Beyond the Sig: Prescription for Transformative Pharmacy Care

The Vision for the Role of the Pharmacist in 2022 with Dr. Thomas Franko, PharmD

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Franko, PharmD, president of the Pennsylvania Pharmacist's Association talks with Todd Eury, CEO & Founder of the Pharmacy Podcast Network about his 'Vision for the Role of the Pharmacist in 2022'.
Most people see pharmacists behind the counter dispensing pills and occasionally giving advice on prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications; they may sometimes remind customers of preventive screenings or flu shots. But pharmacists are capable of much more. As part of their professional degree, they receive extensive training on medication management to optimize treatment options, manage medication side effects, interactions and duplications, interpret lab results, perform physical exams, and administer vaccines. --from Deloitte Insights
The pandemic increased opportunities for pharmacists to deliver hands-on care. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gave pharmacists the authority to order and administer COVID-19 tests, childhood vaccines (3–18 years of age), and COVID-19 vaccines.4 Subsequently, pharmacists, interns, and pharmacy technicians were on the front lines, testing for COVID-19, giving shots, and educating the public, all the while keeping their doors open throughout the pandemic. These efforts elevated the public's perception of pharmacists and offset the burden on other parts of the health care system, providing an opportunity for the profession to redefine its role and value.
About Dr. Thomas Franko, PharmD
Dr. Franko is the PPA's on-coming President for 2022. After service as a clinical pharmacist in outpatient chronic pain management, Dr. Franko joined Wilkes University in 2013. He maintains an ambulatory care practice site with the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Kingston, PA. He is involved with medication therapy management for several chronic diseases, especially pain management, at the Wright Center. Along with pharmacy students, Dr. Franko trains pharmacy and medical residents from Moses Taylor Hospital and The Wright Center. He is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association. His interests are in pain management, substance use disorder and harm reduction strategies.
Education and Training
Doctor of Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA
Pharmacy Practice Residency, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA
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Diabetes Self Management Education Patient Empowerment | Beyond the Sig

In today’s episode, we welcome Jerry Meece, who is a major leader in diabetes management with nearly 25 years of experience. We discuss how diabetes education has evolved from a knowledge-based approach to a patient empowerment-based approach. Jerry also discussed the 10 minute consult that he created and how that can be implemented in your DSMES practice. He provides encouraging advice about how pharmacists can become more involved in diabetes management at a higher level.  
References: PSAD Special Issue PaperTrends in diabetes self-management education
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dme.14256
Diabetes Self Management Education Patient Empowerment
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Diabetes Self Management Education & Support | Beyond the Sig

In this month’s episode, we welcome pharmacist, Dr. Nicole Pezzino, who has a myriad of experience with DSMES from student and resident to a nationwide coach. Dr. Pezzino received her PharmD degree from the University of Pittsburgh and continued her training as a community pharmacy resident at UNC. She is now an associate professor, the Director of Community Outreach and Innovation, and the PGY1 community pharmacy residency director at Wilkes University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-pezzino-pharmd/
Dr. Pezzino shares personal stories of the impact a pharmacist can make on building relationships with patients in order to individualize their diabetes care. A recent article published in March 2020 found that pharmacy students who taught DSMES classes had a significant improvement in their clinical knowledge and confidence. Dr. Pezzino has seen similar results in her own practice with the pharmacy students on APPE rotations she integrates into DSMES.
https://www.ajpe.org/content/84/3/7621.full
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Beyond the Sig LIVE!! Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association Annual Conference Summary Podcast. 
Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen pharmacists Level Up, demonstrating innovation, resilience, and our collective power to be an integral part of the healthcare team. 
The PPA’s theme is all about Pennsylvania’s Pharmacists ability to LEVEL UP!! The Annual Conference took place on Friday, September 24th through Sunday, September 26th at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel - in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 
Dr. Isabelle Litvak, PharmD --the host of Beyond the Sig!
PGY1 Community-Based Resident Wilkes University/Weis Markets
Lambda Kappa Sigma, Alumni-Collegiate Ambassador 2020-2022
We are excited to be back in-person for the 2021 PPA Annual Conference at the Harrisburg Hilton. This year’s conference theme is Level Up, and this could not be more true over the past year for all involved in the pharmacy profession. We are excited to have our signature events return such as our Exhibit Hall, Student Diabetes and Lip Sync Competition, and our Annual Leadership and Awards Dinner.
We also will have continuing education sessions throughout the weekend in a variety of pharmacy topics. We hope you join us for our first live event back.
https://www.papharmacists.com/page/Annual
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Diabetes, Drugs, and Diet: Collaborations Between Pharmacists and Dietitians | Beyond the Sig

