Objectives: The APhA Stakeholder Conference on Improving Patient Access to Injectable Medications was convened to foster national dialogue to advance the pharmacist's role in the provision of injectable medication administration services (MAS) and related patient care services, and to establish pharmacy as a site of care for these injections. Participants discussed the distinct opportunities to maximize pharmacist scope of services, expand patient access to care, improve medication adherence, and enhance outcomes for patients on injectable medication therapies for a range of conditions. These elements were framed in terms of the practice model, the business model, and the necessary training and resources to support these activities. Data sources: National thought leaders within pharmacy practice, pharmacist employers, national pharmacy associations, and pharmaceutical companies were invited to participate in the conference on December 15, 2016. Participants provided perspectives on a series of structured questions around administrative and patient care issues associated with the expansion of pharmacy-based MAS. Outcomes from the discussions were supplemented with related information from the literature. Summary: The APhA Stakeholder Conference on Improving Patient Access to Injectable Medications explored how the pharmacy profession could advance a broad-based, professionwide practice model for MAS across a wide spectrum of therapeutic classes. There is a significant public health need to expand access to patients and make MAS a widely available, predictable, measurable, and scalable service provided by pharmacists. Conference participants discussed scope of practice, service delivery, and business model barriers. They also identified tools and resources that are necessary to overcome those barriers to advance opportunities and develop long-term, sustainable strategies to increase access to MAS from community-based pharmacist practitioners. Conclusion: Conference outcomes provided specific guidance around the need to develop practice support to address public health needs and effectively advance pharmacist provision of MAS and related patient care services. Key recommendations included the development of national practice guidance, standardized education and training, practice-level tools and resources, and enhanced technology solutions.

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Digital health is rapidly evolving and promises to transform how health care is delivered and consumed. To explore advances at the intersection of health and technology and how pharmacy can embrace emerging modalities moving forward, the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) hosted a Digital Health Conference on October 12 and 13, 2019, in Garden Grove, California. This conference provided an opportunity for pharmacists to gain a deeper understanding of the digital health ecosystem, explore opportunities, and share perspectives for leveraging digital health products to improve patient care. This commentary provides an overview of new and emerging digital health technologies, and a summary of the conference. It is not a comprehensive or systematic review of the field of digital health, rather its scope is limited to the key concepts and perspectives shared at the conference by presenters and participants. Table 1 provides information summarizing what is already known about this subject and what is added by this commentary. During the conference, pharmacists were introduced to definitions and concepts in digital health, discussed opportunities and challenges related to integration of digital health into existing health care infrastructures (including legal and regulatory frameworks, pharmacy practice models and payment), and explored educational needs to prepare pharmacists for their evolving roles. As digital health technologies are being integrated within the healthcare system, this conference aimed to focus on opportunities specific to pharmacy.

Abstract:The primary objective of the study was to evaluate baseline patient perception on single versus multiple community pharmacy systems. The secondary objective was to determine effects of a pharmacist provided educational intervention on perception of using a single community pharmacy system. This was a prospective survey based study implemented in a single grocery store chain pharmacy and one location of a large retail pharmacy. An anonymous pre-survey was administered to eligible patients. The primary investigator then delivered a brief educational intervention followed by an anonymous post survey. This aimed to determine if there was a change in perception of components assessed in the pre-survey. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Subjects reported using approximately 1.5 pharmacies. Major reasons included cost, location, and immunizations. 63% of subjects answered that their pharmacist will not have an accurate medication list when using multiple pharmacies, however, 92% of subjects responded that the pharmacist should be aware of all medications they take. Education on multiple pharmacy use may help protect against its risks. Cognizance of medications filled at other pharmacies and close communication between patients and pharmacists may help foster pharmacist-patient relationships while reducing the risk of multiple pharmacy use.