Pharmacy

Specialty pharmaceuticals continue to dominate drug approvals and purchasing. And while many hospitals operate a specialty pharmacy, there’s still room for growth. Here’s five questions to ask when considering if a specialty pharmacy is right for your hospital.

As we move into the 2021–22 influenza season with a surge in COVID-19, vaccination against both viruses will be critical. Despite a good track record for flu vaccines, we can and must do better. As a health care provider, you have a unique opportunity to lead by example as well as dispel these and other common vaccine misconceptions. Here’s what you need to know about this flu season and the importance of getting vaccinated.

Now that the federal government is recommending that many COVID-vaccinated Americans receive booster shots starting this fall, it’s important to know what a “booster” is and how it differs from a “third dose”. As information is being reported in the media on these vaccines, it’s important to separate fact from fiction.

Mark Twain once said, “the report of my death was an exaggeration.” And throughout history, that statement was misquoted many times by those wanting to embellish a misjudged outcome. Given recent news reports of the closing of some hospital retail pharmacies, that exaggeration sounds familiar, yet the outcome is more like a realignment of how the outpatient pharmacy is meeting the needs of health systems in a post-pandemic, transforming health care environment. While some health systems see advantages in selling to or partnering with retail pharmacy chains, others are identifying opportunities to develop their own outpatient pharmacy.

Cyberattacks are at an all-time high, with health care consistently in the top five industries targeted by cyber criminals. Because health system pharmacies rely heavily on networks, software and electronic processes, they have wide exposure to these cyber intrusions. Developing a “downtime plan” for your hospital or health system pharmacy (for use while computers are off-line) can support continuity of care during a cyber security event. Here’s what you need to consider.

Cyber intrusions continue to plague health care organizations and the impact has been heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic as resources and personnel are stretched thin and cyber attackers take advantage of increased vulnerabilities. As we move through the pandemic, we expect the rate and severity of cyber intrusions to rise. Here are five steps that pharmacy leaders can now to prepare and protect against cyber intrusions as well as to limit the impact when they occur.

A cheer went up among Vizient and our members last year when HHS announced the termination of the FDA’s Unapproved Drugs Initiative to curb rising drug costs. Our analysis found that ending the program could protect the U.S. health care system from an additional $7.52 billion of cost. Read why Vizient is advocating for commonsense drug pricing solutions as the Biden Administration and federal regulatory agencies may soon take up the issue.

One of the more recent advancements in pharmaceuticals has been transformative to the management of disease is the discovery and utilization of “monoclonal antibodies” (mAb). Its impact cannot be overstated. Learn more about how mAbs are also playing critical roles, including the fight against COVID-19. 

The drum beat for managing the COVID-19 pandemic from public health leaders continues to be test, test, test. Before investing in new technology, there are several considerations that chief financial officers should consider.

The COVID pandemic has produced many new challenges for hospital-based laboratories. One area that laboratory leaders may find immediate cost reduction opportunities is through a review of utilization and pricing for reference laboratory services.