Pharmacy Practice

4 Ways to Combat the DIR Fee Hit Coming Next Year

2024-02-07T13:04:14-06:00November 9th, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, News Release, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , |

Did you miss the one hour webinar from ACA Corporate Member, WaypointRx – on “4 Ways to Combat the DIR Fee Hit Coming Next Year”

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

As most of you know by now, we are facing a significant headwind the first half of next year with the double DIR fee hit (the DIR Fee hangover). There are things you can do to help mitigate the hit to your cash flow right away. Please join us for a webinar to learn 4 ways to help boost cash flow beginning next year. This could go a long way in helping you survive what is coming and ultimately thrive moving forward.

This activity does not offer CE credit.

Our Panelists:

AL DASILVA – MHA, MBA, RN, CEO

Seasoned, evidence-based, results oriented, operational executive leader focusing on connecting small and midsize companies’ vision to the bottom line through evidence-based management practices.

Christian Jewkes – Vice President of Client Relations for Jorns and Associates

Ben Coakley CFP™, ChFC, CLTC    
Director of New Business Development for WaypointRx and Lead Pharmacy Recruiter for Big Tree Medical.

Ben has been an advisor to business owners since 2004 and specializes in empowering independent community pharmacy owners to rekindle their love and passion for pharmacy. He holds himself accountable for helping the people he serves accomplish their most important life and financial goals. He is the co-creator of the Pharmacy of Tomorrow initiative, The Purpose of Capital financial success system, the Pharmacy Insurance Group, and the Families Saving Families community vitality protection program.

Ben is a lifelong resident of Summerville, SC and is passionate about giving back to his community. He was president of the Summerville Jaycees in 2006/07 and is a founding member of The Summerville Evening Rotary Club. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Clemson University, and is a graduate of Leadership Dorchester.

4 Ways to Combat the DIR Fee Hit Coming Next Year

WayPointRx

Scholarship Winner Attends ACA’s Veterinary Compounding Essentials Program

2024-01-03T11:34:56-06:00November 1st, 2023|Categories: compounding training, Continuing Education, Members In The News, Pharmaceutical Training, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy Technicians, Student Pharmacist, Veterinary Compounding, Veterinary Medicine|Tags: , , , , , , |

ACA’s Veterinary Compounding Essentials program provides fundamental techniques for effectively growing the veterinary compounding practice, including calculations, proper safety practices, hands-on compounding, and marketing.

ACA would like to proudly announce, Dominique Castaneda, an American College of Veterinary Pharmacists student pharmacist member and winner of the ACA Research & Education Foundation George Malmberg Student Scholarship for Compounding Excellence, for attending our Veterinary Compounding Essentials course and giving her positive thoughts about the program.

“The Veterinary Compounding Essentials program offers bite-size information that is easily digestible, especially for student pharmacists. The staff is open and friendly. This is an incredible opportunity that I am so very grateful for.”

—Dominique Castaneda, October 2023

ABC’s of Nutritional Pharmacy Bundle

2023-09-20T14:46:11-05:00September 19th, 2023|Categories: Continuing Education, Nutrition, Pharmacy Practice, Vitamins, Webinar, Womens Health|Tags: , , , , |

The ABC’s of Nutritional Pharmacy Bundle is accredited for 3.5 contact hours (0.35 CEUs) of continuing education credit for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Included Webinars: 

Vitamins Fact or Fiction: Functionally Using Nutrients to Impact Positive Patient Outcomes, Jeff Robins, RPh, FACA
Many of our patients eat the standard American diet (SAD). Along with poor daily diet, most of our patients are taking medications that cause drug-induced nutritional deficiencies. Our patients are at risk for further health degradation due to their nutritional status. Jeff will help you understand how to pick nutritional products that are efficacious in your patients. You will learn how to meet your patient’s nutritional needs generally, and for specific common ailments and disease states. Not only does this type of practice offer a sustainable profit model, but your practice will also set itself apart from the competition by giving in-depth nutritional care to your patients.

