Weekend ICYMI: October 28 to November 1

Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The Silent Squeeze on Independent Pharmacies in America

Prescription medicine over bills / Soru Epotok - stock.adobe.com

In an exclusive look into PBMs and how their actions truly impact health care as a whole, we sat down with industry experts of various backgrounds and affiliations to further understand key relationships that help the drug supply chain operate to its fullest capacity. From legal experts and advocates to pharmacists, they weighed in on the current state of pharmacy and what needs to happen in order for the profession to thrive in the future.

How to Turn Patient Visits into Clinical Encounters in the Pharmacy | NCPA 2024

Today, effective and executional pharmacy workflow relies on the common goal of shortening wait times and streamlining services. However, according to presenters at the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) 2024 Annual Convention and Expo, the future state of pharmacy workflows will be designed around the quality of each patient’s care and their overall clinical experience. In a session presented at the NCPA 2024 Annual Convention and Expo, Cascadia Pharmacy Group’s Tara Pfund, PharmD, and Cyrstal Bryan, PharmD, presided over the community pharmacist audience to discuss how basic, everyday pharmacy processes are expected to shift in the future.

Advancements Needed in Treating, Identifying Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) continues to be a challenge when it comes to reporting and identifying the medications that cause liver injuries. Despite researchers exploring pharmacoepidemiologic methods, EHR data, and the gut microbiota’s role in identifying DILI, further research is needed for gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and other providers to address issues regarding liver injury.

Potential Applications, Risks of AI in the Pharmacy | NCPA 2024

At the NCPA 2024 Annual Convention and Expo, held October 26 to 29 in Columbus, Ohio, Drug Topics sat down with Sean Jeffery, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, AGSF, director of pharmacy at Hartford HealthCare Integrated Care Partners and professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut, to discuss how AI may be used to improve pharmacy workflows, and potential risks associated with AI when it comes to patient data security and privacy.

Hormonal Contraceptive Prescribing Benefits Patients, Pharmacies | NCPA 2024

According to the CDC, 35.7% of pregnancies in the US are unintended, costing taxpayers an estimated $11 billion annually. With millions of women living in health care deserts—lacking access to primary care providers and OB/GYN services—pharmacists can step in and fill that gap. Arkansas, where Brittany Sanders, PharmD, works, ranks first in the country in teen pregnancy. “We are third in infant mortality, and fourth in maternal mortality,” Sanders said. “These aren’t just statistics. These are real women—real people—who live in Arkansas who can benefit from our services.”

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