip Van Winkle”
experience in retirement. No one should
“wake up” 20 years from now only to find that
the comfort of yesterday is gone. Retirees who
retreat from growth investing may risk having
this experience.
How are you envisioning retirement
right now?
Has your vision of retirement changed?
Is retiring becoming more and more of a
priority? Are you retired and looking to
improve your finances? Regardless of where
you’re at, it is vital to avoid the common
misconceptions and proceed with clarity.
Citations.
1 - www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/lifeexpectancy.htm
[8/23/13]
2 - www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.
pdf [12/12]
17. 17Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
committeeman was there to listen. This was
your representative, addressing your concerns
directly to union management, and ultimately,
to the overseeing entity, your employer. IPA
representation is similar, in that each region
of our state has a district representative, who
is there to listen to your concerns, and share
them with IPA leadership. These concerns,
if warranted, will be shared further with the
State Board of Pharmacy, or if a legislative
remedy is preferred, the IPA lobbying team
will consider creating a legislative bill to be
reviewed for possible sponsorship by a State
Representative to the appropriate committee.
A new law may result that will help address
the original concern. As slow as that process
may be, I think the end result is more effective,
and arrived at more quickly, than any concern
I shared with my precinct committeeman,
during my factory tenure.
A Magazine Published Annually – IPA
is at least FOUR times better than my old
union in this category alone, since the IPA
magazine, “Indiana Pharmacist” is published
quarterly, and we used to receive the UAW
“Unity” publication once a year. In addition,
I recall my “Unity” magazine was filled with
photos from various picnics throughout the
country on one day of the year, Labor Day,
and contained a lot of union rhetoric. Our
IPA magazine has photos from the many and
varied IPA activities throughout the year, and
contains informative and entertaining articles
– like THIS one, for example!
Obviously, an IPA membership is a much
better value than my old union membership,
with many of the same benefits. And, as a
bonus, you won’t be asked to rack your brain
for clever picket sign sloganeering as you walk
out on strike!
Herb Hunter, PharmD
Chairman, IPA Membership Council
One of the songs I re-
member from my High
School days was written
by a set of twins from
Arkansas, who called
themselves the Cate
Brothers. It was titled
“Union Man,” and may
be the only song anyone
remembers from the
Cate Brothers!
It went, “Hey, hey Mr. Union Man, thank
you for the helping hand. Hey, hey Mr. Union
Man, so glad that you understand.”
The song was actually a lamentation
regarding union ineffectiveness during the late
1970’s, rather than an anthem of support for
union culture, and seemed to have undertones
of dissatisfaction towards ever increasing
union dues, at a time when much of the
country was economically challenged.
My brief union background may be one
of the reasons I remember the song. Prior
to attending pharmacy school, I worked in a
factory where membership in the United Auto
Workers was a requirement for employment.
In exchange for union representation, we
submitted two hours of pay each month,
which served as our union dues. Those two
hours per month provided us with legislative
representation, a method of networking
with other union employees, a precinct
committeeman to hear concerns, and a
magazine called “Unity,” which was published
annually.
Why am I bringing this up? Well, it’s not
to pine over my expired union membership,
or long for a return to the now antiquated
union work model from the 1970’s. No, I’m
highlighting my union experiences to show
what a value we have in IPA membership.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’
2013 Occupational Employment Statistics,
pharmacist salaries grew faster than overall
U.S. wages. In fact, the average gross salary for
a pharmacist in 2013 was $117,500, up slightly
from the previous year. In spite of concerns
over a growing pool of qualified pharmacists
and the fear of a stagnant market to welcome
them, our profession is doing quite well.
Returning to my union example,
representation by the UAW cost each worker
in my factory two hours per month. If we
take the average pharmacist salary, reported
by the BLS, and convert it to an hourly wage,
it works out to $56.49/hour. Were we to
employ our union formula, representation for
pharmacists would be about $1,355.76/year.
In comparison, IPA membership is $170 for
the first year, then just $250/year thereafter.
So, how is working in a pharmacy similar to
working in a factory? I’m sure our colleagues
could provide several examples, but I would
like to focus on the union comparison.
