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Life on the Pharm: challenges and opportunities facing rural health-system pharmacy

Rural pharmacy practitioners are unique, and practicing in this setting takes a broad and deep understanding of pharmacy opportunities and challenges.  Dr. Kyle Johnicker and Dr. Samreena Rasheed, both pharmacy clinical coordinators at Northwestern Medicine overseeing small and rural hospitals join host Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director with the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence at ASHP Midyear in Anaheim to discuss their unique opportunity and challenges.
 
Guest speakers: Kyle Johnicker, PharmDPharmacy Clinical CoordinatorNorthwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital
 
Samreena Rasheed, PharmD, BCPSRegional Pharmacy Clinical CoordinatorNorthwestern Medicine Huntley, McHenry, and Woodstock Hospitals
 
Host: Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
 
Show Notes: 
[00:47-02:28] Dr. Johnicker and Dr. Rasheed background information 
[02:29-04:10] What attracted them to rural pharmacy
[04:11-05:32] Skill set necessary for rural pharmacy
[05:33-07:46] Recent pharmacy successes at their organization
[07:47-09:29] Where they would like to see rural pharmacy grow in the future
[09:30-10:48] Advice for students or residents thinking about a career in rural pharmacy
 
Links | Resources: 
Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship Program: Northwestern Medicine
 
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The drug shortage specialist will see you now

The incredible staying power of drug shortages kicks the door open for full-time pharmacy roles designed to combat this issue. Dr. Austin Pytlowany, clinical pharmacist specialist in drug shortage management at Michigan Medicine and Vizient's Kyle Hoelting, senior clinical manager of drug shortages and drug information join host Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director with the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence to discuss drug shortages and drug information and share their perspectives.
 
Guest speakers: Austin Pytlowany, PharmDPharmacy Manager – Inventory and Drug Shortage ManagementMichigan Medicine
 
Kyle Hoelting, PharmD, BCPSSr. Clinical Manager of Drug Information and ShortagesVizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
 
Host: Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
 
Show Notes: 
[00:48-01:53] Dr. Pytlowany background information 
[01:54-02:52] Why Michigan Medicine created his position
[02:53-05:52] The overall impact of drug shortages right now
[05:53-07:12] National impact of drug shortages
[07:13-10:41] Austin’s position helping improving patient care at Michigan Medicine
[10:42-12:25] Organizational benefits of individuals or a teams dedicated to drug shortages
[12:26-16:41] Other kinds of positions out there
[16:42-20:40] Concepts and solutions coming out of this or to market
[20:41-22:11] Future for these types of roles in drug shortages
[22:12-25:38] Advice for people who want to get into this specialty
 
Links | Resources: 
The One Thing You Need to Know about Drug Shortage Stewardship
Drug Shortage Stewardship: Calls to Action for the Interconnected Supply Chain
ASHP Current Drug Shortages
 
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Cultivating infusion services from every angle

Health system pharmacies are turning to outpatient infusion services to improve financial performance as margins shrink. Dr. Zinkeng Asonganyi, Director of Ambulatory Pharmacy and Infusion Services at University of Texas Medical Branch or UTMB Health discusses the program and it’s implications with host Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director with the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence.
 
Guest speaker: Zinkeng Asonganyi, PharmDDirector of Ambulatory Pharmacy OperationsUTMB
 
Host: Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
 
Show Notes: 
[00:52-01:38] Dr. Asonganyi background information 
[01:39-06:44] What’s happening in infusion at UTMB
[06:45-12:15] Complexities and logistics of the program
[12:16-15:13] Maintaining and growing reimbursement in this time of challenges
[15:14-18:33] Biggest opportunities for enhancement or growth
 
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Special Delivery: Impacts of Specialty Pharmacy

A big part of total national drug spend is the continuing growth of the specialty drug market. Health systems depend on specialty pharmacy to make up margin losses from other areas. Dr. Vinay Eapen, Senior Manager of Specialty Pharmacy at University of Texas Medical Branch, joins Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director in the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence and your program to share a bold approach to starting specialty pharmacy services at an academic medical center.
 
Guest speakers: 
Vinay Eapen, PharmD
UTMB Senior Specialty Pharmacy Manager
Lean Adjunct Faculty
UTMB Department of Pharmacy
 
Host: 
Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS 
Pharmacy Executive Director 
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
  
Show Notes: 
[00:46-01:09] Dr. Eapen background information 
[01:10-01:52] History of the specialty drug market
[01:53-02:43] Categorizing specialty drugs
[02:44-03:26] When UTMB decided to start a specialty program
[03:27-04:18] Building the program
[04:19-05:25] Benefits of the program
[05:26-06:11] Unexpected issues
[06:12-06:54] Where specialty pharmacy is going
[06:55-07:37] Advice for other starting specialty pharmacy programs
[07:38-08:21] Reasons to start a specialty pharmacy
 
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A New Spin on Pharmacy Spend

Health system margins are shrinking making pharmacy spend a growing opportunity target. MultiCare Health System departs from historical methods with an exciting, multifaceted approach to the issue.  Dr. Tyson Frodin, Assistant Vice President Pharmacy Supply Chain, Rev Cycle, Technology MultiCare Health System-Pharmacy Services, joins Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director in the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence and your program host to give his thoughts on this issue.
 
