Directions in Pharmacy: Why This Series and Why Now?

Pharmacy Times presents a thought-provoking new series of supplements that underscores why pharmacists need to pay attention to the rapidly changing health care landscape.

Our co-editors for Directions in Pharmacy are Troy Trygstad, PharmD, MBA, PhD, director of the Network Pharmacist Program and Pharmacy Projects for Community Care of North Carolina, and Fred M. Eckel, editor-in-chief of Pharmacy Times.

2013 is likely to be the “year of inflection” for pharmacy. We are reaching a breaking point with budgetary constraints at the local, state, and federal government levels. Businesses are standing up and saying, “We’ve had enough!” And investments in health information technology is now advancing cross-setting and panel-based, longitudinal care at a breathtaking pace.

Pharmacy Times presents a series of supplements on navigating health care reform, the role of pharmacy, and the impact of the ACA—and it is meant to be provocative, interesting, and most important, informative. We will compel readers to question their belief in the status quo and assist in the formation of new and “disruptive thought” as we all prepare for what will likely come to pass.

Health Reform and You

In this first supplement, the focus is on the impact of health reform, not in terms of the ACA, but in terms of the important tenets of system change that were coming, regardless of the ACA, spurred by the economic realities of our health system over the next 20 years.

Here are some of the other major themes we will address in Directions in Pharmacy:

• Care Coordination: Who, What, When, Where, and How? Health reform means collaborating with multiple different provider types in multiple different settings. How will this change the practice of pharmacy and are you ready?
• Plugged In: Health Information Technology or Bust HITECH and other influences have dramatically increased investment in electronic health solutions. Will this dramatically change how we practice, or will it be business as usual?
• Providing Value: Ignore It at Your Own Risk The system is moving to value-based reimbursement. Pharmacy practice must change to meet this unstoppable trend.