Published on May 31, 2021

New service supports ECMC’s commitment to exceptional patient experience and superior clinical outcomes

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – ECMC today announced the launch of an integrated specialty pharmacy service in partnership with Trellis Rx, a leading technology-enabled specialty pharmacy services provider. The service will further ECMC’s promise of delivering the very best patient experiences by embedding pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons into its specialty centers to support patients living with conditions such as cancer, hepatitis C, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Andrew L. Davis, Chief Operating Officer, ECMC said, “ECMC’s specialty pharmacy service directly supports our vision to deliver exceptional patient experience and superior clinical outcomes. Our partnership with Trellis Rx will play a vital role in helping improve access to healthcare and quality of life in Western New York.”

ECMC will start offering specialty pharmacy services in its outpatient specialty centers later this year. Patients who require specialty medications will receive support from specialty pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons before, during and between their doctors’ appointments. Pharmacy liaisons will navigate insurance approvals, apply for financial assistance and arrange refills deliveries for patients. Pharmacists will provide medication education and counseling, while also working with doctors to ensure therapy appropriateness and effectiveness.

Patients and their families often struggle to access and manage the specialty medications required to treat complex, chronic conditions. Common barriers that prevent patients from starting and adhering to specialty medications include complex therapy regimens, high out-of-pocket costs and challenging side effects. Some patients also struggle with lack of access to food, housing or transportation.

ECMC’s specialty pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons will work to address these challenges by providing the high-touch, personalized care needed to ensure patients can follow their treatment plans and achieve the best clinical outcomes. Specialty pharmacy team members will work directly alongside patients’ physicians and care team to ensure a coordinated, streamlined therapy experience.

About the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility.  ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo.  Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan.  More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care ™.  For additional information about ECMC, visit: www.ecmc.edu.

About Trellis Rx: Trellis Rx works hand-in-hand with health systems to improve the medication therapy experience for their patients with chronic and specialty conditions. Working under the health system’s brand, Trellis Rx provides medically-integrated pharmacy services that drive measurably better clinical and financial outcomes—faster—with less risk. Trellis Rx’s unique clinical care model embeds highly skilled pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons directly into health system specialty clinics. Its fully integrated, local approach ensures patients with chronic and complex conditions receive the personalized, high-touch pharmacy care required to support adherence to treatment plans and improve clinical outcomes.