The Importance of Innovation in Specialty Pharmacy
I believe the recipe for success in healthcare innovation includes a list of problems, lots of empathy and a willing organization. AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy prioritizes the importance of innovation in specialty pharmacy and embraces a transformational culture. We regularly listen to our patients and partners to understand our biggest opportunities so we can focus our innovation efforts.
The Specialty Pharmacy Environment is Complex and Evolving
In the past decade, specialty drugs have accounted for almost 60% of total medication spend.1 The need for specialty pharmacies to help curtail this spending has never been greater and its role continues to expand.
Specialty pharmacists provide care for patients with rare conditions, who oftentimes take complex medications. Dispensing these medications has a greater administrative burden than traditional medications because it requires more steps in the process, like prior authorizations, or extra packaging requirements. A recent survey conducted by Surescripts found 71% of specialty pharmacists are somewhat, very or extremely stressed at work, and 63% identified prior authorization as a source of stress.
Additionally, healthcare, and specifically specialty pharmacy, is transforming into a consumer-centric model receptive to advances and innovations happening in adjacent industries.
To Avoid Becoming Obsolete, Innovation in Specialty Pharmacy is Essential
There is an abundance of opportunities to innovate within specialty pharmacy. Patients face a variety of barriers to receiving their medications and adhering to treatment regimens. Cost pressures on these medications challenge traditional business and payment models, and put pressure on the healthcare system. New technology, big data and an increased willingness to share and integrate information offer the possibility of reimagining how healthcare is delivered.
In my experience as a product leader, change and innovation have become equal constants. There is a subtle difference between the two because not all change is innovation. Innovation is deliberate – requiring an organization to anticipate, embrace and see change as an opportunity.
Ways AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy Has Innovated As a Leading Specialty Pharmacy
At AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, we’ve done just that with the following:
• Our patented process for shipping temperature-sensitive medicines assures AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy patients receive their medication delivered at the correct temperature. As the only specialty pharmacy to use a patented process for shipping temperature-sensitive medication, we help increase patient safety, improve patient outcomes, and reduce waste.
• With industry-leading data integration capabilities focused on advanced efficiency and patient care, our team members who serve patients can see real-time, patient-specific data from across the healthcare ecosystem. The supplemental data offer us greater insight into co-morbidities and other information that streamlines the referral process, resulting in fewer calls to the patient and provider for necessary information.
• Our ability to reprioritize at the onset of the pandemic and fast-track the release of self-service digital tools – including online refills, enhanced text messaging, and digital clinical assessments – helps our patients manage their prescriptions online.
• Our dedicated Specialty360 Therapy Teams support specific conditions and therapies, and provide personalized support along a patient’s treatment journey. These teams demonstrate the powerful combination of clinical expertise and high-touch service, while improving outcomes and delivering an empowered experience for patients.
• Through collaborative brainstorming sessions, team members at AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy and Highmark sought to identify innovative concepts focusing on patient care and improving overall health and outcomes. The result was our current Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) pilot, designed to improve a patient’s overall health and well-being by identifying and removing barriers to their care. We continue to learn from this pilot to build and launch a scalable solution.
At AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, our goal is to always put the patient's needs first and our purpose is to provide hope and care for better tomorrows. Innovation requires dedication and a certain level of risk. I am fortunate to be part of an organization that prioritizes innovation and I am enthusiastic about continuing to bring new products and services to our patients and partners.
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