Tracy Virgilio, RN, BSN, CCRC, is the Director of Clinical Research & Patient Advocacy Programs at Associates in Hematology-Oncology, PC, in Upland, Pennsylvania, which is southwest of Philadelphia. Tracy’s practice administers chemotherapy and related medications to oncology patients. Two years ago, Tracy and her colleagues decided to make the move to OncoMed—The Oncology Pharmacy. We asked Tracy how the transition has been for her practice.
How have you come to know OncoMed?
I have come to know OncoMed through our regional sales representative Lisa White; I have known her over the past 20 years. So when she came to me 2 years ago as the sales representative for OncoMed, we had talked about the struggles I had encountered with the big-name pharmacies. I had times where it would take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks to get patients their oral medications, because the fax was lost, the patient needed a prior authorization, or the patient had Medicare only and could not afford the out-of-pocket expense. Lisa explained to me that OncoMed could help with prior authorizations, and even help our patients with copay assistance. So we decided to try them out and we have been using them ever since.
How does their service differ from the way oncology drugs have typically been handled in your practice?
Their service differs in that they tailor their service to our patients’ needs. If we need a drug by a specific day or time, then we have it, which is especially helpful if a patient is on a clinical trial. Patients on clinical trials, once they have signed the consent, need to start treatment within a certain amount of days. In one trial, the sites were responsible for acquiring the medication for the trial and then invoicing the company. I had called Kevin Askari [OncoMed’s President and Chief Clinical Pharmacist] and explained what our needs were for the trial and Kevin was more than accommodating.
Just recently, we had a patient who needed Intron-A. The patient’s insurance company, which was supplying the medication, was unable to provide the medication due to a shortage. Again, I called Kevin, explained the situation and asked him if he knew where we could get the medication. I was on one line, he was on the other line securing the medication from the supplier, and we had it within 2 days for the patient. In my experience, no other pharmacy would do that, and at no other pharmacy would the president of the company get involved at that level.
What are the advantages to the way OncoMed dispenses oncology drugs?
The advantages are: they have great customer service; they dispense only oncology drugs; and we receive our patients’ entire order in time for their chemotherapy. With other pharmacies we would have to wait, or get replacement supply after therapy had begun. With OncoMed, we get what we order. If the patient is ordered Aloxi, OncoMed supplies Aloxi and not a less expensive medication. They are not like other pharmacies that are so big that they can’t cater to the practice or the patient. I know who I am talking to when I call, I know up front what the issues are with the patient, and that gives us a head start in the order so that we know the patient’s treatment will not be delayed.
Does working with OncoMed make your job easier?
OncoMed makes my job easier in that OncoMed works with our practice and with our patients. I know they are working on getting the medication(s) to our patients; they call me to let me know right away if there is a problem; I don’t have to wait 4 to 8 weeks to get the medication, we get it the next day; I don’t have to make numerous phone calls to their pharmacy to get updates; they are able to initiate copay assistance from the start, and the request does not have to travel through many departments before I actually get the answers.
How does OncoMed eliminate waste and save time for your practice?
In the practice setting, we may have only one to five patients over the course of a week getting one particular medication. If the medication can only be used once, the practice would have to waste it. OncoMed premixes the medication according to the orders for our practice. It is more economical for the practice and the medications are ready to go when the patient arrives at the office to be treated.
Kevin Askari, RPH President and Chief Clinical Pharmacist OncoMed
Burt Zweigenhaft CEO, OncoMed
Ellen Scharaga, RPh Senior Vice President
To learn more about OncoMed or to request a presentation, contact OncoMed at 1-877-662-6633, extension 1298 or marketing@oncomed.net, or go to www.oncomed.net.
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