Representation – It was my impression
a union provided the worker with
representation, or the ability to speak in
a common voice, to management. Our
profession is governed by state regulatory
agencies, such as the Indiana Board of
Pharmacy, which in turn, are guided by
legislative activity. The IPA is your voice in the
legislature. IPA is often consulted when bills
involving pharmacy are under review, and any
changes or modifications to considered bills
are often guided by IPA lobbyists, working on
behalf of pharmacists throughout the State of
Indiana.
Method of Networking – Just as the UAW
provided networking opportunities with
other union employees, the IPA provides
interaction between colleagues at annual
meetings, educational seminars, and social
events. This may be the greatest benefit
of IPA membership, comparing processes
at your place of work with other practice
experiences. Colleague interaction may
be the best opportunity to discuss pending
legislation, State Board of Pharmacy decisions,
or changes in practice settings. Chances are,
topics of interest may be areas of concerns
for fellow pharmacists, and if two heads are
better than one, imagine the solutions that
can be achieved from many of your colleagues
working together!
Precinct Committeeman to hear concerns
– As I recall, the precinct committeeman
was not the easiest guy to find, but if you
had a concern regarding the working
environment or a safety issue, the precinct
“Hey, Hey, Mr. Union Man!”
HERB HUNTER
PharmD
18. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201418
Craig Fisher, P4 COPHS student, trav-
eled to Nashville, TN this summer to receive
a national award from Sigma Nu. Each year
Sigma Nu recognizes the 10 most outstanding
graduating seniors. They salute those rare and
uncommon Knights who exemplify eminence
in their daily lives as expressed by the CREED
of Sigma Nu. The award defines recipients as
men “who demonstrate a genuine commit-
ment to the ideals of the Legion of Honor and
whose pattern of performance on behalf of
their Chapter, and the General Fraternity, are a
worthy example or model for others to follow.”
Butler University
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (COPHS)
Manchester University College of Pharmacy
Continued on facing page.
RX Education Update
COPHS Craig Fisher, P4, receives National Fraternity Award.
PHARMACY RESIDENCY EDUCATION
Butler University continues to offer the
Longitudinal Academic Experiential Program
(LAEP) for local pharmacy residents to expose
them to academia and enhance their teaching
skills. Goals of the longitudinal academic
program are to develop the residents’ teaching
skills in a variety of settings including small
group facilitation and experiential teaching
as well as provide other opportunities
determined by the resident’s interest and
career goals. The program continues to
expand each year with over 40 residents
participating for the 2014-2015 year. In
addition, Butler collaborates with Purdue
University College of Pharmacy to offer
the Indiana Pharmacy Teaching Certificate
Program (IPTeC) to over 80 residents and
new faculty this upcoming year. Goals of this
program are to provide pharmacy residents
and new faculty the necessary foundation
for a career in academia. We are excited
to incorporate new resident leadership
opportunities for the upcoming year as well
as collaboration with Manchester University
College of Pharmacy in the near future.
PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
BUILDING RENOVATION
The second floor of the Pharmacy and
Health Sciences Building (PBHS) has been
renovated due to a gift from Mrs. Carolyn
Ribordy. The new three-level, tiered lecture
hall seats 138 and has all new state-of-the-art
technology, including three new projectors
and screens, and white boards extend the
full width of the lecture hall. Hallways have
been painted and carpeted matching the 2009
edition.
LAEP Executive Committee: Darin Ramsey, PharmD, BCPS,
BCACP, Tracy Sprunger, PharmD, BCPS, Amy Heck, PharmD,
Jasmine Gonzalvo, Pharm.D., BCPS, BC-ADM, CDE
CLASS OF 2018 CELEBRATES WHITE
COAT CEREMONY
The third class to join the Manchester
University College of Pharmacy doctor
of pharmacy program recently completed
orientation, culminating with the White Coat
Ceremony on Friday, August 4th
, 5 pm on the
North Manchester campus. The 73 students
in the Class of 2018 were joined by family
and friends for the ceremony. Dean Raylene
Rospond served as the keynote speaker,
providing an inspirational message to the
incoming class. Nearly 600 qualified students
applied from across the nation for the 73 seats.
The class represents over 20 states, with over
40 percent of the class from Indiana.
