Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research and AACP partnering on specialty pharmacy educational tool

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, HDMA’s non-profit research foundation, and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the national organization representing the interests of pharmacy education, are partnering to provide the nation’s schools of pharmacy a supply chain educational tool surrounding the distribution of specialty pharmaceuticals. This teaching resource was released Thursday in conjunction with a webinar jointly hosted by the Center and AACP. The webinar was made possible through the support of the Cardinal Health Foundation.  

 

This turn-key presentation, titled, “Understanding Specialty Distribution,” outlines characteristics of the specialty pharmaceutical sector, one of the fastest-growing markets in the healthcare industry. The resource, sponsored by Eisai, provides Center data on the processes supporting the movement of medication from the manufacturer (as a finished product) to the customer (including pharmacies, hospitals and clinics).

 

The PowerPoint deck can also be used by manufacturer, distributor and pharmacy presenters/trainers to "on board" new personnel, and, through the partnership with AACP, to train student pharmacists. Additionally, a "notes" feature provides speaking points for each slide and allows the presenter to customize each presentation to their audience’s needs.

 

“This program provides a comprehensive overview of the specialty supply chain, with rich descriptions of the important stakeholder relationships, the economics of bringing specialty products to market and regulatory influences on this unique supply chain,” stated Karen Ribler, EVP and COO of the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research. “We are grateful to Eisai and the Cardinal Health Foundation for supporting this resource, and pleased to partner with AACP to help educate America’s future pharmacists on the mechanics of the specialty supply chain.”  

 

In 2013, the Center partnered with AACP to release “Understanding Distribution,” a curriculum on the processes surrounding the distribution of traditional pharmaceuticals. Supported by a grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation, this resource also was offered to more than 120 college pharmacy programs.

 

“AACP is aware that specialty pharmaceuticals are growing rapidly as powerful tools for patient care,” commented AACP EVP and CEO Lucinda Maine. “Today’s students will be practicing pharmacy well into the middle of this century and must be equipped with the information on supply chain management contained in this valuable Center resource.”