Research Projects Page

This study compared the number, type, and time spent on interventions for patients filling non-MS neurology specialty medications at IHSSPs versus non-IHSSP pharmacies. IHSSP patients experienced greater variety and frequency of clinical interventions, including a third of interventions related to therapy changes which could impact patient outcomes. Financial assistance recommendations were more necessary for non-IHSSP patients.

We compared rates of PMN, TAT, PDC, and persistence between an HSSP and external specialty pharmacies. Prescriptions sent to non-HSSP specialty pharmacies 60% more likely to experience PMN than prescriptions sent to an HSSP. Patients filling with an HSSP had higher adherence. Patients with inflammatory conditions filling with the HSSP had shorter turnaround time and higher persistence. Patients with MS who filled with the HSSP had higher PDC.

This multisite national effort aims to identify measures deemed important and usable by specialty stakeholders that can be standardized and implemented in specialty pharmacy practice to ensure the safe, appropriate, and effective use of specialty medications in patients with RA. This poster describes the study methodology and response rate.

This study evaluated the specialty pharmacist's role in medication access, treatment monitoring, and reducing maribavir waste. Pharmacists facilitated maribavir access by obtaining timely insurance prior authorizations (median = 1 day) and intervened to reduce 28 fills across 94 dispenses to avoid waste. Maribavir quantity was reduced in 10 dispenses during the final treatment course, based on CMV levels and time until next lab appointment, which resulted in $119,517 - $149,396 in avoided costs.

This prospective randomized study evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of using an electronic early treatment assessment and monitoring questionnaire for oral anticancer medication. The questionnaire was well received by pharmacists and patients. Patients who responded to the questionnaire were significantly more likely to have a pharmacist intervention related to adverse effects, demonstrating the effectiveness of using this technology tool for early monitoring.

This commentary provides practical recommendations for managing VMAT2 inhibitors. With limited clinical trial and real world data on this topic, the case examples and firsthand experience described are useful to clinicians and pharmacists who manage VMAT2 inhibitors.

This study assessed TB and HBV screening completion rates at the time of immune response mediator initiation and reasons for incomplete screening in health-system specialty pharmacies. Most patients with a health-system specialty pharmacy referral are screened for TB and HBV prior to treatment. Omitted safety screening is commonly driven by the prescribing provider.

This study examines the time to hGH medication insurance approval, determine whether time to approval was associated with patient factors, and evaluate whether time to hGH initiation impacts patient growth. Indication for hGH treatment, insurance, a requirement for additional testing, and method of medication coverage were associated with time to approval. Time to hGH initiation did not impact patient growth one year post decision to treat.

This study presents results from a national survey evaluating barriers, needed support and program goals for implementing long-acting injectable HIV ART. This work was performed under the larger Accelerating Implementation of Multilevel Strategies to Advance Long-Acting Injectable for Underserved Populations (ALAI UP Project).

It is unexpected that patients with stable lymphocytes on one fumarate would experience significant changes when switching to another fumarate; however, this was being observed in clinical practice. We wanted to identify the frequency and severity of lymphopenia after switching from dimethyl fumarate to either diroximel fumarate (DRF) or monomethyl fumarate (MMF). Our study determined that patients switching to DRF were more likely to have decreased lymphocyte counts post switch compared to MMF.