2014-2015 ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS
Over 200 students in three classes are now
roaming the halls of the College of Pharmacy
on the Fort Wayne campus. Courses resumed
on Monday, August 4th
and the College’s
students, faculty, and staff celebrated the first
day with a welcome back picnic dinner and
Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball game. Great fun
was had by all and the TinCaps rallied for the
victory.
COPHS STUDENT, CRAIG FISHER, P4
RECEIVES SIGMA NU AWARD
Class of 2018 and Dean Rospond
19. 19Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS GROW
Manchester pharmacy students now have
a number of new professional membership
opportunities available. Adding to our
established student organizations: APhA-
ASP, student ambassadors, and the Muslim
healthcare professionals; there are three new
student organizations that have formed for
this coming year. Students will be able to join
an ASHP Student Society of Health-System
Pharmacists (ASHP SSHP), a Student National
Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) chapter,
and a chapter of the Lambda Kappa Sigma
professional fraternity. A student organization
session was held during orientation to inform
all students about the various professional
opportunities available on campus this
academic year.
P3 students – Risha Patel, Kim Perkins and Andrea Fung
Purdue University College of
Pharmacy
MULTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF PHARMACY STUDENTS (MAPS) AT
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
What is MAPS?
MAPS is a student organization that is man-
aged by the Office of Multicultural Programs.
Its mission is to promote and foster a culture
of diversity among students in the College
of Pharmacy. MAPS also collaborates with
several partners to increase professional and
volunteer opportunities for MAPS students.
Who can join MAPS?
MAPS’ primary goal is to increase the
number of students who are traditionally
under-represented in the College of Pharmacy.
Notwithstanding, any pharmacy student can
join MAPS. A total of 115 students are part of
MAPS and represent many countries around
the globe, including the United States. A
unique quality of MAPS is that students re-
main actively engaged even after graduation.
How does MAPS help students to succeed
at Purdue?
MAPS works in tandem with the
Office of Multicultural Programs
to ensure that MAPS students have
access to tutors and other resources
to remain academically successful in
the College of Pharmacy. A mentor-
ing program that paired students
accepted to the College of Pharmacy
with MAPS students was introduced
in the fall semester of 2013. The
program proved so invaluable to
the academic success of MAPS students that
the students requested that the program be
continued.
What is MAPS doing in the Community?
MAPS is an active participant in the Indi-
ana Black Expo. At this event, MAPS students
share with attendees the value of the profes-
sion of pharmacy to their health and wellbe-
ing and proactively engage those who express
interest in the profession of pharmacy or are
thinking about becoming a pharmacist.
MAPS also hosts students from historically
underrepresented minority backgrounds on
the Purdue campus during the school year.
Known as the Rising Leaders in Pharmacy
Pipeline Program, this initiative reaches stu-
dents in grades 6-12 from schools such as
Harshmen STEM Middle School Magnet in
Indianapolis, Indiana, and Bernard Watson
Boys Academy in Gary, Indiana. The goal of
this program is to begin recruiting students
who want to pursue a profession in pharmacy
and share with them what it takes to succeed
academically at Purdue College of Pharmacy.
A tour of the College of Pharmacy and the
campus and lunch with faculty and current
students are other highlights of this event.
What does MAPS have in store for the 2014
fall semester?
MAPS will work closely with the Office of
Multicultural Programs to introduce a new
program called MAPS ExCEL Ambassadors.
This new program would provide MAPS
students with more leadership opportunities,
identify ways to improve Purdue University
admissions and recruitment process, and in-
crease the College of Pharmacy’s presence in
the community. MAPS is grateful to Purdue
University Offices of Admissions and Dean of
Students for their partnership and support in
this endeavor.
Are you interested in following MAPS?
Visit this link: http://www.pharmacy.pur-
due.edu/omp/- to follow MAPS activities at
Purdue and in the community. Information
about the Office of Multicultural Programs
can also be found at this link. We also have
a Facebook page and can be found by typing
“Purdue University Multicultural Association of
Pharmacy Students (MAPS)” in the Facebook
search window. Please give us your feedback
and suggestions to help us focus our efforts.
Hail Purdue! Go Boilers!
