To mark PQA's 20th anniversary, PQS Managing Director Todd Sega sits down with Laura Cranston, the founding CEO who built PQA from a one-person shop into the most influential pharmacy quality measurement organization in the country.

Laura traces PQA's origins to April 2006, just months after Medicare Part D launched, talks about the alliance’s growth, the groundwork for what would eventually become the EQUIPP platform, and the broader pharmacy quality infrastructure in use today.

The conversation turns to the seismic shift in the CY2027 Final Rule and what it means that pharmacy-accountable clinical measures now command roughly 50% of a Medicare Advantage plan's Star Rating. Laura calls it a game changer, arguing that health plans simply cannot navigate this new environment without doubling down on their partnerships with community pharmacy.

The episode closes with a look ahead at where AI and technology are taking quality measurement from faster measure development to the shift from retrospective accountability toward proactive, near-real-time quality improvement.

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Blair Thielemier, a pharmacist, and PQS Customer Success EQUIPP Copilot Specialist, shares her experience leading a group of 12 healthcare professionals on a nine-day Healing Medicine Retreat through Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, a trip designed to help providers unplug, recharge, and reconnect with themselves.

This episode, hosted by PQS Associate Director of Pharmacy Accounts Nick Dorich, covers why providers struggle to truly unplug, how the retreat is intentionally structured to address that (private villa, customized meals, wildlife excursions, yoga, and meditation), and how the experience can carry over into healthier daily habits back home. Blair also touches on the group dynamic — like-minded professionals vetted through 1:1 calls — and announces upcoming retreats in November 2026 and April 2027. 

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This special Diabetes Alert Day episode of the Quality Corner Show focuses on how pharmacy teams can move beyond dispensing to become proactive leaders in chronic disease management.

Host Ashley Ramer, MSN,RN, is joined by Terilyn St. Pierre, BSN, RN, to discuss the critical role of Hemoglobin A1C testing in the pharmacy setting. With 1 in 10 U.S. adults living with diabetes, and many unaware of their status, the pharmacy serves as a frequent and accessible touchpoint for closing essential care gaps.

In this episode, we cover the power of immediacy, clinical essentials, EQUIPP resources and a step by step demonstration. 

 In this episode of the PQS Quality Corner Show, hosts Kerri Musselman and Emily Endres celebrate Heart Health Month by exploring the critical link between community pharmacy, maternal health, and cardiovascular wellness. Their guest, Andrea Brookhart (Director of Population Health and Wellness at Kroger), shares her insights as both a clinical leader and a mother of twins.

This episode touches on the Pharmacist as an accessible ally, the "Silent Killer" and prevention, gender differences in cardiac care, the "Mom Factor,” and self-care.

Dr. Andrea Brookhart is a community pharmacist who is passionate about helping people live healthier lives.  In her role, she develops and implements Kroger Health’s strategy for achieving population health via value-based care.  She believes community-based providers are uniquely poised to improve healthcare quality and decrease cost by delivering preventive healthcare and improving medication use.

Dr. Brookhart is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Community-based Pharmacy Residency Program a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist.

In this first episode for 2026, Host Kerri Musselman, PharmD, BCACP, introduces Ashley Ramer, MSN, RN, to discuss the launch of EQUIPP Academy, a new educational platform designed to help pharmacy teams navigate value-based care and non-dispensing revenue opportunities. The conversation focuses on making clinical education accessible for busy pharmacy staff without interrupting patient care. 

EQUIPP Academy is structured around "micro-learning" modules. Most lessons are 5 minutes or less, allowing staff to gain essential knowledge on-demand during small gaps in their schedule.

Who Should Participate: The academy is designed for all pharmacy team members, from new hires to seasoned staff, who handle EQUIPP data or patient outreach.

Your pharmacy team can get started at https://equippacademy.com/

This episode of the Pharmacy Quality Solutions (PQS) Quality Corner Show features host Nick Dorich and returning guest Jesse McCullough, founder of Keystone Pharmacy Insights. Together, they reflect on the evolving landscape of pharmacy in 2025, focusing on the critical need for continuous learning and interpersonal leadership. 

The discussion centers on the idea that in a rapidly changing healthcare environment, staying stagnant is equivalent to falling behind. Key takeaways cover: The Power of Personal Connection, The Learner’s Mindset, A New Definition of Competition, and Clinical Empathy

How to contact Jesse McCullough and Keystone Insights:

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Quality Corner Show Host Nick Dorich, PharmD, welcomes back Richard Waithe, PharmD, COO of Pyrls, to discuss the integration of Pyrls with EQUIPP Copilot and how this can supercharge clinical pharmacy workflow.

This episode focuses on how this powerful combination is helping pharmacists improve patient outreach, enhance consultations, and drive better health outcomes by dramatically improving access to essential drug information.

This episode of the Pharmacy Quality Solutions Quality Corner Show explores the critical, coordinated efforts between health plans and pharmacies to improve patient health outcomes, particularly in light of National Diabetes Month (November), recognizing that over 38 million Americans live with diabetes.

Podcast Host Kerri Musselman, Director, Clinical Transformation, Pharmacy at PQS by Innovaccer discusses with guest Bahar Davidoff, VP, Clinical Programs & Pharmacy with SCAN Health Plan, insights on how community pharmacies can transition from a focus on prescription dispensing revenue to a successful clinical service model.

In this episode of the Quality Corner Show, PQS by Innovaccer host Emily Endres speaks with Anthony Thakar, a pharmacist at King's Pharmacy in Brooklyn, New York, about how his team is using the EQUIPP Copilot to improve patient care and streamline their workflow. King's Pharmacy is a busy operation, filling 1,200 to 1,500 prescriptions per week with a 12-13 person staff.

In this interview, Thakar explains his pharmacy's team-based approach to patient care and how EQUIPP Copilot provides seamless integration.

In this episode of the PQS by Innovaccer Quality Corner Show, host Stephanie Hale spoke with Katherine Weiss, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Lead Pharmacy Technician, and Manager at Kashat Pharmacy, about how their independent community pharmacy in Michigan prioritizes quality care through the strategic use of tools like EQUIPP.

Katherine explains how the pharmacy integrates EQUIPP into their daily workflow and specifies which programs are the most helpful. She provides helpful tips in using EQUIPP including how to maintain focus during busy seasons.