Research Projects Page

We compared turnaround time, secondary adherence, and persistence between patients filling their specialty medication with Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy to those using external specialty pharmacies. Patients who filled with the HSSP had higher adherence. Patients with inflammatory conditions who filled with the HSSP had shorter turnaround time and higher persistence compared to patients with inflammatory conditions who filled at non-HSSP. Patients with MS who filled with the HSSP had higher PDC.

This study assessed patients' satisfaction and barriers to their current UC or IBD treatment, their perceived quality of life, and pill burden associated with their current treatment. Patients are open to deprescribing their 5-ASA but would have several questions for their prescribing physician including assurance of continued symptom management or ease of returning to the 5-ASA if needed.

Austedo is a VMAT2i approved by the FDA for the treatment of HD chorea. We completed a retrospective chart review of 17 patients on doses higher than 48 mg/day that were followed for at least 6 months to describe safety outcomes. We also assess adherence, dose adjustments, and discontinuation rates of patients with HD receiving daily doses of DBZ at > 48 mg. A multi-site retrospective chart review was performed at two sites designated as HD Centers of Excellence.

This case series identified patients with multiple sclerosis whose lymphocyte counts were stable on dimethyl fumarate, and then subsequently developed lymphopenia after switching to diroximel fumarate, prompting its discontinuation.

Many barriers prevent individuals with substance use disorders from receiving hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. This study describes 96 patients with active HCV treated in an opioid use disorder bridge clinic model. Of 33 patients who initiated treatment, 25 patients completed treatment, and 13 patients achieved sustained virologic response.

This study assess the impact of pharmacist-led tailored monitoring for patients initiating PARP inhibitor therapy. A retrospective study showed that all patients were able to access medicaiton through the pharmacist-led insurance approval process and 64% of patients required a treatment modification in the first 90 days of therapy. A prospective study reporting the impact of implementing a pharmacist-led targeted monitoring program is forthcoming.

This study evaluated treatment outcomes (adherence, persistence, switching and discontinuation of therapy) and pharmacists' management of adverse events (AE's) in patients on an oral oncolytic for CLL/SLL. In a population of patients initiating oral CLL/SLL therapy through an integrated Health-System Pharmacy, adherence to therapy was high (mean PDC 92%). Adverse effects led to 36% of therapy discontinuations and 72% of therapy switches, indicating an opportunity for pharmacists to manage AE's.

This was a case series/descriptive report that aimed at describing patient characteristics, insurance access, and response to therapy in patients prescribed risankizuamab more frequently than the FDA-approved SQ maintenance dosing of 180mg or 360mg every 8 weeks. To date, no other data has been published to describe this topic.

This study described the care coordination process and patient outcomes from decision to treat with ustekinumab through initiating subcutaneous (SQ) injection. Prescriptions filled with Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy (VSP) had 2.5 times higher odds of being shipped in the appropriate window compared to non-VSP with 56% dose-escalated during the first year. This study shows ustekinumab initiation and escalation in the first year can be a lengthy process requiring a high level of care coordination.

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