Guest speakers: 
Tyson Frodin, PharmD, MHA, FACHE
Assistant Vice President
Pharmacy Supply Chain, Rev Cycle, Technology
MultiCare Health System-Pharmacy Services
 
Host: 
Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS 
Pharmacy Executive Director 
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
  
Show Notes: 
[00:46-01:31] Dr. Tyson Frodin background information 
[01:32-02:39] What drove the need for MultiCare’s pharmacy spend initiative
[02:40-08:42] Multi-pronged plan for MultiCare’s pharmacy spend initiative
[08:43-10:20] What surprised MultiCare about the process
[10:21-11:25] Outcomes
[11:26-13:11] Advice they have for other pharmacies who may wanna attempt something like this
[13:12-15:06] What’s in the future for MultiCare
 
Links | Resources: 
Coming soon – New Pharmacy Portal and Pharmacy Analytics platform
We're excited to announce the launch of our new Pharmacy Portal on March 25th, alongside the rebranding of Vizient Savings Actualyzer – Pharmacy (VSAP) to Pharmacy Analytics.
The Pharmacy Portal is designed to be a comprehensive hub, offering a wide range of pharmacy tools and metrics, all accessible in one convenient location. With the rebranding to Pharmacy Analytics, we're introducing upgraded features and functionalities aimed at optimizing contract management, benchmarking spend, evaluating drug shortages and much more.
Join our webinar on March 27, Navigating Vizient Pharmacy Analytics with PMO projections and data, to learn more about the features and benefits of our new Pharmacy Portal and rebranded Pharmacy Analytics platform.
Plus, we will be hosting deeper dive sessions March 18 through April 5 where you can experience the new tools and ask questions of our pharmacy analytics experts. Learn more and sign up for one or multiple sessions.
 
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505b2 Pathway: Ghost Generics

The 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act codified the 505(b)(2) drug approval pathway and allowed the use of studies from a previously approved drug. To be clear, medications approved via this pathway are not generic molecules of the reference listed drug. They may have similar clinical effects and roles in therapy, but they also bring challenges. Dr. Tyler Wood, System Director of Pharmacy Oncology and Biosimilars, and Pharmacy Executive Director, Carolyn Liptak at Vizient, join Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director in the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence and your program host to give an early look.
 
Guest speakers: Tyler Wood, PharmD, BCBBSSystem Director, Pharmacy Oncology and Biosimilars Providence St. Joseph Health
 
Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BSPharmPharmacy Executive Director Vizient 
 
Host: Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence
 
Show Notes: 
[00:55-01:34] Dr. Tyler Wood background information 
[01:35-03:09] How the 505(b)(2) pathway is intended to work
[03:10-04:32] Comparisons can we draw from the biologics approval process
[04:33-05:53] What the FDA says about which pathway to use
[05:54-07:05] What's changed recently in the approval process
[07:06-08:09] Can a 505(b)(2) product be rated as a generic equivalent?
[08:10 -09:07] How CMS changes are impacting management
[09:08-11:23] What our providers can do to plan and act to address these issues
[11:24-12:27] What’s most concerning moving forward
 
Links | Resources: 
Applications Covered by 505(b)(2)
Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System: January 2024 Update
MLN Matters® Articles Sign-up
CMS.gov ASP Pricing Files
CMS.gov What's a MAC
Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs
FDA: Overview of the 505(b)(2) Regulatory Pathway for New Drug Applications
HCPCS Level II Coding for 505(b)(2)-Approved Drugs or Biologicals – Frequently Asked Questions
 
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What’s pneu part 2: pneumococcal vaccines update

Pneumococcal vaccines have been instrumental in decreasing invasive disease since their introduction in the 1980s. 2021 brought regulatory changes and recent ACIP recommendations were published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, also known as MMWR. Dr. John Schoen, Senior Clinical Manager of Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Information shares his insights on these changes with host Gretchen Brummel.
 
Guest speaker:  John Schoen, PharmD, BCPSSenior Clinical Manager of Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Information Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence    Host:  Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS  Pharmacy Executive Director  Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence  
 
Show Notes:  
Recorded in the Fall of 2023
[01:00-03:34] What’s new since March 2022 with pneumococcal vaccines 
[03:35-06:51] Changes with the adult recommendations
[06:52-13:10] New recommendations from CDC as well as published recommendations for adults
[13:11-19:05] Recommendations for Pneumococcal vaccines in pediatrics
[19:06-21:46] The area of biggest risk moving forward
[21:47-24:07] What we are looking at for the future
 
Links | Resources:  
Vizient pneumococcal vaccine side-by-side comparison Click Here
ACIP pneumococcal vaccine recommendations Click Here
 
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Vizient Pharmacy Market Outlook – Winter 2024

Vizient publishes our Pharmacy Market Outlook twice a year. The outlook features drug price projections and key market insights to help support members' strategic planning. Drs. Jeni Hayes and Amanda Frick, both Senior Clinical Managers for Market Intelligence, join Gretchen Brummel, Pharmacy Executive Director in the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence and your program host to give an early look.
 
