practice in focus
Creating a Collaborative Community Environment
NCODA is committed to creating a collaborative community environment, providing a platform for practice members to share everyday experiences and help one another succeed. Each month, our Practice in Focus participants have the opportunity to talk about their practice during the NCODA International Monthly Webinar. Practice in Focus is an ideal way to highlight the work being done within our members’ facilities while connecting cancer care specialists.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Horn, PharmD
Maryland Oncology Hematology
PRACTICE IN FOCUS
Maryland Oncology Hematology
Discover how Maryland Oncology Hematology is enhancing patient care across 16 locations in Maryland and Washington DC. In our latest “Practice in Focus” interview, Courtney Horn, PharmD, shares how her team leverages NCODA resources like the Oral Chemo Education Sheets, navigates the challenges of insurance and reimbursements, and advocates for better access to medications. Courtney also discusses her journey with NCODA, the practice’s contributions, and offers insights into how industry partners can better support integrated pharmacy teams. Read the full interview to learn more about their impactful work.
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Q: Tell us a little be about your practice.
A: We have 16 locations throughout Maryland and Washington DC, with one dispensary serving all locations. Due to State laws, as far as physician dispensing, we cannot put refills on a prescription, and we cannot ship to patients. So they do have to come into the office to physically pick up their medications. We do the benefits investigation, the prior else, financial assistance, we fill what we can, and then we also handle triaging, what has to be sent out to specialty pharmacy, and we follow those scripts to the first fill to make sure the patients get their medications.
Q: Why did you join NCODA?
A: Initially, it was more that I was desperate for a good resource and connecting with people that do the same thing because I was really new to the oral oncology space and like Medically Integrated Dispensing. So really I just wanted to be able to meet people who do similar things and bounce ideas off of each other, and it’s been great for that! Plus all the resources like the Oral Chemo Education Sheets and PQIs. It’s been even more than I could have asked for.
Q: How are you / your practice involved with NCODA?
A: Personally, I have attended a couple of the meetings over the past couple of years, and we participated in a PQI in action. I attended that first meeting, and then from there, things kind of took off. I attend the webinars and so do my technicians. Something I’m trying to do is get my technicians more aware of opportunities for technicians and get them involved. I am also just starting as an NCODA Regional Leader.
Q: Could you speak on the value of a particular NCODA resource that you use?
A: I would say myself and other pharmacists live and breathe the Oral Chemo Education Sheets, those are our go-to. But also, I’ve just gotten so much value out of the meetings, not just getting to network, but also all the educational sessions and getting to hear how other people do things or getting new ideas of how we can kind of improve our services and to accommodate our patients.
Q: What are some challenges you face now or anticipate you will face in the future of oncology?
A: I feel like we struggle so much with the insurance and reimbursements on prescriptions, fighting for prescriptions to be able to be filled in office versus the PBM-owned specialty pharmacies. Something our practice is really big on is legislation. Myself, one of our doctors, and a patient recently testified at the Maryland Senate and House hearings earlier this year on anti-steering legislation.
Q: How can industry partners better support the Medically Integrated Team/Pharmacy?
A: The big thing is, when they bring new drugs to market, is bringing them as limited distribution. This helps us a lot as far as access. Some companies are changing the access for drugs that have already been on the market and making them limited distribution. We are able to pull back some of those prescriptions. Another opportunity is the availability of vouchers. This helps, because we can get patients started and do that first fill in office and provide that education so we know they have a solid start, even if we can’t continue to fill.
Share Your Experience
The Practice in Focus application process is simple and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Once an application is submitted, NCODA will help develop an online profile for your practice. To be considered:
- An application must be completed and submitted by an NCODA member.
- One person from each facet of your practice/organization’s medically-integrated team (i.e., provider, nurse, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, financial counselor, etc.) must be an NCODA member.
- One or more members of your medically-integrated team must agree to present during the National Monthly Webinar as the featured practice for Practice In Focus.
PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS
Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute
MISSION STATEMENT/PHILOPSOPHY:
To provide the most powerful team of cancer experts investing in the health of our patients by pursuing the most advanced and innovative treatment methods and providing unrelenting dedication to our patients.
LOCATIONS:
Tulsa Oklahoma
Bartlesville Oklahoma
McAlester Oklahoma
PRACTICE DETAILS (how many providers, how many employees, etc):
10 Medical Oncologists
4 Gyn Oncologists
4 Rad. Oncologists
3 Dermatologists specializing in cancer
14 Mid-levels
2 Pharm. Ds
QUALIFICATIONS/CREDENTIALS (are you QOPI certified, etc.):
QOPI Certified
ACHC Certified Specialty/Oncology Pharmacy
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACY SERVICES STAFF W/ BRIEF BIO:
Darrell Willyard Pharm. D.
Linda Purdom RN OCN
Shelly Striplin Pharmacy Tech
Orlando Franco Pharmacy Tech, MA
DISPENSING TYPE (RETAIL VS DISPENSARY):
Oklahoma Licensed Retail Pharmacy
SERVICES PROVIDED (BONE MARROW, RADIATION, CHEMO):
62 Chair infusion Suite (Tulsa) 14 Chairs (Bartlesville) 12 chairs (McAlester)
Radiation (Tulsa)
Dermatology (Mohs Surgery) Tulsa
WHY DID YOU JOIN NCODA?
Terrific way to meet and share ideas with other people with similar jobs/goals.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US?
Mike Reff called and spoke to me.
HOW CAN NCODA HELP YOU?
My favorite part is networking at meetings.
As a small pharmacy with only 1 retail pharmacist- I appreciate the PQI and Oral Chemo Drug information sheets. These save me time and manpower in having the work performed for me.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH NCODA?
I am open to helping in any way that I am needed.
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACE NOW OR WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE OF ONCOLOGY?
