Comparison of rates of adherence to oral chemotherapy medications filled through an internal health-system specialty pharmacy vs external specialty pharmacies

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (14) ◽  
pp. 1118-1127
Author(s):  
Colleen C McCabe ◽  
Meagan S Barbee ◽  
Marley L Watson ◽  
Alyssa Billmeyer ◽  
Collin E Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Patient Adherence ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Medication Possession Ratio ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Wilcoxon Test ◽  
Tumor Type ◽  
Specialty Pharmacy

Abstract Purpose The primary objective of the study described here was to compare rates of patient adherence to anticancer medications filled at an internal health system specialty pharmacy (HSSP) vs external specialty pharmacies. The primary outcome was the medication possession ratio (MPR), and the secondary outcomes included proportion of days covered (PDC), and time to treatment (TTT). Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted to compare the MPR, PDC, and TTT for patients who received oral anticancer therapy using prescriptions claim data. A t test or Wilcoxon test was used to explore the effect of demographic and other factors on adherence and TTT. A multiple regression model with backward elimination was used to analyze significant factors to identify covariates significantly associated with the outcomes. Results Of the 300 patients screened for study inclusion, 204 patients whose records had complete MPR and PDC data and 164 whose records had TTT data were included in the analysis. There were significant between-group differences in mean MPR and mean PDC with patient use of the HSSP vs external pharmacies (1.00 vs 0.75 [P < 0.001] and 0.95 vs 0.7 [P < 0.001], respectively). Pharmacy type (P = 0.024) and tumor type (P = 0.048) were significantly associated with TTT. Conclusion The multiple regression analysis indicated that oncology patients who filled their anticancer medication precriptions at an internal HSSP at an academic medical center had significantly higher adherence, as measured by MPR and PDC, and quicker TTT than those who filled their prescriptions at an external specialty pharmacy.

scholarly journals Mounting a Regional Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Another Reason to “Keep” Your Lab

2020 ◽  
Vol 144 (11) ◽  
pp. 1321-1324
Author(s):  
Tamera A. Paczos
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Regional Health ◽  
The Core ◽  
Local Access ◽  
Average Turnaround Time

Context.— Declining reimbursement shifts hospital laboratories from system assets to cost centers. This has resulted in increased outsourcing of laboratory services, which can jeopardize a hospital systems' ability to respond to a health care crisis. Objectives.— To demonstrate that investment in a core laboratory serving an academic medical center equipped a regional health system to respond to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Design.— COVID-19 diagnostic testing data were analyzed. Volumes were evaluated by result date (March 16, 2020–May 6, 2020), and the average of received-to-verified turnaround time was calculated and compared for in-house and send-out testing, and different in-house testing methodologies. Results.— Daily viral diagnostic testing capacity increased by greater than 3000% (from 21 tests per day to 658 tests per day). Total viral diagnostic testing reported by the core laboratory increased by 128 times during 22 days of test method validation and 826 times during the analysis period, while average turnaround time per day for send-out testing increased from 3.7 days to 21 days. Decreased overall average turnaround time was observed at the core laboratory (0.45 days) versus send-out testing (7.63 days) (P < .001). Conclusions.— Investment in a core laboratory provided the health system with the necessary expertise and resources to mount a robust response to the pandemic. Local access to testing allowed rapid triage of patients and conservation of scarce personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, the core laboratory was able to support regional health departments and several hospitals outside of the system.

scholarly journals Integration of an Academic Medical Center and a Large Health System: Implications for Pharmacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-174
Author(s):  
Brian L. Erstad ◽  
Tina Aramaki ◽  
Kurt Weibel
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Integration Method ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Pharmacy Services ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
High Level

Objective: To provide lessons learned for colleges of pharmacy and large health systems that are contemplating or in the process of undergoing integration. Method: This report describes the merger of an academic medical center and large health system with a focus on the implications of the merger for pharmacy from the perspectives of both a college of pharmacy and a health system’s pharmacy services. Results: Overarching pharmacy issues to consider include having an administrator from the college of pharmacy directly involved in the merger negotiation discussions, having at least one high-level administrator from the college of pharmacy and one high-level pharmacy administrator from the health system involved in ongoing discussions about implications of the merger and changes that are likely to affect teaching, research, and clinical service activities, having focused discussions between college and health system pharmacy administrators on the implications of the merger on experiential and research-related activities, and anticipating concerns by clinical faculty members affected by the merger. Conclusion: The integration of a college of pharmacy and a large health system during the acquisition of an academic medical center can be challenging for both organizations, but appropriate pre- and post-merger discussions between college and health system pharmacy administrators that include a strategic planning component can assuage concerns and problems that are likely to arise, increasing the likelihood of a mutually beneficial collaboration.

scholarly journals 1036. Clinical impact of an antibiotic time out initiative at an academic medical center

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S364-S365
Author(s):  
Amy P Taylor ◽  
Kelci E Coe ◽  
Kurt Stevenson ◽  
Lynn Wardlow ◽  
Zeinab El Boghdadly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Type ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Time Out ◽  
The Ohio State University ◽  
Infection Types

