The PharmCast

A transparent PBM?! We connected with Tyrone Squires, Founder and Manager of TransparentRx. We had not heard about this, as so many community pharmacies are challenged by the strains PBMs put on their business operations, through low drug reimbursements and practically nonexistent dispensing fees. So, we HAD to talk to Tyrone about his perspective and larger quest to provide transparency in the PBM game. He shared what he believes is a more ethical approach to improving the service a PBM can provide to their clients and its impact on pharmacists and patients.

Kristen Jones, PharmD, Treasurer of Wyoming Pharmacists Association and AVP, Pharmacy Strategic Operations at Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company shares her insights and expertise. In this conversation, we discuss risk management for pharmacists working in various practice settings and work conditions. We highlight key steps pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can take to protect their licenses and careers.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-jones-6ba864121/ 

Website: https://phmic.com/landing-professional-pharmacy-pmg 

A conversation with Mariama Boney, LMSW, CAE, CPEC, President and CEO of Achieve More, LLC a consulting firm that brings together human performance and organizational dynamics with a solution-focused approach.  Her team creates safe spaces for association, non-profit, education and corporate transformation through change leadership. She currently serves as chair of the American Society of Association Executives Ethics Committee.  

Ms. Boney is an expert in ethical leadership and has a growing interest in neuroscience related to mindfulness. Pharmacy workforce conditions have been in the news recently, with many of the systemic challenges beyond the correction of the individual. However, her perspectives explore opportunities for those of us who lead and work with people in challenging and toxic environments to make changes in the spaces we can control.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mboney/ 

Website: www.acheivemorellc.com 

Achieve More LLC Solutions to Be Well: https://www.achievemorellc.com/be-well

Assess Burnout: https://www.mindgarden.com/184-maslach-burnout-toolkit

HBR Measure Burnout Accurately and Ethically: https://hbr.org/2021/03/how-to-measure-burnout-accurately-and-ethically

Oath of a Pharmacist: https://www.pharmacist.com/About/Oath-of-a-Pharmacist

ASAE Core Ethical Standards: https://www.asaecenter.org/about-us/policies/code-of-conduct

A conversation with Antonia Ciaccia a long-time association professional and President of 3 Axis Advisors. He has become obsessive about the prescription drug supply chain and pharmacy policy. He is an advocate for open-access, drug price transparency, competitive healthcare markets, and patient-centered care. 3 Axis advisors released a report in the Fall of 2023, Unraveling the Drug Pricing Blame Game. The report highlights the complexities of drug pricing and the alarming impact of PBMs on the cost of medications at the counter and their impact on pharmacy sustainability and access to care provided by pharmacists.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-ciaccia-390879b/ 

Website: https://www.3axisadvisors.com 

This episode is supported by Value Drug. Value Drug Company is a full-line pharmaceutical wholesale purchasing cooperative, located in Duncansville, PA. They distribute specialty medications, pharmaceuticals and non-prescription medications, hospital and convalescent equipment, health and beauty aids, nutritional supplies, and other healthcare-related products to member retail, long-term care, specialty pharmacy, and 340B covered entities. Call Lisa Steptoe at 443-324-1031.

Bled Tanoe is a pharmacy activist focused on workplace protections and patient safety in chain pharmacy. She is the founder of the #pizzaisnotworking movement that has empowered portions of the pharmacy community and shaken up others. In this conversation, we talk a little about her career trajectory and transition from community pharmacy to working in a hospital system. Most of our discussion is about bringing awareness to the working conditions of pharmacists and pharmacy staff as well as the opportunities and challenges in creating change.  Change requires time, collaboration and speaking truth to power.

You can find Bled on LinkedIn and can follow #pizzaisnotworking on most social media platforms.

You can buy pretty much anything online, from anywhere around the world. While this might be beneficial when updating your wardrobe with the latest international fashions, it presents many dangers for those looking to purchase unregulated medications from foreign distributors.

We recently spoke to Shabbir Safdar, Executive Director for The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), a public health group committed to the safety of prescription drugs and protecting consumers against counterfeit, substandard, or otherwise unsafe medicines. With the rise of the digital age, many Americans are now purchasing their medications online from countries like Canada, without considering how access and regulations of all drugs can vary. According to Shabbir, distributors may be advertising that their medications were produced in Canada, yet more likely came from Turkey, India, China, and other countries.

