Authors


Shanda Steenburn, PharmD

Latest:

E-prescribing Helps ED Avoid Fraud and Ensure Safety

Electronic prescribing is helping a NY hospital improve efficiency.


K. John McConnell, PhD

Latest:

Impact of Medicaid Preferred Drug List on Long-Acting Opioid Users

An opioid preferred drug list was not associated with an increase in emergency department visits or hospitalizations in a Medicaid population.


Tiago Marques dos Reis, MD

Latest:

Contributions of Pharmacists in the Treatment of Epilepsy: A Systematic Review

The treatment of epilepsy is complex and can cause drug-related problems and hamper quality of life. Clinical services performed by pharmacists may optimize the pharmacotherapy and avoid or mitigate these problems.


Rachel Halpern, PhD

Latest:

Impact of Co-Payment Discounts on Antidepressant Medication Adherence and Costs

A unique co-payment discount program for antidepressants was associated with higher antidepressant medication adherence, lower likelihood of discontinuation, and lower healthcare costs.


Yasser Heakal, PhD, MS, MBA, RPh

Latest:

Could the Human Microbiome Hold the Key to Precision Cancer Immunotherapy?

Understanding the interaction between the intestinal microbiome and cancer immunotherapy may lead to better approaches for cancer treatment.


A. Mark Fendrick,

Latest:

Factors Associated With Employee Participation in a Value-Based Insurance Design Initiative

We describe enrollment in a voluntary VBID initiative. Uptake was suboptimal, suggesting that barriers to enrollment may have significant implications for the overall effectiveness of VBID.


Connie Wang, PharmD

Latest:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pharmacy Students and Interns

Can we teach effective habits? Is there a blueprint for helping pharmacy students and interns be more proactive, prioritize more efficiently, and embrace a strong work ethic?


Howard G. Birnbaum, PhD

Latest:

Do Units and Costs of Comparable Insulins Differ by Manufacturer?

Patient characteristics and product mix play an important role in determining the overall use and costs of comparable insulins across different manufacturers.


Geoffrey Brown, PharmD

Latest:

Counsel Patients With GERD About Certain Foods

Diet and lifestyle changes are key components of treating gastroesophageal reflux disease.


James A. Jorgenson, MS, RPh

Latest:

Medication Formulary Management in a Large, Multihospital System

Clarian Health, an 11-hospital health system, developed and managed a multihospital formulary through focused planning and collaboration.


Kathryn Bronstein, PHD, RN

Latest:

Enterprise Collaborations Help Meet Challenges

Community Health Network of Indianapolis and Walgreens are leveraging each other’s strengths to design and implement programs.


Douglas Gebhard, PharmD, MBA

Latest:

Specialty Pharmacy Today: Improving the Lives of Patients With Rare Diseases Through Orphan Drug Management

The specialty pharmacy marketplace has quickly become the primary dispenser of most therapies for orphan conditions.



Kevin MacDonald

Latest:

How Hospitals Can Keep Track of Medications, Drug Shortages During the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

In the midst of a pandemic, visibility and interoperability have never been more critical when it comes to medication inventory.


Gerry Crocker, Chief Executive Officer, CSPN

Latest:

Putting "High-Tech, High-Touch" Back into Specialty Pharmacy

The roots of specialty pharmacy began in community retail pharmacy. Given a choice, specialty patients will choose a local specialty pharmacy to access their medicines and manage their care.


Gina Mauro

Latest:

Treatment for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Shows Promising Clinical Activity, Safety

Teclistamab showed promising clinical activity and a tolerable safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.


O’Mally Monahan, Senior Director of Patient Assistance Services, McKesson RxO

Latest:

Patient Assistance Programs: A Lifeline for Individuals With Cancer

Oncologists have grown increasingly concerned that high costs create ‘financial toxicity’ and may keep patients from getting needed treatments.


Co-Author Lori A. Wilken, PharmD, BCACP, NCTTP, AE-C

Latest:

Kicking the Habit With Combination Therapy: Updates in Tobacco Cessation Treatment

As one of the most visible members of the health care team, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to assist and support patients in tobacco cessation.



Lauren Toich, Assistant Editor

Latest:

Top 5 Specialty Pharmacy Provider Service Ratings

Payers rated services from specialty pharmacy providers as valuable or invaluable and whether they were satisfied or unsatisfied with the service.


James Davis, PhD

Latest:

Evidence-Based Adherence Classes for Combination Antihypertensive, Lipid-Lowering, and Antidiabetic Therapy

Adherence classes were determined for patients taking multiple medications (ie, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic) and were found to be related to serum profiles and risk of adverse events.


Crystal Howell, PharmD, BCIDP, BCPS

Latest:

Prescribing At-Home COVID-19 Testing Kits for Patients

Following the issuance of several emergency use authorizations by the FDA that allow at-home sample collection, it is imperative for the pharmacy team to stay abreast of current testing recommendations and limitations.


Jennifer K. Hagerman, PharmD, AE-C

Latest:

Raising the Bar Through Education and Quality Initiatives

From its creation, Diplomat University at Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has been structured around its primary objective to provide a high-level of ongoing education to enable staff and partners to take the best possible care of patients.


Samuel B. Ho, MD

Latest:

Interferon-Based Therapies for Hepatitis C: Utilization, Costs, and Outcomes

This study illustrates the healthcare utilization patterns, direct costs, and sustained virologic response rates associated with interferon-based therapies for hepatitis C patients.


Hari Rayapudi, VP/GM, Patient Access Solutions, Xerox Healthcare

Latest:

How Pharma Can Lead the Movement to Transform Health Care

Health care lacks the interoperability needed to utilize all of the data available to influence care decisions and improve outcomes.


Brian A. Gallagher, RPh, JD

Latest:

Examining the Tug Valley Pharmacy Case: Monetizing Blame

In the recent case of Tug Valley Pharmacy et al v All Plaintiffs, the West Virginia Supreme Court weighed in on public policy concerning the diversion of controlled substances.


Joanna G. Lewis, PharmD, MBA

Latest:

How Pharmacists Can Make Money as Social Media Influencers

Becoming an influencer can allow you to manage your own career, connect with thousands of like-minded people, and build an income for yourself.


Karl Hess, PharmD, APH

Latest:

2022-2023 Influenza Season: Activity and Vaccine Effectiveness

The effectiveness of influenza vaccines varies each season and is determined by the circulating influenza virus subtype(s) and the extent to which there is an antigenic match in the vaccines to the circulating virus subtypes.


Javier Gonzalez, PharmD, Chief Growth Officer at Abarca

Latest:

Partnerships Between Medicaid Programs and PBMs Will Shape Future of Health Care

Value-based contracts can lower costs for payers, offer pharmaceutical companies valuable feedback about their therapies, and, ultimately, improve the quality of health care.