Specialty Pharmacy: Making a Difference

We welcome our new editorial advisory board member, a leader and innovator in the industry.

Welcome to the first bimonthly edition of Specialty Pharmacy Times! We are very pleased to bring you the rich content you have come to expect from this unique publication. As we enter our third year under the direction of Dan Steiber, editor-in-chief, we are committed to providing insightful discussions on those “keep-youup-at-night” topics that are critical for your success in this fast-paced, growing marketplace. You’ll hear from key players in this space as we work with them to give voice to all the imperative needs of this industry.

With the focus on increasing the value of specialty pharmacy services through accountability and collaboration, this issue’s cover story is authored by one of our newest editorial advisory board members, Michael R. Agostino, RPh, BSPharm, who is both an innovator and an entrepreneur. On where specialty pharmacy is today, he says pointedly, “The need for change in this dynamic and everchanging health care environment is continuous.” The 24/7 world is nowhere more prevalent than in the specialty pharmacy profession.

As president of Amber Pharmacy, Agostino provides comprehensive services for patients with chronic health conditions, including transplant, oncology, hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and most other chronic conditions—bridging the need for customer care and working with patient, caregiver, and provider. This family-owned, independent provider of specialty services is a truly great example of how specialty pharmacy is growing—and how it is making a difference.

As you review this issue, you’ll also find condition-specific information that you and your teams can use in your daily practice in such areas as multiple sclerosis, transplant therapy, gout, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and oncology as we delve into these complex medical conditions.

Specialty pharmacists work hard to bring the very latest medications and treatments to their patients, in every setting. Indeed, specialty pharmacists are the face and voice of pharmacy for the most difficult medical needs, and as such are intricately involved in the business and practice of caring for this country’s most serious health needs. We are here to support you.

Take a moment go to www .specialtypharmacytimes.com—our new website dedicated to specialty pharmacy and the community of professionals who work in this space. You can also access Specialty Pharmacy Times anytime on your iPad with a free app which brings exclusive multimedia content.

Thank you for reading!

Mike Hennessy