Snehal Doshi, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy services for Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health System, spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about the disruptors that have his attention and the skills pharmacy leaders need in today's rapidly changing healthcare climate.
Editor's Note: Responses were edited for length and clarity.
Question: What skills are essential for pharmacy leaders in today's healthcare climate?
Dr. Snehal Doshi: Pharmacy leaders need business acumen to increase the value of care we provide. Improving care requires a proactive, innovative approach to the way pharmacy business is conducted. Priorities should align with the business goals. In addition, leaders must anticipate challenges before they arise and must keep up with industry trends.
In this ever-changing healthcare climate, it is important for pharmacists to possess resiliency and adaptability to lead others through the pace of change and also promote the pharmacy profession's expanded scope of practice
Q: When it comes to managing drug spend, what advice would you offer other pharmacy leaders?
SD: When managing drug spend, do not just look at controlling costs. Instead, attempt to increase value. Engage with your vendors and partners in value-based contracts and risk-share models. Also, if possible, attempt to insource pharmacy services. This will also help expand the pharmacy scope of practice at your organization. In addition, conduct medication use evaluations frequently for appropriate utilization of medications.
Q: What disruptors have your attention? Why?
SD: There is a lot of great work happening in the field. Two that have my attention are InPharmD and OncoAnalytics. InPharmD is disrupting the drug information platform by making data and literature available to support our clinical practice decisions. The platform makes evidence-based medicine a reality for clinical staff. OncoAnalytics is disrupting cancer care by using cutting-edge disruptive technology to improve patient care, consumption and outcomes.