Linnette White, Director of Multicultural Programs Jutieh Lincoln, MPH, Doctor of Pharmacy Student
Manchester University
College of Pharmacy cont.
See
You there!!
IPA/CPI JOINT
ANNUAL CONVENTION
SEPTEMBER 18 - 19
Wyndham Indianapolis West
Register online at www.indianapharmacists.org
20. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201420
Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
putting family
health first
• Free select antibiotics, select
prenatal vitamins, atorvastatin
calcium and metformin immediate
release
• Automatic prescription refill service
• Health screenings for cholesterol,
glucose and more
• Immunizations for flu, shingles,
TDAP and more
Indiana’s Scheduled Prescription Electronic Collecting
& Tracking database, better known as INSPECT, was
introduced in 2004 with the purpose of maintaining
patient information for health care professionals
and providing an investigative resource for law
enforcement. Traditionally, INSPECT is used by health
care professionals to monitor when, where, and how
much of a controlled substance patients are getting at
pharmacies, hospitals etc.
The newest “hot topic” with regard to INSPECT is the possibility of adding
all legend drugs to the program. This would mean that regular, everyday
drugs would be included in the database, not only controlled substances.
This poses the question “why do we need all legend drugs in INSPECT?” The
answer, although it may seem simple, is actually quite complex. Many agree
that adding all legend drugs to the program will jumpstart something along
the lines of a universal electronic medical record (EMR) and prove to be
useful in nearly every medical setting. Others think that adding all drugs to
INSPECT is not as useful as we may think – that it is an unnecessary burden,
cost, and use of resources for the state.
Regardless of either viewpoint, I think we can all agree that having some
type of nationwide EMR would prove useful in any healthcare setting. Many
of us are all too familiar with a patient coming into the hospital or retail
setting and not knowing what medications they are taking. It is primarily
the job of pharmacists to do medication reconciliations/medication histories
to determine what prescriptions the patient is or is not taking. On the other
hand, some patients come in to the hospital and know exactly what they are
taking, or have a list to provide you with the necessary information. These
patients make our job easy and aid us in their transition of care. It is when
patients present in an unresponsive state or are unaware of what medications
they take that having an electronic database of all their medications would
be useful to provide them with the best possible care. Beyond the scope
of the state of Indiana alone, INSPECT could be linked with other state’s
prescription monitoring programs and ultimately help us connect the nation
from coast to coast and have complete medication records for our patients,
no matter where they are.
It goes without saying that having this electronic file of a patient’s
medication does not take away the human aspect of interacting with our
patients and forming relationships with them. It is still necessary to complete
medication reconciliations/medication histories with the patient to ensure
that what we have on file is correct and correlates with what they are actually
taking on a day-to-day basis. It is in this regard that INSPECT would serve as
a supplemental tool for our daily use in patient care.
We can see that including all legend drugs to INSPECT has its advantages
but does not replace what we already do as patient care providers. INSPECT
functions as an instrument to help us excel in what we do best, manage drug
therapy for our patients, and remains another piece of the puzzle in our quest
for optimum patient care.
INSPECT. State of Indiana website: www.in.gove/pla/inspect/2388.htm.
INSPECT – Indiana’s Answer to the
Quest for a Universal EMR?
Kyle Mohler
22. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201422
Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
FDA Publishes Compounding Guidance,
But Where Are the Regulations?
Executive Summary
The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)
released five regulatory and guidance documents
pertaining to compounding in an effort to pro-
vide clarity to pharmaceutical stakeholders. The
documents, issued pursuant to the Drug Quality
and Security Act (“Act”),1
describe expectations
regarding compliance with current good manu-
facturing practices (“cGMPs”) for compounding
outsourcing facilities and standards for com-
pounding pharmacies, request nominations to
the lists of bulk drug substances that can be used
in compounding in those facilities and propose
to update the list of drugs withdrawn from the
market for safety or efficacy reasons.
Background
The FDA recently released five documents
related to compounding pharmacies and out-
sourcing facilities pursuant to the Act. The
documents focus on Sections 503A and 503B
of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which
was amended by the Act. Section 503A places
restrictions on compounding pharmacies that
generally sell their products to specific patients
within a single state. The Act adds Section 503B
that creates “outsourcing facilities,” which do not
face the same geographic restrictions as 503A
compounding pharmacies but must register
with the FDA and meet strict operational re-
quirements.
