Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health's first in-house specialty pharmacy is in full operation, the health system announced July 30. It initially opened in May.
Inova Pharmacy Plus, at the Schar Cancer Institute, retains and dispenses specialty drugs that can be hard to obtain for patients with complicated, chronic diseases. The pharmacy aims to ensure these drugs are in stock and affordable.
A pharmacy program connects patients with liaisons to help them navigate insurance problems, secure medication authorization, obtain financial assistance and improve medication adherence. The pharmacy also offers follow-up home care.
"For patients with cancer, a delay in care is really care denied," said Melanie Massiah-White, executive director and chief pharmacy officer of Inova Health. "From diagnosis and treatment to patient follow-up at home, our in-house specialty pharmacy is designed to meet every cancer patient’s immediate and long-term health needs. We look forward to expanding the specialty pharmacy program to other chronic disease programs across Inova."
More articles on pharmacy:
Pfizer to merge off-patent business with Mylan
Senate panel advances drug-pricing legislation
Clinics leaving family planning program may have to toss thousands of dollars worth of drugs