For nearly 10 years, Shabbir has worked with PSM to find and eliminate criminals selling illegal drugs laced with fentanyl and other deadly synthetic substances. In this discussion, Shabbir details how pharmacists are currently combatting the distribution of counterfeit drugs by refusing to purchase medicines from an unlicensed wholesaler. He also shares personal stories of families who’ve lost children due to the consumption of unregulated medications.

Shabbir can be found on the following social media platforms:

Facebook: Shabbir Imber Safdar

LinkedIn: Shabbir Imber Safdar

#MPhA #ThePharmcast #healthcare #medicine #counterfitdrugs

Ryan Burke stumbled upon the world of pharmacy simply by chance. Looking for employment as a teenager, he read a job board at his high school and the only opportunity listed was for a pharmacy clerk at a pharmacy in his hometown. The rest would be history.

Ryan is a pharmacist by trade who currently serves as the Director of Professional Affairs at Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), the first certification organization for pharmacy technicians. PTCB sets out to advance medication safety by credentialing technicians who are qualified to support pharmacists and patient care teams in all practice settings.

In this discussion, Ryan details the importance of exercising his personal and professional networks to keep a pulse on what’s happening within the pharmacy community. He’s often chatting with pharmacy school peers, asking pharmacy employers about the challenges they're facing, and connecting with pharmacy technicians about what they’re seeing develop in the practice. He also talks about varying opinions regarding the Tech-Check-Tech (TCT) process, which allows a pharmacy technician to perform the final check of medications prepared by another technician.

Ryan can be found on the following social media platforms:

Facebook: Ryan Burke

Twitter: @RMBPharmD

LinkedIn: Ryan Burke

#MPhA #ThePharmcast #pharmacytech #healthcare #medicine

Mindy Smith has worn many hats during her career, serving as a community pharmacist, executive director, and chief executive officer for various organizations and associations in the pharmaceutical industry. She is now the Senior Vice President Professional Services for Tabula Rasa HealthCare (TRHC), a healthcare technology company providing medication safety solutions that empower healthcare professionals and consumers to optimize medication regimens, combating medication overload, and reducing adverse drug events.

In this episode, Mindy discusses TRHC’s and MPhA’s recent partnership to promote MedWise Science, a unique software platform that identifies accumulative multi-drug interactions to help manage patients’ medication regimens. Developed by TRHC, MedWise is a vital technology tool that will help pharmacists care for their patients like they’ve never been able to before. THRC is continuing to build relationships with pharmaceutical associations and community pharmacies to reach patients across the nation.

Mindy Smith can be found on LinkedIn at Mindy D. Smith.

#MPhA #ThePharmcast #pharmacy #healthcare #medicine

Mike Wysong is a firm believer in esprit de corps, by which he defines as people collectively working together for the betterment of others. With a career spanning nearly 30 years, Mike is confident that esprit de corps is at the core of all those who choose a career in the pharmaceutical and/or healthcare industry.

Mike is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CARE Pharmacies Cooperative Inc., a growing independent pharmaceutical retail chain having served communities for more than 60 years. During his tenure, CARE Pharmacies has been named on the National Retail Federation (NRF) Hot 100 Retailers List five out of the last six years.

In this episode, Mike Wysong discusses his journey in the healthcare industry and details the dedication he’s witnessed from pharmacist and other healthcare professionals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mike also shares a compelling perspective on the importance of leadership in community pharmacy and adjusting to challenges COVID-19 continues to present for community, retail, and specialty pharmacy.

Mike Wysong can be found on the following social media platform:

Facebook: Michael Wysong

Twitter: @MWysong55

LinkedIn: Mike Wysong

#MPhA #ThePharmcast #community #healthcare #pharmacy

This episode is a conversation with Meroe Rabieifar a multi-hat wearing pharmacist and entrepreneur.  She co-owns independent pharmacies, is co-founder of a unique CBD brand and is a chief pharmacist at the Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment Center, based in Florida. In this conversation, discuss her role as co-founder of PharmaCanna, LLC, where she serves as chief formulator and head of research and development. PharmaCanna is the only CBD company in the country founded and formulated by pharmacists. We talk about the normalization of CBD, its expansion and growth in the health and wellness arena as well her demanding multi-dimensional career and motherhood. PharmaCanna CBD is a corporate partner, MPhA members receive a special coupon code for their purchases www.pharmaCanna.com

https://www.marylandpharmacist.org/