Discussion
Section 503A – Compounding Pharmacies
The FDA released two documents pertaining
specifically to 503A compounding pharmacies.
One is a final guidance document titled, “Guid-
ance: Pharmacy Compounding of Human Drug
Products under Section 503A of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” 2
When this and the
other guidance documents include provisions
not currently found in laws and regulations, they
are not binding but represent the FDA’s current
thinking. Under this document, drugs com-
pounded in accordance with the Act are exempt
from approval, labeling and manufacturing pro-
cess requirements, although other requirements
still apply. To be eligible for these exemptions,
compounded drugs must meet certain require-
ments. Among other things, the drug must:
• Be made by a licensed pharmacist or physi-
cian;
• Be compounded for an identified patient
based on a valid prescription or in limited
quantities before the receipt of a prescription
for such individual patient under certain
circumstances;
• Be compounded in compliance with the
United States Pharmacopoeia (“USP”)
chapters on compounding using bulk drug
substances that comply with the standards of
a USP or National Formulary monograph,
if one exists. If a monograph does not ex-
ist, the substance must be a component of
an FDA-approved drug. If neither of these
circumstances exists, the substance must
appear on an FDA list of substances approved
for compounding as further explained below
(“FDA-Approved List”);
• Be compounded using approved bulk drug
substances;
• Not be on the list of drugs that have been
withdrawn from the market due to safety or
efficacy reasons as further explained below;
and
• Not be a drug identified by the FDA as pre-
senting demonstrable difficulties for com-
pounding that demonstrate an adverse effect
on the safety or effectiveness of the drug.
Further, the pharmacist or physician must not
All quality assurance (QA) and safe medication
practices programs are NOT the same!
Make sure your safety net comes with the strength
and protection of a Patient Safety Organization!
Protect your patients AND your pharmacy!
Pharmacies that license the Pharmacy Quality Improvement™
and
report patient safety events are now provided federal legal protection
to information that is reported through the Alliance for Patient
Medication Safety (APMS) – A Patient Safety Organization.
To learn about PSOs visit www.pso.ahrq.gov/psos/fastfacts.htm.
Pharmacy Quality Commitment™
(PQC)
• Helps you improve efficiency and increase patient safety
• Easy-to-use tools to collect and analyze medication near miss and error data
• Meets demands for safe medication practices and QA programs
• Protects reported data through APMS, a federally listed PSO
Call toll free (866) 365-7472 or visit
www.pqc.net for more information.
PQC is brought to you by your state pharmacy association.
TM
Do you have a
safetynet?
23. 23Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
1
Hall Render’s November 2013 analysis of the Act is available
here.
2
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/
GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/
UCM377052.pdf
3
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-07-02/pdf/2014-
15367.pdf
4
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/
GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/
UCM403496.pdf
5
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-07-02/pdf/2014-
15373.pdf
6
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-07-02/pdf/2014-
15371.pdf
This article is educational in nature and is not intended as legal
advice. Always consult your legal counsel with specific legal mat-
ters. If you have any questions or would like additional informa-
tion about this topic, please contact Susan Bizzell at 317.977.1453
or sbizzell@hallrender.com, Nicholas Gonzales at 414.721.0486 or
ngonzales@hallrender.com or your regular Hall Render attorney.
regularly or in inordinate amounts compound
any drug that is a copy of a commercially avail-
able drug. The guidance imposes limits on the
distribution of compounded drugs outside of
the state in which they are compounded.
The FDA also published in the Federal Reg-
ister3
a revised request for nominations to be
included in the FDA-Approved List. The FDA
previously called for such nominations but was
not satisfied with the responses it received. The
FDA requests that commenters resubmit pro-
posals with very specific supporting evidence
for each nominated substance. Nominations are
open until September 30, 2014.
