How Specialty Pharmacies Can Improve and Personalize Patient Care
Using several strategies, specialty pharmacies can improve and personalize patient care, leading to improved patient outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for patients with chronic or rare conditions.
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By - By employing personalized care strategies and solidifying partnerships, specialty pharmacies can improve patient outcomes, enhance satisfaction, and improve the quality of life for patients with rare or chronic conditions.
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“The relationship between the manufacturer and the specialty pharmacy is less transactional and more of a partnership now. The product, the disease state — they all necessitate a customized approach to care,” highlighted Lisa Mymo, Vice President of Pharma and Financial Services at AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy.
To optimize the personalization of patient care, specialty pharmacists can employ several strategies, such as care coordination, medication management, patient education, and patient assessments.
“Pharmacists can play a key role in bridging the gap, identifying where patients may have challenges, and connecting them to resources that the manufacturer of their drug may have,” explained Mymo.
By improving communication, enhancing coordination of care, and providing patient education, specialty pharmacies can improve the management of patient health, drug adherence, and medication-related effects while increasing patient satisfaction and reducing costs.
Because social determinants of health (SDOH) can impact how care is given, offering patients comprehensive solutions structured to support patient equity is vital. Healthcare providers who understand SDOH can ensure that patients receive optimal support for achieving positive health outcomes.
“Addressing SDOH factors is critical to how we provide hope and care for a better tomorrow to all patients,” insisted Kathy Kokoski, RPh, CSP, Director of Pharma Operations at AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy.
To increase access to medicine, pharmacists can work with patients to find affordable medication options, assist with medication access programs, and encourage health literacy. According to Kokoski, pharmacies with patient care advocates trained in chronic and complex conditions play a critical role in reaching out to patients and building relationships.
“By offering several valuable resources to make the patient treatment journey easy and
Accessible, patients become more empowered to manage their own care,” emphasized Kokoski.
