Being diagnosed with a complex or chronic condition like an autoimmune disease, cancer, or neurological condition can feel overwhelming, even if patients are hopeful about starting a new specialty medication prescribed by their doctor. When embarking on their treatment journey, patients may wonder how to take medication correctly, what the side effects will be, and who to turn to with questions.
The good news is that patients don't have to navigate new treatments alone. Specialty pharmacies can provide a connected treatment team and integrated experience to help patients feel more confident and cared for throughout their journeys. Here are a few ways this comes to life when navigating complex care.
Using Your Specialty Medication Safely
Safe treatment begins before the first dose of medication. Asking questions before starting a new prescription can help patients feel more comfortable in an already stressful situation and ensure safe prescription use and adherence.
Before starting treatment, a specialty pharmacy care team provides education on a variety of topics including how and when to use medications, proper administration techniques, how to store and handle medications, potential side effects to watch for, and when and where to turn with questions. Patients can feel more confident and capable navigating treatment when they have this information from the start – and when they know who to turn to for extra support.
A specialty pharmacy can be an integral piece of the care journey, starting at step one, with a team that works alongside patients and practitioners to provide expert guidance and coordination.
Putting Coordinated Specialty Care Into Practice
Part of what makes specialty treatment complex is the many people and organizations involved, including patients, providers, specialists, insurance plans, caregivers and specialty pharmacy teams. Coordination ensures all these different points of care work together. Teams that are connected and share information can help prevent patients from receiving conflicting instructions or feeling uncertain about treatment.
Some examples of coordination that can occur behind the scenes include benefits verification, prior authorization support, medication delivery coordination, and communication between healthcare providers and specialty pharmacy teams. Each of these steps is crucial to getting medication safely and effectively, and a specialty pharmacy team helps connect those dots on the patient’s behalf. For example, when a new patient is referred to BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy, an admissions team triages with the patient’s insurance company and doctor’s office to determine if the prescription can be filled immediately or whether the team needs to coordinate on completion and submission of any necessary paperwork.
Coordinated care can also help reduce delays in treatment, improve access to information and create a more seamless experience for patients and their caregivers. Patients receive clear information, face less uncertainty about the details of treatment, and have questions addressed promptly throughout the process, which can encourage proper use and adherence.
Support Doesn’t Stop After the First Prescription
Complex and chronic conditions are not “one-size-fits-all,” and they are not just a one-time event. Conditions may change over time, and care needs may change as well, bringing new questions, side effects or concerns. Likewise, the support offered by a specialty pharmacy doesn’t stop after the first dose of medication.
Continued coordination between patients, providers and specialty pharmacy teams can help patients navigate changes in health or concerns that arise as they start and continue their treatment. Patients can seek ongoing support through services such as medication check-ins, refill coordination and access to pharmacists. Throughout their treatment journey, a BioPlus patient can speak with their team or a pharmacist about their medication experience for guidance on medication-related questions, potential side effects, and concerns that may require coordination with their prescribing provider.
With these steps, specialty pharmacies help patients and their care teams stay connected throughout treatment, going beyond what’s expected.
Taking an Active Role in Specialty Care
Providers, specialty pharmacies and caregivers all play important roles in treating complex conditions, but patients remain at the center of the care team.
Encouraging patients to be their own advocates is key to a well-functioning care team. If something doesn’t feel right or they are unsure of a treatment step, they should be empowered to speak up when questions or concerns come to mind rather than waiting until their next appointment. Asking proactive questions is an important part of managing a complex treatment plan.
There are many ways patients can stay engaged in their care, such as keeping a record of symptoms, side effects or changes in how they feel. They can also maintain a list of medications and dosing schedules, use smartphone reminders or calendars to stay on track with treatment, prepare questions ahead of appointments and, most importantly, alert the care team to any challenges with treatment.
Taking these actions can make it easier to share information with providers and pharmacists, which can help care teams make more informed decisions and address concerns earlier.
When patients, providers, and specialty pharmacy teams share information and stay connected, they can work together to navigate challenges and support treatment goals.
Specialty Care Is a Team Effort
Starting a specialty medication can feel like a major step, but specialty care works best when patients are supported by a connected team. From education before the first dose to ongoing guidance throughout treatment, providers, caregivers and specialty pharmacy teams can help patients navigate questions, manage challenges and stay informed along the way.
Every treatment journey is unique, but no patient (or their caregiver) should have to navigate it alone. With coordinated care, clear communication and dependable support, patients can move forward with greater confidence and a stronger sense of control.
For more information, visit bioplusrx.com.