Abstract Background The Infectious Diseases Society of America’s guideline for implementing antibiotic (abx) stewardship recommends routine review of abx use. Several studies demonstrate antibiotic time out (ATO) programs result in de-escalation, but there is limited evidence of improved outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of ATO. Methods This retrospective study included hospitalized patients at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center receiving abx and a documented ATO from 7/1/2017 to 6/30/2018. ATO patients were matched by infection type to abx-treated patients lacking an ATO note. Patients were excluded if they were identified as a protected population, were in the ICU at the time of ATO, had an ATO within 48 hours of discharge, cystic fibrosis, or febrile neutropenia. The primary objective was to evaluate abx optimization in patients with documented ATO vs. those without ATO. Abx optimization was defined as the selection of ideal abx based on guidelines, culture and susceptibility results, or expert opinion when undefined. Secondary outcomes included vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury (VAN-AKI), infection-related length of stay (LOS), all-cause 30-day readmission or mortality, abx days, and nosocomial C. difficile infection (CDI) rates. The Student t-test/Fisher’s exact test and Wilcoxon-rank sum were utilized as appropriate. Results One hundred ATO patients were compared with 100 non-ATO patients. Baseline characteristics and infection types were similar between groups. ATO resulted in improved optimization of abx selection (P = 0.05) and duration (P < 0.01), and reduced piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T) and vancomycin (VAN) utilization. No difference was observed in VAN-AKI (22 vs. 20%, P = 0.73), 30-day readmission (28 vs. 27%, P = 0.87), mortality (5 vs. 5%, P = 1), or CDI rates (6 vs. 5%, p = 0.76) in the ATO vs. non-ATO group. However, inpatient abx days (12 vs. 8, P = 0.004) and infection-related LOS (10 vs. 8, P = 0.0006) were shorter in the non-ATO group. Conclusion ATO improved optimization of abx selection and duration, and reduced P/T and VAN use. Despite this, clinical outcomes were not improved. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals 327. Assessment of Bacterial Co-infection Rates and Antibiotic Exposure in COVID-19 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S269-S269
Author(s):  
Adam J Luetkemeyer ◽  
Nick Bennett ◽  
Laura Aragon ◽  
Jeannette Ploetz ◽  
Sarah E Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Antibiotic Exposure ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Days Of Therapy ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Length Of Therapy

Abstract Background COVID-19 pandemic data suggest risk for bacterial co-infection upon hospital presentation remain extremely low. Despite low co-infection rates, antibiotics are prescribed for most patients. Current data are limited regarding institutional-specific change in antibiotic use over the course of the pandemic. Given the low rates of co-infections, Saint Luke’s Health System’s COVID-19 Treatment Taskforce developed a COVID-19 evaluation and treatment order set which included procalcitonin (PCT) . As co-infection literature emerged, active education was provided, and order sets were modified to provide passive education regarding co-infection rates. We aimed to assess antibiotic practice changes as data and strategies to influence use evolved during the pandemic. Methods This was a multi-center, single health-system retrospective cohort study. Ten community hospitals and 1 academic medical center were included in analysis. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, admitted during April or September 2020 and had a positive COVID-19 result on admission. Patients were excluded if they were readmitted for COVID-19 related issues. Both primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed from the first 7 days after admission. The primary outcome was rate of respiratory bacterial co-infections. This was determined through sputum and blood cultures, urinary antigens including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella, and PCT. Secondary outcomes included rate of antibiotic use, antibiotic days of therapy (DOT), length of therapy, and antibiotic use trends. Baseline Characteristics Results A total of 294 patients were included with 69 patients in April 2020 and 225 in September 2020. Primary and secondary results are shown in Table 2. Rate of culture-confirmed bacterial co-infection when examining April 2020 was 4.38% and 4.44 % in September 2020. Antibiotic uses, antibiotic DOT, and length of therapy were all significantly lower in September 2020 compared to April 2020. Conclusion Our results show bacterial co-infections were extremely low in our health system. Despite positive trends in antibiotic use, prescribing remained high. More targeted interventions to decrease antibiotic exposure in COVID-19 patients are needed. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Evaluation of Thrombotic Risk in Thyroid Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A861-A861
Author(s):  
Chukwuka Akamnonu ◽  
David A Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Cancer History ◽  
Thrombotic Risk ◽  
History Of

Abstract Introduction: Current guidelines from the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis recommend limited screenings for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) with no identifiable precipitating factor (termed unprovoked). There is paucity of data with regards to thyroid cancer screening in the setting of an unprovoked VTE. Studies from Europe have shown an association between VTE and thyroid cancer; however, these studies do not account for differences in iodine availability, thus the need for studies in the United States. Understanding the risk of thyroid cancer as a provocative factor in developing a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) may be able to facilitate case detection of disease and prevent future morbidity and mortality from thyroid cancer and/or VTE. Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to understand the risk of developing VTE in the setting of thyroid cancer. Methods: In this retrospective chart review study, we reviewed electronic medical records of patients with a history of DVT or PE between ages 18-99, presenting to all outpatient clinics at a single academic medical center in New Jersey between October 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2018. We screened for coexistent cancer history among this group, and from this sample we further isolated cases of thyroid cancer. Results: 345 patients were found to have a history of VTE. 187 were female (54%) and 113 (29%) had a history of malignancy. The most common cancers were breast (19%), colorectal (9%), leukemia (9%), prostate (8%), and lymphoma (8%). Thyroid cancer accounted for 2% of all discovered cases. Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis, 2% of all patients with VTE and cancer carried a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Although this suggests a relatively low risk, given the medical burden of a venous thromboembolism and the comparable proportion of thyroid cancer in all new cancer cases, thyroid cancer should be considered a provoking factor in unprovoked VTE.

scholarly journals Internally Developed Antimicrobial Use Benchmarking at a Large Academic Medical Center and Integrated Health System

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilios Athans ◽  
Elizabeth Neuner ◽  
Andrea Pallotta ◽  
Jeffrey Chalmers ◽  
Eric Vogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Integrated Health
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