Section 503B – Outsourcing Facilities
Section 503B creates a new category of
compounding entities known as “outsourcing
facilities.” These facilities do not need to be li-
censed as pharmacies by the states in which they
operate, but they are required to register with
the federal government and abide by applicable
laws if they wish to be exempt from approval,
labeling requirements and requirements of the
Drug Supply Chain Security Act. Two docu-
ments released by the FDA pertain specifically
to outsourcing facilities. One is a draft docu-
ment titled, “Guidance for Industry: Current
Good Manufacturing Practice – Interim Guidance
for Human Compounding Outsourcing Facilities
Under Section 503B of the FD&C Act”4
on which
the FDA seeks comments by September 2, 2014.
Drugs compounded within outsourcing facili-
ties must be compounded in accordance with
cGMPs. In the future, the FDA will issue regula-
tions pertaining to cGMPs within these facilities;
in the meantime, the draft guidance provides
insight into the FDA’s thoughts on the subject
and generally requires many strict controls to
be maintained throughout the compounding
process.
The second document related to outsourcing
facilities5
calls for nominations by September
30, 2014, for the list of bulk drug substances
that can be used for compounding within 503B
outsourcing facilities and is similar to the call
for nominations with respect to 503A facilities
described above.
Drugs That Have Been Withdrawn from the
Market
The FDA also issued a proposed rule6
to
amend its list of drug products that may not be
compounded by 503A and 503B facilities be-
cause the drug products have been withdrawn
from the market after either the drug product
or components were found to be unsafe or inef-
fective. Specifically, twenty-five drug products
would be added to the list and one product
would be modified. Comments are due by Sep-
tember 2, 2014.
Next Steps
The public has an opportunity to submit com-
ments and potentially influence the final lan-
guage of four out of five of these proposed rules
and the draft guidance documents. Operators
of 503A and 503B facilities should be aware of
these proposed rules and guidance documents
as they are the best indications we currently
have of the FDA’s expectations.
Are you sinking deeper into addiction? Do you feel like you’re drowning and need help but don’t know
what to do or where to go? You’re not alone.
Call PRNIndiana. We will answer your questions and help guide you on the right path to get your life
back. We are pharmacists monitoring pharmacists.
PRNIndiana Confidential Helpline: 317.624.4401 or 877.624.4401
www.prnindiana.com
24. Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 201424
Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
According to PharmaVoice, specialty
drugs are considered “typically high-
cost, scientifically engineered drugs used to
treat complex, chronic conditions that require
special storage, handling, and administration,
and involve a significant degree of patient
education, monitoring, and management.”1
These medications can be oral, injectable,
or biologic products. They can be used to
treat a variety of diseases such as cancer,
multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and
rare genetic conditions.2
The exact definition
of the term “specialty drugs” is a challenge
to find as various stakeholders have their
own definitions. The Center for Medicare
and Medicaid Services specifically says that
specialty drugs are those that cost more
than $600/month.1
Regardless of the exact
definition, these drugs are certainly going to
have a huge impact on pharmacy practice and
health care spending.
Specialty medications are a continually
growing portion of the prescription drug
market. According to Express Scripts, there
will be a 40% growth by 2014 and 67% by
2015 in the development of specialty drugs.1
Since 2010, specialty drugs have had a higher
number of approvals than traditional drugs.3
Specialty drugs also have a disproportionate
share of overall drug spending because each
course of therapy is so expensive.4
In 2013,
specialty drugs made up 25% of the $263.3
billion U.S prescription drug spending.3
It is
projected that in 2018, 6 of the 10 best-selling
drugs by revenue will be specialty drugs.1
These drugs provide hope in saving lives
for diseases like cancer but at a cost that
many cannot afford. It could cost almost
$750,000 per year for a patient to be treated
with some of the most expensive specialty
drugs.3
Another example is the drug Sovaldi
for hepatitis C. The treatment seems to be very
effective, but one pill costs $1,000, totaling
$84,000 for the entire treatment course.1
Due
to these high costs, many exchange plans have
decided that consumers will have to pay out
of pocket costs.5
Although these innovative
treatments can be lifesaving for some patients,
the costs overtime add financial stress on our
health care system and patients.