The Role of Dysbiosis in Women’s Health, Suzanne Keyes, PharmD, FACA, IFMCP
An estimated 28 million women have known energy and metabolism problems due to hypothyroidism. 1.3 million women enter menopause annually. Approximately 2/3rds of the population is currently dealing with symptoms of adrenal exhaustion.

Attend this session on Women’s Health and you will:

  1. leave with the ability to distinguish the overlapping symptoms of these 3 conditions
  2. be familiar with the biological pathways and drug-induced nutrient depletions occurring from common prescriptions
  3. be comfortable recommending nutritional supplements to support the pathways, foods to avoid, and food plans to recommend as well as multiple lifestyle modifications that support the triad of conditions
Implementing Personalized Nutrition into Pharmacy Practice, Lara Zakaria, PharmD, MS, CNS, IFMCP
Nutrition intervention is considered first line in the treatment of most chronic diseases. However, most pharmacists don’t have extensive training in nutrition or don’t feel confident making nutritional recommendations in the practice. In this workshop-style session, we will learn simple, turn-key assessment solutions that will turn any pharmacist into a community expert allowing you to integrate foundational nutrition support for your patients.

If you do not have an NABP number, select “International Pharmacist” or “International Pharmacy Technician” when registering.

Our Speakers: 

Jeff Robins RPh, FAAFRM, ABAAHP, FACA is the owner of Summit Functional Consulting. As a highly sought-after consultant, he co-creates new and profitable business models for independent pharmacies nationwide. Jeff works as a consultant for Ortho Molecular Products. He is passionate about using clinical nutrition to improve patient outcomes and increase the economic viability of independent pharmacies nationwide. He has been a functional and compounding pharmacist for 25 years and likes to speak of himself as the pharmacist who “dislikes drugs”. Mr. Robins is the founder of Essential Wellness Pharmacy and the former owner of Optimum Health Solutions (a company bringing wellness to the corporate workplace). He is an Advanced Fellow with the American College of Anti-aging and Functional Medicine through the University of Southern Florida. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Apothecaries and was nominated and served as the first Compounding Section Chair, for the Board of Directors, for the Illinois Pharmacist Association. Mr. Robins is a national speaker and is passionate about educating people about profound health, allowing them to co-create their healthiest, most vibrant lives.

Suzanne Keyes PharmD, FACA, IFMCP graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in 1996 and returned to academia in 1999 enrolling in the non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy pathway offered through the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy.  In 2004, she graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy, the highest degree offered to pharmacists. Dr. Keyes has had 20 years of experience in varied pharmacy settings; retail management for a chain drugstore, nursing home consultant, hospital pharmacist, and her current position as the lead functional medicine pharmacist in her compounding pharmacy in Western Oklahoma.  Suzanne’s passion to get to the underlying cause of the disease is what drove her to pursue advanced education and become the seventh pharmacist in the world to become a certified practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine. As a Fellow of the American College of Apothecaries, Dr. Keyes spends her time outside of the lab designing, speaking for, and teaching several courses at the home office in Bartlett, Tennessee as well as traveling to individual pharmacies for ACPE-accredited onsite training.

Dr. Lara Zakaria PharmD, MS, CNS, CDN, IFMCP is a Pharmacist, Nutritionist, and adjunct professor specializing in Functional Medicine and Personalized nutrition. After spending 10 years in pharmacy community practice, she noticed that her patients were all getting worse, not better. She realized that the pharmaceutical-based guidelines she was trained in were intended only to manage chronic disease not prevent progression. That led her to FxMed and the power of nutrition. Dr. Zakaria is passionate about gut health and preventing and reversing metabolic, kidney, and autoimmune diseases. She splits her time between clinical practice, teaching, and mentorship in service of expanding awareness and access to FxMed and Personalized Nutrition.

