Voices: Monica Khan, PharmD, BCGP, Clinical Sales Specialist, Enclara Pharmacia Voices:

This article is sponsored by Enclara Pharmacia. In this interview, Voices Hospice News speaks with Monica Khan, Clinical Sales Specialist at Enclara Pharmacia, to learn about the transformation of the inpatient hospice sector and its operating models. She also provides advice to organizations looking to develop or expand their own inpatient services and offers a look at the sector in the coming years.

Hospice News: What career experience do you most draw from in your work today?

Monica Khan: I have spent most of my professional career in hospice pharmacy and I was lucky to play a variety of roles. All this experience has taken me to where I am now in my career. My diverse experience allows me to provide a unique perspective on the daily needs of nurses and the demands of operational management. I use this to streamline processes, improve inpatient unit (IPU) services, and support hospice management through cost containment and customer satisfaction.

How has the residential hospice sector changed since you entered the industry, especially in recent years?

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of hospices providing inpatient care, especially after CMS announced the final payment rule. More and more people are looking for an automated solution to quickly access medicines, minimize waste and improve safety.

In addition, MPS is looking for a pharmacy supplier that can provide not only drug dispensing, but also support in areas such as usage management support, workflow optimization, and clinical support. They want to work with a pharmacist partner who truly understands the needs of their patients.

Hospice IPUs come in all sizes and models, what are the main differences and similarities you see between operating models today?

The overall goal of each hospice MPS is to provide patients with the medicines they need as quickly as possible. How this is done is usually determined by government regulations, the budget, the pharmacy options available to that department, and the hospice’s clinical infrastructure. Enclara works with hospices to understand their concerns and expectations through a detailed workflow assessment, then we conduct a thorough analysis to determine how we can best meet the needs of each of our clients.

What advice would you give to hospices looking to develop or expand inpatient services?

Make sure the inpatient care center operates according to state law. Each state has its own rules and regulations, which may vary depending on the property’s size, location, and other factors. It is also important to find a partner pharmacy that can serve all levels of care and is scalable. Using a single provider supports multi-location expansion, helps streamline operations and staff training, and provides complete visibility into your entire pharmacy usage.

What are the key challenges that hospice providers face regarding drug management and access?

For the IPU, dealing with a pharmacy provider who may not understand the needs of the hospice IPU was a pain point. This is a high level of medical care where patients require a specific set of medications that are not always used by the general public, especially in regards to pain relief and drugs. Often I hear concerns about out-of-stock medicines, delayed delivery of medicines, or having to wait until the next day for a response because the pharmacy is closed or not even open on call.

Many hospices also face challenges when they have multiple locations and offices using different vendors and pharmacy models. This complicates not only access, but also the ability to track usage and control costs. Different fees and processes for ancillary services such as delivery or even consultations or collaborations with pharmacists can really add up.

What opportunities and challenges do you expect for hospice inpatient care providers in the coming years?

In the coming years, we will see rising labor costs, drug shortages and price inflation. However, these challenges will also pave the way for innovation. Hospices will continue to use technology to streamline workflows and automate processes in every possible way.

Complete this sentence: “The hospice industry in 2023 will be the year…”

…constant investment in technology and automation to reduce the administrative burden on clinicians and optimize patient care.

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

As the nation’s leading provider of pharmacy and PBM services to the hospice and palliative care community, Enclara Pharmacia provides timely and reliable access to medicines in all healthcare settings through an extensive network of retail and institutional pharmacies, a national direct patient dispensation program and specialized inpatient services. . To find out more visit www.enclarapharmacia.com.

The Voices Series is a sponsored content program where top executives discuss trends, topics and more while shaping their industry in a Q&A format. For more information about Voices, please contact [email protected].

Content Source

California Press News – Latest News:
Los Angeles Local News || Bay Area Local News || California News || Lifestyle News || National news || Travel News || Health News

Related Articles

Back to top button