On our inaugural show we chat with, Lyndi Wieand, Weis Markets In-Store Registered Dietitian about her role in DSMES. Diet is a significant portion of diabetes management that is unfortunately sometimes overlooked. An article recently published in 2018, Diabetes and Diet: A Patient and Dietitian's Perspective, discusses the challenges that Type 2 Diabetes patients face when trying to lose weight, especially while taking insulin therapy. The dietitian plays a vital role in the management of carbohydrate awareness while concurrently minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. Because of this, utilizing the dietitian in DSMES classes can have a positive impact on patients' health.  Isabelle Litvak, PharmD & Rachel Hay, PharmD are the new hosts of season 2 of Beyond the Sig for the DSMES Podcast Series powered by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association. The podcast’s goal is to bring awareness to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support and how individuals like you play a role in educating both patients and health care practitioners. Today we discussed the DSMES classes from the dietitian's perspective. We hear about Lyndi's DSMES successes, challenges, and personal stories overcoming patient barriers during her three-year experience. Reference Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6167292/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7605030/ Today's guest is Lyndi Wieand, MHSc, RDN, LDN. Lyndi graduated from the University of Vermont in 2016 with a B.S. in Dietetics, Nutrition and Food Science, then completed her Dietetic Internship at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA in 2018. She passed her Registered Dietitian credentialing exam in June 2018 and was hired at Weis Markets as an In-Store Registered Dietitian in August of that year. Lyndi covers the Lehigh Valley regional area, but primarily work in the Allentown and Schnecksville stores. In May 2021, she graduated with her Master of Health Sciences degree from Cedar Crest College and volunteers as a preceptor for the Cedar Crest Dietetic Internship, volunteer with the Bethlehem YWCA Diabetes Coalition, and is a Certified Group Lifestyle Balance Coach for the Diabetes Prevention Program. Lyndi also serves as the President of the Lehigh Valley Dietetic Association. Lyndi Wieand, MHSc, RDN, LDN Lehigh Valley In-Store Dietitian Weis Markets, Inc. Our hosts: Dr. Isabelle Litvak, PharmD is a 2021 graduate from St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dr. Litvak is currently pursuing a PGY-1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency with Weis Markets and Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy where she participates in collaborative care in both the community and ambulatory care setting, caring for patients with chronic diseases like diabetes. Dr. Rachel Hay PharmD is a PGY-1 community pharmacy resident at Duquesne University and the Center for Pharmacy Care. She is a recent 2021 PharmD graduate from the University of Michigan. Rachel is passionate about diabetes management and education, especially in underserved populations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Flip the Pharmacy: 1 Year Later | Beyond the Sig

In March of 2020, we launched Beyond the Sig by hosting Randy McDonough, Director of Practice Transformation of Flip the Pharmacy, to discuss how the Flip the Pharmacy initiative was supporting pharmacies in practice transformation.  
During this episode of Beyond the Sig, PPCN Executive Director Stephanie McGrath sits down with Randy virtually to reflect on the past year, how Flip the Pharmacy has supported pharmacies through the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight some of the brightest innovations demonstrated by participating pharmacies.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Demonstrating Value Through A Patient Care Program | Beyond the Sig

On this episode of Beyond the Sig, third-year student pharmacist Brooke Kulusich chats with Eric Yarnell, Vice President of Pharmacy at Gateway Health. He brings both pharmacist and payer perspectives as a member of the Flip the Pharmacy Payer Advisory Board. In this conversation, Eric shares how Gateway Health has worked with a community pharmacy network to implement a patient care program and how community pharmacy enhanced services bring value to health plans.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Not All Heroes Wear Capes | Beyond the Sig

Skippack Pharmacy has been leading mass COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the Schwenksville, Pennsylvania community and their efforts have gained national attention. You might recognize Skippack’s owner as the Superman pharmacist recently featured on Good Morning America. Today, we will hear from two members of the Skippack team, who have been working behind the scenes to help Skippack Pharmacy administer over 10,000 COVID-19 vaccines.
On this episode of Beyond the Sig, third-year student pharmacist Brooke Kulusich chats with Skippack Pharmacy intern, Erica Mabry, and American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Chief of Governance & State Affiliates and Executive Director of the APhA Foundation, Mitch Rotholz, who is the policy lead for immunizations for the profession. They share their experiences working together to coordinate these clinics and their perspectives on the future of community pharmacy practice transformation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Vaccine Every 12 Seconds: Strategies for COVID-19 Vaccine Success | Beyond Sig

On this episode of Beyond the Sig, student pharmacist Brooke Kulusich chats with Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network Luminary Molly Beimel, PharmD  of St. Marys Pharmacy in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. This independent pharmacy has been a leader in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, providing over 8,700 COVID-19 vaccines. Molly shares her pharmacy’s step-by-step process for successful vaccine clinics, social media tips, and strategies to engage students and staff.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Road to Provider Status: Lessons from Ohio | Beyond Sig

On this episode of Beyond the Sig, third-year student pharmacist Brooke Kulusich chats with Kevin Day, PharmD, President of Day’s Miami Heights Pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio and Managing Network Facilitator of CPESN Ohio. Kevin shares his insight into the network’s efforts to provide enhanced patient care services and the implications of provider status for pharmacists in Ohio.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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