April 2024

The CPS health system specialty pharmacy (HSSP) clinical outcomes research team is headed to the Big Easy to present at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)’s 2024 Annual Meeting.

CPS will present seven outcomes posters featuring clinical research studied across our HSSP network. 

The posters show the impact and value HSSPs can bring to healthcare organizations and patients. The following will be presented on April 17:

Health System Specialty Pharmacist Interventions Related to Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)” evaluated PROM utilization across our HSSP network.

• Authors: Hannah Kurtz, PharmD; Casey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS; Ana Lopez Medina, PharmD; Jessica Mourani, PharmD; Carly Giavatto, PharmD
• Study objective: Quantify HSSPs’ PROM utilization and associated interventions and the acceptance rate for interventions related to standardized PROM collection.
• An interesting finding: HSSP teams with high-touch communication models and standardized PROM usage have meaningful patient interventions.
• Presentation details: Dr. Kurtz will present this poster on behalf of the authors at AMCP on April 17. Visit her at 1 p.m. CT at station U29.

“Health System Specialty Pharmacy: Ensuring Continuity of Care Through Transitional Periods” found that HSSPs can offer substantial support during provider transitions.

• Authors: Carly Giavatto, PharmD; Brett Shaffer, PharmD; Audrey Rush, AA, CPhT; Amy Evans, PharmD, CSP; Jessica Mourani, PharmD; Casey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS; Ana Lopez-Medina, PharmD.
• Study objective: Describe the role of HSSP teams during a provider transition.
• An interesting finding: HSSP teams are a key link in the care journey. They provide stability for patients, which is incredibly impactful during provider transitions.
• Presentation details: Dr. Shaffer will present this poster on behalf of the authors at AMCP on April 17 at 11:30 a.m. CT. Visit him at station M10.

"A Systems-Thinking Approach to Health Literacy Education” evaluated strategies to help hospitals and health systems meaningfully improve health literacy organization-wide.

• Authors: ​Shanece Green, PharmD, RPh, MSPH, MBA; Rabiah Dys, PharmD; Karen Lee, PharmD, RPh, BCPS; Ana Lopez-Medina, PharmD; Casey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS; Jessica Mourani, PharmD; Carly Giavatto, PharmD.
• Study objective: Implement and assess the impact of an organization-wide educational training focused on health literacy, focusing on improving health literacy to address previously identified knowledge gaps.
• An interesting finding: Healthcare organizations can benefit from providing specialized training for clinicians, adopting universal precautions, and implementing strategies like the teach-back method to better help patients along their care journeys.
• Presentation details: Dr.Giavatto will present this poster on behalf of the authors at AMCP on April 17 at 1 p.m. CT. Visit her at station Z8.

“Clinical Assessment to Lower Migraines (CALM): Implementing Population Health Management for Migraine Patients in a Health System Specialty Pharmacy (HSSP) Setting," which shows how HSSP teams can improve care management and outcomes for patients living with migraines.

• Authors: Sydney Kisala; Amanda Hickman, PharmD, MPH, MSCS; Ana Lopez Medina, PharmD.
• Study objective: Determine the impact of an HSSP population health management protocol on patients living with migraine.
• An interesting finding: The study demonstrates how HSSP teams can care for patients differently, particularly those with more common chronic conditions like migraine. Last year, Dr. Hickman discussed the findings with Pharmacy Times.
• Presentation details: Dr. Kurtz will present this poster on behalf of the authors at AMCP on April 17. Visit her at 11:30 a.m. CT at station G30.

“A Health System Specialty Pharmacy Initiative to Identify and Address Social Determinants of Health,” which evaluated one of the many ways HSSP teams can address medication access barriers due to unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs).

• Authors: Shanece Green, PharmD, RPh, MSPH, MBA; Kristin Darin, PharmD, BCPS; Rabiah Dys, PharmD; Karen Lee, PharmD, RPh, BCPS; Casey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS; Jessica Mourani, PharmD.
• Study objective:To describe HSSP-led social determinants of health (SDoH) screening and referral process for people living with HIV.
• An interesting finding: HSSP teams can effectively identify and resolve care barriers for patients impacted by HIV.
• Presentation details:  Green will present the poster on behalf of the authors on April 17 at 1 p.m. CT. Visit her at station U47.

“Maximizing Cost Savings: The Impact of Specialty Pharmacist Interventions at a Community Oncology Center,” an award-winning poster showing the financial impact of HSSP teams. 

• Authors: Megan Rees, PharmD, BCACP, CSP; Carly Giavatto, PharmD; Ana Lopez Medina, PharmD; Jessica Mourani, PharmD; Casey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS.
• Study objective: To determine the impact of HSSP pharmacist interventions on cost savings for oral oncolytics at a community oncology center.
• An interesting finding: As value-based care models take hold, the interventions described in the study can help HSSPs demonstrate value.
• Presentation details:  Andrew Wash will present the poster on behalf of the authors at AMCP. Visit him on April 17 at 1 p.m. CT at station U6.

“Impact of Clinical Dashboards for Data Capture and Reporting Across Health System Specialty Pharmacies,” which evaluated the impact of clinical dashboard use within an HSSP.

• Authors: Carson Kantoris, PharmD Candidate; Ana Lopez Medina, PharmD; Carly Giavatto, PharmD; Jessica Mourani, PharmD; Amber Skrtic, PharmD, CSP, AAHIVP; Hector Mayol Torres, BSEE; Erica Rosa, MPH; Casey Fitzpatrick, PharmD, BCPS.
• Study objective: Determine the impact of clinical dashboards on clinical outcomes measure capture rates and the completion of protocol-driven pharmacist interventions across multiple HSSP partner sites.
• An interesting finding: After dashboard implementation, there was a statistically significant improvement in PROM capture rates, labs or tests collected, and protocol-driven pharmacist interventions completed.
• Presentation details: Hardin will present the poster on April 17 at AMCP. Join him at 1 p.m. CT at station U5

AMCP is April 15-18, 2024, in New Orleans.

It will be held at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center in the Great Hall and Hall B. More than 4,000 managed care pharmacy professionals will be attending the conference.

Learn more about CPS’ award-winning clinical outcomes research.