Kelley D. Carlstrom, PharmD, BCOP’s Post

Can you learn everything you need to know as an oncology pharmacist from NCCN? A new-ish oncopharm working at a fairly big center with over 20 pharmacist colleagues told me he doesn’t need to ask his colleagues questions because he has access to NCCN 😳 Great example of not being able to see the label from inside the jar 👀 It’s impossible to get everything you need from NCCN, or any other oncology resource for that matter Why? Because although information can get you far, it can’t get you to the finish line, where you can confidently and effectively manage a patient’s treatment plan. Experience matters. This is why “experiential” education in school is so important - you need to be able to practice and “hear” the language spoken in the real world. After all, it is called “practicing pharmacy”. The way to do this in oncology is to communicate - with your pharmacy, physician, nursing, and other colleagues. To have discussions, hear other people’s viewpoints and thought processes and let them hear yours. Everyone learns and develops more expertise when they surround themselves with others like this. Even if you are the only oncology pharmacist at your site, you can still do this virtually through communities, social media, and networking groups The biggest risk as a pharmacist is drinking your own Kool-Aid and thinking you know enough, or have enough access to resources, that you don’t need other people Oncology is 100% a team sport Application of knowledge is more important than knowledge, and that’s what experience gives you And we have that experience to share inside the ELO Collaborative - tap into the experiences of your peers and over 24 expert pharmacists working in every topic area. You don’t have to do it alone! --- 📌 Start fostering your growth in oncology pharmacy practice by signing up for the Oncology Insights Newsletter 👉 click the LEARN ONCOLOGY link in my profile I’m the Kelley in KelleyCPharmD 👋 and I help pharmacists learn the complex world of oncology #LearnOncology #Pharmacists #OncologyPharmacists #Oncology

There is an interesting trend in oncology residency training 2020: 203 positions, 0 unfilled 2021: 211 positions, 1 unfilled 2022: 222 positions, 3 unfilled 2023: 221 positions, 6 unfilled 2024: 229 positions, 14 unfilled Both the number of positions available and unfilled positions are increasing 🤔 I talked with a pharmacy leader recently that didn’t fill their positions. This is problematic, especially for non-urban centers because their programs are their recruiting pipeline. Which means they will need to put more effort into recruiting, which is already a challenge right now, especially in community and rural settings. It’s not easy learning oncology, but there has never been a better time to be an oncology pharmacist --- 📌 Start fostering your growth in oncology pharmacy practice by signing up for the Oncology Insights Newsletter 👉 click the LEARN ONCOLOGY link in my profile I’m the Kelley in KelleyCPharmD 👋 and I help pharmacists learn the complex world of oncology #LearnOncology #Pharmacists #OncologyPharmacists #Oncology

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) has long advocated for reform of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which currently creates incentives for the current market consolidation. COA also supports site-neutral payments because costs for services can be higher in a hospital than in a practice. "When you have all this incredible consolidation and market dominance, it drives up prices, it reduces convenience for patients, reduces patient access and choice, and is overall just not the cancer care system that we should be striving for." My comments to Aaron Tallent in OBR on #oncology consolidation into #hospitals. https://lnkd.in/eDZGiS_w

💡 In an interview with Pharmacy Times® at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) 2024 Payer Exchange, Lalan Wilfong, M.D., medical oncologist at Thyme Care, emphasizes how value-based care (VBC) in oncology centers around one key principle: putting the patient first. He also explains how understanding each patient's unique needs is critical to delivering personalized care while managing costs. Collaboration between payers and providers is essential to align incentives and improve outcomes. Despite challenges like inflation impacting access to care, innovations in drug therapies and AI offer hope for the future of VBC. Learn more about Dr. Wilfong’s vision for the future of oncology care here: https://lnkd.in/e6awm7x2

Focusing on patient needs and outcomes is vital for success in any VBC program!

Becoming an oncology Clinical Pharmacist ▶️Transitioning from a clinical pharmacist to Oncology clinical pharmacist role requires a combination of knowledge, clinical skills, communication abilities,and a commitment to ongoing professional growth. 👉When pharmacists are well equipped with the essential skills and competencies, pharmacists can make a meaningful impact in cancer care, contributing to improved patient outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by cancer. #oncology #cancercare #pharmacypractice #pharmacyeducation #training #residency #fellowship #pharmd #specialtypharmacy Dr.Pravallika Vutukuru Chris Elder, PharmD, BCOP Manoj Kumar Yadava

Karen Fancher, PharmD, BCOP, shares insights from her presentation at the HOPA Annual Conference 2024, delving into the ethical complexities faced by oncology pharmacists. From balancing beneficence and non-maleficence to navigating drug shortages, her discussion sheds light on crucial considerations in patient care. Read more about the intersection of science and morals in oncology pharmacy: https://lnkd.in/gpJWG9ZP #OncologyPharmacy #EthicalDilemmas #HealthcareEthics #PharmacyNews

Oncology clinical trials can be complex. Whether you are new to #oncologytrials or an experienced #clinicalresearch professional already in oncology clinical research, attending a high-quality training program is essential. Join us for a 10-week deep dive into the unique challenges of oncology trial management, and come away with strategies you can implement to successfully conduct and manage these trials: https://bit.ly/3ttTINZ #clinicaltrials #clinicalstudies #clinicalresearchtraining #clinicaloperations #clinicalresearchcoordinator #clinicalresearchassociate

Oncology clinical trials can be complex. Whether you are new to #oncologytrials or an experienced #clinicalresearch professional already in oncology clinical research, attending a high-quality training program is essential. Join us for a 10-week deep dive into the unique challenges of oncology trial management, and come away with strategies you can implement to successfully conduct and manage these trials: https://bit.ly/3ttTINZ #clinicaltrials #clinicalstudies #clinicalresearchtraining #clinicaloperations #clinicalresearchcoordinator #clinicalresearchassociate

Oncology pharmacy staffing survey... "Oncology pharmacy operations and staffing models are unique to each pharmacy and practice setting. The results of the pharmacy staffing model survey provide an insight into operations across the country and highlight a need for staffing model benchmarking and metrics" Wechter et al (2024).