According to America’s Health Insurance
Plans (AHIP), there are a number of reasons
why these drugs are so expensive. A small
percentage of patients utilize specialty
medications, which drives up the cost per
patient as manufacturers try to make up for
the cost of developing the agents. Another
contributing factor is the length of biologic
drugs exclusivity period. Traditional
medications are given a 5 year exclusivity
during which other companies may not bring
a similar drug, or generic, onto the market.
Conversely, biologic drugs are given twelve
years until other companies may bring a
similar drug, in this case a biosimilar, to
market.3
Although the Affordable Care Act
did create a way for the FDA to approve
interchangeable biosimilars, none have been
approved. The lack of biosimilars on the
market and a long exclusivity period mean
that there are few or no lower cost alternatives
for these medications.4
Pharmacists’ patient care services can help
ensure that these high cost drugs are used
safely and effectively and thus maximize their
value. Pharmacists in all practice settings
can counsel their patients taking specialty
medications on proper administration, how
to manage side effects, and the importance
of adherence.6
Pharmacists that choose to
specialize in these high cost medications
may work in a specialty pharmacy that
focuses on dispensing these products along
with providing services such as medication
therapy management, patient advocacy and
treatment adherence.2
Health plans can
contract with specialty pharmacies who focus
on providing care to patients related to the
complex medication deliveries and treatments
associated with specialty medications.7
One way to reduce the cost impact of
specialty drugs on overall health care spending
is to implement policies to increase adherence.
Studies have shown that adherence and
persistence leads to better health outcomes
which reduce cost.8, 9
According to WellPoint,
“adherence for specialty drugs is critical to
quality care, maybe more so than anywhere
in medicine.”10
Complex diseases and
medications lead to adherence challenges.
This is an issue for specialty drugs since many
of them have to be injected or require patient
specific dosing and clinical management.8
To
help improve patient adherence, pharmacists
can provide education to patients about their
disease state as well as how to administer
or take the medication, offer emotional
support, and follow up about their disease
management.10
Pharmacists in all settings
play a key role in reducing health care costs
and ensuring quality by assisting patients and
providers in the appropriate use, management,
and administration of specialty drugs.
1. Specialty Drugs: An evolving commercial model.
PharmaVoice. 2014; 14(2): 12-19.
2. American Pharmacist Associations. Accessed 27
May 2014. <http://www.pharmacist.com/specialty-
pharmacy>.
3. AHIP. Specialty Drugs-Issues and Challenges. America’s
Health Insurance Plans Issue Brief. 2014; 1-7. < http://
www.ahip.org/IssueBrief/Specialty-Drugs-Challenges-
Issues/>.
4. AHIP Coverage. NYT: Specialty drug prices “soaring”.
18 April 2014. <http://www.ahipcoverage.
com/2014/04/18/nyt-specialty-drug-prices-soaring/>.
5. Pearson CF. Consumers likely face high out of pocket
costs for specialty drugs in exchange plans. Avalere
Analysis. 20 February 2014. <http://avalerehealth.net/
expertise/managed-care/insights/consumers-likely-
face-high-out-of-pocket-costs-for-specialty-drugs-in-
excha>.
6. NASP. Specialty pharmacy certification board
recognizes first wave of certified specialty pharmacists.
11 November 2013.< http://www.spcboard.org/
certification/eligibility-requirements/>.
7. Weingart SN, Brown E, Bach PB et al. NCCN Task Force
Report: Oral chemotherapy. J Natl Compr Canc Netw.
2008; 6 Suppl 3: S1-14.
8. Ruddy K, Mayer E, Partridge A. Patient adherence and
persistence with oral anticancer treatment. CA Cancer J
Clin. 2009; 59(1): 56-66.
9. IMS Institute. “Avoidable Costs in U.S. Healthcare:
The $200 Billion Opportunity from Using Medicines
More Responsibly.” 19 June 2013. <http://www.
theimsinstitute.org>.
10. Sipkoff M. Payers struggle to ensure high level of
adherence to costly specialty drugs. Managed Care.
2008; 17(7):24-6, 29, 31.
