In-House Pharmacy Services Improve Patient Engagement

Service to dispense oral oncolytics to patients shows positive results, doctors say.

Utilizing the services of an in-house pharmacy through a community oncology practice can improve patient engagement, according to physicians presenting at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Annual Meeting and Expo, held from April 1 through April 4 in Tampa, Florida.

Angel Aslo, PharmD, pharmacy director at The Mark H. Zangmeister Center in Columbus, Ohio, and Ray Bailey, PharmD, pharmacy director at Florida Cancer Specialists, said use of an in-house pharmacy service to dispense oral oncolytics to their patients shows promising results and allows them to focus on creating a positive experience for patients with cancer. The program does come with challenges, however, due to the high cost for organizations to gain accreditation for specialty pharmacy dispensing, which the physicians said can run an estimated $70,000 to $80,000 through health care accrediting group URAC.

For more information about the use of in-house pharmacy services, click here to visit AJMC.com for coverage of the AMCP Expo.