We are working hard to manage DIR fees and to stop the outflow of prescriptions to other Specialty Pharmacies.
Beacon Cancer Care
MISSION STATEMENT/PHILOPSOPHY:
To meet patients wherever they are on their cancer journey and walk with them on that journey; to provide compassionate, personalized cancer care for an unparalleled patient experience.
LOCATIONS:
Coeur D’ Alene, ID
PRACTICE DETAILS (how many providers, how many employees, etc):
3 MO/DO
2 ARNP
20-25 employees
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACY SERVICES STAFF W/ BRIEF BIO:
From Left to Right: Nicole Davis CPhT Oral Chemotherapy, Beverly Ward PharmD, Valerie Frodin CPhT IV Infusions)
DISPENSING TYPE (RETAIL VS DISPENSARY):
Medically Integrated Dispensing (MID)
SERVICES PROVIDED (BONE MARROW, RADIATION, CHEMO):
Patient Centered Care
IV Chemo Infusions
On-site MID
Genetic Testing
Clinical Trials
Nutrition Counseling
Financial Counseling
WHY DID YOU JOIN NCODA?
I was shown NCODA by a fellow member and I appreciated all of the resources NCODA offered.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US?
Referred by a team member.
HOW CAN NCODA HELP YOU?
By assisting Beacon in our Mission to provide the highest quality patient centered care with treatment support kits, education and the latest news in oncology.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH NCODA?
Encouraging more co-workers to join NCODA, everyone can benefit!
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACE NOW OR WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE OF ONCOLOGY?
Being a newly opened, smaller clinic can be challenging in an environment where privately owned clinics are dwindling. NCODA offers the support we need to have the latest news in treatment and great support and education options for patients.
Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long
MISSION STATEMENT/PHILOPSOPHY:
Our vision is to provide an exceptional, unsurpassed health care experience at the Cone Health Cancer care program. Our mission is to create a patient-centered, safe, high-quality, comprehensive program to meet the needs of our community. Through an empowered team, we will provide outstanding, collaborative, coordinated care with empathy and compassion that will exceed our patients, customers and communities expectations.
LOCATIONS:
Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long – Greensboro, NC
Cone Health Cancer Center at Annie Penn- Reidsville, NC
Cone Health Cancer Center at Alamance Regional – Burlington, NC
Cone Health Cancer Center at MedCenter High Point – High Point, NC
Cone Health Cancer Center at MedCenter Mebane – Mebane, NC
Randolph Health Cancer Center – Asheboro, NC
PRACTICE DETAILS (how many providers, how many employees, etc):
19 Medical Oncologists/Hematologists, 5 Gynecologic Oncologists, 1 Neuro-Oncologist
13 Advance Practice Providers
11 Oncology Pharmacists
1 Director of Oncology Pharmacy Services
1 Oncology Informatics Pharmacist
2 Oral Chemotherapy Pharmacists
2 Oral Oncology Specialty Patient Advocates
2 IV Drug Assistance Patient Advocates
1 Ambulatory Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Resident
QUALIFICATIONS/CREDENTIALS (are you QOPI certified, etc.):
Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) certified
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC)
Radiation Oncology (American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited)
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACY SERVICES STAFF W/ BRIEF BIO:
DISPENSING TYPE (RETAIL VS DISPENSARY):
Retail pharmacy (Medically Integrated Pharmacy)
6 Medical offices with chemotherapy infusion suites
SERVICES PROVIDED (BONE MARROW, RADIATION, CHEMO):
CHCC offers outpatient chemotherapy (oral and infusion) services, inpatient chemotherapy, radiation oncology, specialty pharmacy services, genetics testing and counseling, nutrition support, clinical social workers, financial counselors, patient support and cancer survivorship programs. The CHCC pharmacy team support learners from four colleges of pharmacy and two PGY1 pharmacy residency programs. Our pharmacists are dedicated preceptors to our ASHP accredited, PGY2 Ambulatory Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Residency which began in 2005. We have an active clinical trials program receiving NCI and ASCO recognition for high-quality clinical research and excellence in patient enrollments among community oncology practices.
WHY DID YOU JOIN NCODA?
I joined NCODA to collaborate with similar community oncology practices dedicated to excellence in patient care and to participate in the numerous educational opportunities including PQI, Oral Chemo Education Sheets, and Clinical Corner Webinars.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A MEMBER?
I joined NCODA online. Becoming a NCODA member is quick and easy.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT US? I learned about NCODA from colleagues and by reading an issue of Oncolytics Today.
HOW CAN NCODA HELP YOU? NCODA offers an oncology resource team from across the country to share knowledge, best practices, valuable experience and educational opportunities. NCODA provides engaging, up-to-date education for our patients and for colleagues.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MORE INVOLVED WITH NCODA?
Our passion is to educate and empower patients, colleagues and future colleagues to the highest quality, personalized, cancer care. I would like to see our students and residents involved in NCODA activities including Student Educational Talks (SETs), Oncology Journal Clubs, etc. I would also like to expand and promote NCODA’s Intravenous Chemotherapy Education (IVE).
WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACE NOW OR WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE OF ONCOLOGY?
1) Financial barriers to oral oncology agents
2) Excessive out-of-pocket costs for IV chemotherapy medications
3) Creating and maintaining oncology treatment plans in the electronic medical record
4) Staying current with payer requirements including biosimilars
RESOURCES
Cost Avoidance Waste Tracker
PQI in Action
OCE Sheets
IVE Sheets
Treatment Support Kits
PQI Podcast
Members
Member Resources
OPTA
Committees
Member Login
Events
Webinars
Spring Forum
Oncology Institute
PSO Annual Meeting
Fall Summit
315-655-4640
P.O. Box 468
Cazenovia, NY 13035