The Price to Save a Life:
Pharmacists’ Role in the Growing Area of Specialty Drugs
Nellie Jafari, PharmD Candidate 2015
Virginia Commonwealth University
25. 25Indiana Pharmacist 3rd Quarter 2014
As payers become more aware of the potential
value imbedded within the concept of
including community pharmacists in the
care of patients with chronic diseases, it is
anticipated there will be more demand for
such services. It is important that community
pharmacies and pharmacists are prepared for
such opportunities. Purdue University College
of Pharmacy, in cooperation with the Indiana
Pharmacists Alliance, is working through
funding supplied by a Lilly Endowment
Grant to support such an initiative within
the State of Indiana. The Indiana Medication
Management Partnership (IMMP) is being
developed to include pharmacists and
community pharmacies willing to provide
medication therapy management services
to patients covered by this type of benefit.
IMMP will offer payers interested in providing
MTM services for their beneficiaries an
opportunity to connect with the network of
pharmacists enrolled throughout the state.
More information will follow soon regarding
opportunities related to IMMP.
Across the U.S. many programs are in
the development stage or have already
been implemented to involve community
pharmacists in working with patients to
help manage chronic conditions. New ideas
within community pharmacy thinking have
provided a multitude of ways to incorporate
pharmacists in patient care, and to provide
medication therapy management services
beyond the Medicare requirements. Some of
those ideas have been as simple as explaining
“what else” (i.e., in addition to traditional
dispensing services) the pharmacist can do.
Identification of those patients most likely to
respond to and readily accept the more in-
depth involvement of a pharmacist can present
challenges. Whereas many patients are
receptive, and often expect enhanced services,
others are either not aware of or not interested
in having a personal consultation with a
pharmacist. Traditional counseling allows
the opportunity for a pharmacist to make a
positive impression on patients quickly when
offering time-efficient important information
and quick question-answering at the time of
medication dispensing. Within traditional
counseling, pertinent information regarding
a multitude of conditions can be conveyed to
many patients. Included in that counseling,
the pharmacist may serve in the role of the
first line healthcare provider for a patient
in situations where the patient needs the
attention of a physician. In using professional
knowledge, the pharmacist may make that
suggestion and encourage proper medical
attention for the patient.
The role of the pharmacist in caring for
patients diagnosed with a chronic condition
can be more detailed and is an area of practice
in which much discussion within both the
profession and healthcare in general has
recently occurred. Often the challenges
presented by many patients with such
conditions involve multiple providers and
medication therapies. A pharmacist on the
healthcare team serves many roles including
reviewing and reinforcing current therapies as
well as being an easily accessible touch point
for the questions and concerns of the patient.
Pharmacists can carefully review a patient’s
medications and conditions via medication
therapy management services and can be a
source of reinforcement for a patient’s plan of
care. Patients (and payers) need to be made
aware and understand what really is available
from their pharmacists. And pharmacists
must work to accomplish that task.
Indiana Pharmacists Alliance
TAMARA FOX, RPh
Community Pharmacy Initiatives Project Manager
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy
tammyfox@purdue.edu
Chronic Care and the Assistance of
Community Pharmacists and Pharmacies
“A pharmacist on
the healthcare team
serves many roles
including reviewing
and reinforcing current
therapies as well
as being an easily
accessible touch point
for the questions
and concerns of the
patient.”
26. Facebook.com/AmericanPharmacyServicesCorporation
Hear what our current shareholders
have to say!
“I have been a member of APSC since 2003 and find them to be one of the best buying
groups in the country. If it were not for APSC I would probably not be in business for
myself today.” - Kentucky Shareholder
“I feel as if I have a team of experts negotiating contracts with me, as well as a top notch
watch dog looking over the shoulder of my largest weekly bill.” - Ohio Shareholder
“Whether it is a wholesaler issue, legal issue, marketplace issue, etc., it is nice to know
that you have APSC on your side. They are very knowledgeable and always have the
independent pharmacy’s best interest at heart.” - Tennessee Shareholder
APSC Independent Pharmacy Cooperative
APSCNET.COM
102 Enterprise Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601 • P: (800) 928-2228 • F: (502) 695-9912 • apsc@apscnet.com
...aggressively seeks opportunities that will increase buying
power and enhance services for its shareholders
...is one of the strongest regional buying groups in the nation
...keeps shareholders informed on matters directly affecting
the practice of pharmacy
