The Pharmacist's Role in Adverse Event Management

Ali McBride, PharmD, BCOP, president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, discusses how pharmacists can assist in adverse event management during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP: I think immuno-oncology is a standard for what’s happening. So, we’ll see all of these disease states across the board being discussed. Looking at immunotherapy outcomes, but also side-effect management. You know, when we’re taking a look at treatment, that’s great — the outcomes are great. But how do we mitigate, how do we address the side-effects. So, looking at those over all end-responses is important, but it's also the fact that these side-effects are going to be key. For the pharmacists themselves, that will be an important discussion, because we have to help mitigate or address those side-effects, monitor for those side-effects in the clinic when they’re coming in, and also address anything that can occur, if those side-effects do occur at a much higher level, they may require more acute care as well. So, that will be very interesting to see pan out, because it’s a very new focus in the oncology arena, but for those members that are pharmacists, not just oncology pharmacists, but other pharmacists in different areas, they will be affected by this as well. So, they can come to the ED, they can come to the ICU, or the internal medicine team. Are those teams prepared for immune-oncology or immunotherapy-based side-effect management.