Practice Transformation
Physicians lack time, support to address SDOH
Most (61%) of physicians say they have little or no time to address their patient’s social determinants of health (SDOH), according to a new survey from The Physicians Foundation. Yet, roughly 80% believe the U.S. cannot improve health outcomes or reduce health care costs without addressing those factors. In addition, 63% report they often have feelings of burnout when trying to address their patients’ SDOH. (Physicians Foundation; RISE)
To free up pharmacists, Walgreens turns to robots
Walgreens Boots Alliance plans to open 22 robot-powered micro-fulfillment centers to fill U.S. customers’ prescriptions — a move the company say it hopes will allow pharmacists to take on other duties. Walgreens says each robot can fill around 300 prescriptions every hour — roughly the same number filled in a day by a Walgreens pharmacy operating with a handful of staff members. By 2025, up to half of Walgreens’ total prescription volume could be filled at the automated hubs. (CNBC)
Evidence & Innovation
Prediction: PGx will be a standard of care
Pharmacogenomics as standard of care is inevitable, Jamie Wilkie, PharmD, says in an interview with Pharmacy Times. When that happens, she says, “everyone will understand that genetics … have an important role in not only their medication, but their overall health. And so, it’ll just be a part of their electronic health record and a part of who they are as they’re treated by the entire medical team.” She also believes that pharmacists will be the ones to champion integration of pharmacogenomics into various software platforms across care settings. (Pharmacy Times)
Capps: Health care transformation requires CMM
In a wide-ranging interview with Authority Magazine, GTMRx Executive Director Katherine H. Capps discussed why she chose a career in health care, offered her take on the health care system and made the case for medication optimization. Asked if she could inspire a movement to transform health care, she cited CMM: “Requiring (and paying) physicians and clinical pharmacists to work in collaborative practice and with the patient, using diagnostics, clinical information and a team implementing a process of care (CMM) to get the medication right.” (Authority Magazine)
Employer coalition success stories
Employer purchasing coalitions are bringing down health care costs, according to the Commonwealth Fund. It profiles four purchaser-led initiatives centered around direct negotiations with health care providers; employee incentives to seek care from higher-quality, lower-cost providers; and efforts to call attention to high prices. While success has varied and challenges are daunting, these strategies point to possible avenues for other employers to explore. The four coalitions profiled: Peak Health Alliance in Colorado, Network of Distinction in Connecticut, Employer’s Forum of Indiana and The Alliance in Wisconsin and adjacent counties. (Commonwealth Fund)
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Policy Solutions
Fowler on CMMI: the perfect opportunity
STAT recently named Liz Fowler, PhD, JD, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to its STATUS List. The list recognizes “standout individuals in health, medicine and science.” In the accompanying interview, Fowler discusses her vision, her previous work, her inspiration and her current role. “I have to say that CMMI seemed like the perfect opportunity. Because I had worked on the legislative language that created CMMI and knew what its purpose and mission was. I knew that it could really be a catalyst for changing the system, and I knew what tools it had in its toolbox.” (STAT News)
In Case You Missed It!
GTMRx Experts Reveal Health Care Must-Haves for 2022 and Beyond
Leading Institute for Comprehensive Medication Management Shares Strategies for Improving Inefficiencies in Health Care and Reforming Medication Management
“Collaborative practice agreements, using clinical pharmacists, who are right there in the community and know the patients. And specifically with homeless patients, I think there does need to be a little more outreach, the clinical pharmacist going out, through collaborative practice agreements, and seeing patients, and helping us manage their complex needs.. And because it is of course, a little challenging to expect homeless patients to visit clinics. But I’ll say this, they’re much more likely to respond if you meet them in the community rather than a traditional medical office practice.” – Michael Hochman, MD primary care physician and CEO of Healthcare in Action, SCAN’s Homeless Medical Group
Read more in our press release.
GTMRx in the News
While the health care industry reevaluates processes and care from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, patient experience optimization has arguably never been more of a priority for the health community at-large. A big part of optimizing the experience includes paying attention to and changing how medications are selected, managed and monitored to avoid misuse, overuse or underuse.
Read more from GTMRx Executive Director, Katie Capps, in Healthcare Business Today.
The Right Drug Dose Now Act Introduced Feb. 28, 2022
On February 28, 2022, the GTMRx Institute issued a letter of support for the Right Drug Dose Now Act which was introduced on the same day. (See the press release from Congressman Swalwell here.)
GTMRx’s Precision Medicine Enablement via Advanced Diagnostics Workgroup invited congressional staff from the Personalized Medicine Caucus to present on draft PGx legislation underway on two occasions. The Personalized Medicine Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), engages members in a constructive dialogue about legislative and regulatory policies that can help realize the full potential of personalized medicine. The recommendations that came out of these discussions were put into our Letter to the Personalized Medicine Caucus Co-Chairs—Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA)—on the Right Drug Dose Now Act.
Some of the GTMRx recommendations to the Caucus included:
- Incorporating comprehensive medication management definition and language.
- Combining PGx testing with the CMM process of care.
- Expanding implementation of EHR guidelines, education awareness campaigns, and reporting.
- Clarifying the definition of adverse drug events.
A Comprehensive Overview of the Institute, It’s Vision, Mission and Leadership
The Get the Medications Right Institute is working to decrease misuse, overuse and underuse of medications and avoid waste by advancing comprehensive medication management to ensure appropriate and personalized use of medications and gene therapies. Learn more in this brochure.
Interested in supporting our work?
Please contact Jeff Hanson (e: [email protected])
Join us to be part of meaningful change
Irma, like many others, struggles as a result of our current trial-and-error approach to medication. That is why we advocate for a new, comprehensive approach to medication use and prescribing. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organization, the GTMRx Institute and Foundation relies on funding from our supporting members. We ask that you consider becoming a Supporting Signing Member so we can continue to provide relevant, timely resources to get the medications right!
If you’re interested in supporting the Institute or Foundation at a higher level, please contact us. Your dollars will bring about meaningful change for people like Irma.
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Adding the foundation on AmazonSmile will help us continue to provide no cost educational webinars, issue briefs, weekly news briefs and promote the need for transformation of our current system of medication use through social media campaigns.