Guest speakers: 
Jeni Hayes, PharmD, MSPharm, BCPS
Senior Clinical Manager, Market Intelligence
Vizient 
 
Amanda Frick, PharmD, BCPS
Senior Clinical Manager, Market Intelligence
Vizient 
 
Host: 
Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS 
Pharmacy Executive Director 
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
  
Show Notes: 
[00:42-03:08] Areas of focus 2024 highlighted in this Pharmacy Market Outlook 
[03:09-05:35] The table of new and noteworthy approvals and some of the approvals that you were most excited to see
[05:36-07:05] Some drugs that you're looking forward to seeing approved in 2024
[07:06-08:25] What are you hearing from our members on their experiences and challenges with cellular and gene therapies?
[08:26-10:57] What else is going on in the specialty space
[10:58-12:14] Specialty pharmacy sustained growth that we've seen for patients in the acute care space
[12:15 -14:39] What's the projection for this edition
[14:40-14:24] Where listeners go if they want more detailed information on the outlook
 
Links | Resources: 
Vizient Pharmacy Market Outlook provider link: Click Here
Vizient Pharmacy Market Outlook highlights public version: Click Here
 
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“Standardized” Stewardship – Navigating the new TJC Standards for Antimicrobial Stewardship

Anti-Microbial Stewardship Programs are critical to optimizing utilization, mitigating resistance, and improving patient outcomes. These programs are continuously refined, and recent updates to The Joint Commission standards provide an opportunity to enhance our approach. Dr. Ripal Jariwala, Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco, and Dr. Ethan A. Smith, Clinical Infectious Diseases Specialist at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, join host Gretchen Brummel to discuss the revised standards and implications for pharmacy.
 
Guest speakers: 
Dr. Ripal Jariwala, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP
Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist, and Assistant Clinical Professor UCSF 
 
Dr. Ethan A. Smith, PharmD., BCIDP
Clinical Infectious Diseases Specialist
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
 
Host: 
Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS 
Pharmacy Executive Director 
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence
 
Show Notes: 
[01:01-01:47] The guests background 
[01:48-02:58] Brief update of the recent changes to Antimicrobrial Stewardship
[02:59-07:35] Interpreting the new EP-10 Joint Commission standard about financial and IT resources
[07:36-11:23] The current landscape on FTEs to support antimicrobial stewardship
[11:24-15:13] EP15 on evidence-based use of antibiotics considerations
[15:14-18:27] How do you approach meeting the revised standard on data collection analysis and recording for EP20
[18:28 -21:23] Other standards besides the joint commission standards that people need to be aware of
[21:24-23:34] Other related work going on in this space
[23:35-26:54] More information or other resources to find those items about antimicrobial stewardship
 
Links | Resources:
Knowledge on the Go Podcast: Updates for Antimicrobial Stewardship Standards
VHA directive 1031: Click here
CDC Updates on Antibiotic Stewardship and Required Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Reporting – On Demand: CDC Updates OnDemand2023 document and Click here to play recording
 
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DSCSA “Go”

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act was designed to ensure the safety and integrity of our nation’s drug supply and prevent counterfeit medications from entering the market.  In this third of a four-part series, Carolyn Liptak and Dwight deVera share their insights on FDA final DSCSA guidance with host Gretchen Brummel and how member providers can be ready.  
 
Guest speakers: Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BSPharm Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
Dwight deVeraVP of Healthcare Intelligence Inmar
Host: Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence 
 
Show Notes: 
[00:44-01:14] Dwight’s background 
[01:15-02:20] What Carolyn and Dwight are hearing in the market
[02:21-03:39] Carolyn and Dwight’s thoughts on taking that stabilization period as an opportunity to wait
[03:40-05:22] Meeting the deadline on GLN’s
[05:23-06:59] Issue with having duplicate GLNs for a single site
[07:00-07:43] How Dwight is advising clarity on a timeline with the quarantine process
[07:44-09:23] Other tools our members need to know about if they have a suspect product investigation
[09:24-10:30] Comments and advice from Dwight and Carolyn
 
Links | Resources: 
Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) portal
FDA Requests Feedback on Enhanced Drug Distribution Security Implementation Progress
Enhanced Drug Distribution Security at the Package Level Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)
Wholesale Distributor Verification Requirement for Saleable Returned Drug Product and Dispenser Verification Requirements When Investigating a Suspect or Illegitimate Product—Compliance Policies
DSCSA Standards for the Interoperable Exchange of Information for Tracing of Certain Human, Finished, Prescription Drugs Guidance for Industry
Enhanced Drug Distribution Security Requirements Under Section 582(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act – Compliance Policies
 
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