Built For the Future of Pharmacy
What were your “silver linings” amidst the pandemic? As a specialty pharmacy on which thousands patients depend to dispense some of their most important medications, we at AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy were pushed to look at our end-to-end processes differently. A positive aspect was discovering new ways to making their medicines as accessible as possible.
Without pharmacy site visits and trade shows, we also discovered new ways to work with our pharmaceutical business partners. One of the most exciting was inviting these partners to the first-ever Biopharma Virtual Summit, held last month. Clinical and business leaders from Walgreens and AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy talked about a wide range of pharmacy topics, from COVID vaccines to precision medicine.
Reflecting on the insights shared across nearly a dozen presentations and Q&A sessions, I want to share a few observations that are particularly important as we chart the path toward the future of pharmacy.
1. Meeting patients “where they are” is more important than ever.
For every patient and caregiver we serve, their hour-to-hour and day-to-day experience differs greatly. Access to their medicines and to clinicians to ask questions is a common requirement of all. Today, refilling their prescription late at night on a mobile device might be the most convenient. Next month, however, that same patient might want to talk to a pharmacist about managing side effects.
Patients and caregivers expect to have options on how they interact with their health care teams. As their specialty pharmacy, we need to offer options to make their care convenient; that can range from answering questions about cost, or understanding unique delivery instructions. Simplified online experiences add a level of convenience with customized clinical assessments and secure text and email notifications.
2. Successful outcomes for patients extend beyond just taking their medication.
Therapy success depends on many variables. Sometimes there are unmet patient or caregiver needs –remaining unidentified can also create health risks and negatively influence outcomes.
It’s why we continue to collaborate with our payer and pharma partners to build solutions that address social determinants of health. By talking with patients at least monthly, we’re well-positioned to collect information related to socioeconomics barriers and co-create interventions to positively impact medication adherence.
Deriving new insights and developing new solutions to support successful outcomes requires information across multiple dimensions. We’re developing platforms for pharma, payer and health system partners that will incorporate patient-reported outcomes, real-world evidence and utilization patterns. Because data alone isn’t enough to drive the best patient outcomes.
3. Minimizing financial barriers is necessary for accessibility and adherence.
The topic of medication affordability continues to come up in conversations with patients. We anticipate that will continue as many households navigate the lasting economic impacts of COVID.
We make an impact by advocating for our patients, especially when they feel scared about not being able to pay, or helpless because they are not aware of various options available to them. Our team of specialists focuses on accessibility – uncovering programs that could make drugs more affordable for eligible patients.
Research shows that as a patient’s out-of-pocket cost share rises, primary rate of adherence drops. That’s why helping break down financial barriers is so important to us. With our help, more patients will begin – and remain adherent to – life-changing or life-saving therapies.
4. The future of pharmacy is now — and access to gene and cell therapies for the patients who need them most is critical.
There is so much promise in the gene and cell pipeline, with an increasing number of therapeutic options coming to market for patients with previously "incurable” diseases. There’s also a lot of complexity, with concern about the risks, costs, and relative amount of benefit to be expected for the best treatment options.
We are making the investment to address those challenges and collaborate with pharma, payer and providers on the right solutions. This includes a fully-dedicated facility focused on delivering a zero-defect product delivery, plus expanded patient and caregiver resources. The world has barely seen what this new world of precision medicine will bring; we’re ready to help provide access through our precision medicine solutions.
One thing is certain — the patient experience today will look and feel completely different in the future. We are proud of our ability to plan for a future based on real-world evidence while helping our patients focus on what is most important to them. AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy looks forward to helping create the right solutions for the future of pharmacy.
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