Compounding Faculty Meeting: “Focus of a DEA Inspection on a Compounding Pharmacy (503A)”

2023-08-24T16:48:37-05:00July 26th, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, compounding, DEA, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , , |

Date:  Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Time:  12:30 PM Eastern / 11:30 AM Central / 10:30 AM Mountain / 9:30 AM Pacific

Topic: What DEA Requires?

Host:  Ernie Gates  

Panelists: Carlos M. Aquino, an Associate with Gates Healthcare Associates, is an experienced consultant specializing in DEA compliance for pharmacies, hospitals, health clinics, medical practitioners, drug manufacturers and distributors.

Join us for a 1 hour webinar on ““Focus of a DEA Inspection on a Compounding Pharmacy (503A)”.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Pharmacist
– Describe role of DEA Diversion Control Division
– Review how to prepare for a DEA inspection
– Explain what are the DEA required records
– Discuss the security of controlled substances
– Identify the need for a Pharmacy Due Diligence Policy 

Pharmacy Technician
– Review the elements of a DEA inspection
– Explain what records are required to be readily available
– Recall the element of the evaluation of security for CS
– Identify what a pharmacist must know to prevent diversion of prescriptions for controlled substances

This meeting will not offer CE. 

This meeting is open to all Pharmacy Professionals, FREE for ACA Members, $10 for non-members, registration is required.

In addition, members of the Compounding Faculty will have exclusive access to an online community.

Did you miss the meeting!

Click Here for Video
Click Here for Audio

 

Our Speaker:

Carlos M. Aquino, is President and Founder of PharmaDiversion, LLC and an Associate with Gates Healthcare Associates.  A former DEA agent and supervisor, Carlos  is an experienced consultant specializing in DEA compliance for pharmacies, hospitals, health clinics, medical practitioners, drug manufacturers and distributors.

Loading…

Nutrition & Wellness Faculty Meeting: “Alzheimer’s #1 Concern of Patients”

2023-07-27T15:17:30-05:00July 6th, 2023|Categories: Alzheimer's Disease, Community Pharmacy, Nutrition, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , , |

Date:  Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Time:  12:30 PM Eastern / 11:30 AM Central / 10:30 AM Mountain / 9:30 AM Pacific

Topic: “Alzheimer’s #1 Concern of Patients”

Host: Dr. Quentin Srnka, PharmD, MBA, FACA  

Panelists:
Dr. Hillary Howell, PharmD, FACA, CCN
Chuck Schneider, MBA

Join us for a 1 hour webinar on “Alzheimer’s #1 Concern of Patients”. Alzheimer’s is the disease people of all ages are most worried about. Join the panelists as they discuss Alzheimer’s disease, a relevant and emotional topic for patients.

This meeting will be recorded

Loading…

Our Panelists:

Dr. Hillary Howell, PharmD, FACA, CCN worked as a pharmacy technician until graduating high school in 1998. Her passion for medicine led her to enroll in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Ferris State University and graduated in 2004. Shortly after graduating, she married her high school sweetheart and took a position as a retail staff pharmacist at a local pharmacy chain. This ultimately led to a manager position with the same company.

Hillary has two children, Hunter and Tanner, which she adores. 10 years into her position as a manager, her husband James was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, leiomyosarcoma of the prostate. During his journey, the family decided to look into alternative treatments using both conventional and alternative therapies. Sadly, James’ journey ended 18 months later.

As a single mother, Hillary decided to take her career in a new direction. She opened Michigan’s first integrative cash based pharmacy, Apothecary & Co, in 2019, focusing on helping others to find their root cause instead of applying a “bandaid”. Apothecary & Co proudly specializes in compounding, point of care testing, and functional medicine consulting. Since opening in 2019, Hillary received her Certified Clinical Nutrition designation in 2021. She is currently pursuing a certification program through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Besides the love for functional medicine, her other passion is medicinal herbalism leading her to complete coursework through Rosemary Gladstar’s The Science of Art and Herbalism program.

Chuck Schneider, MBA is the Co-founder of the Point of Care Testing Institute and is the Director of Pharmacy at Cognivue, a neuroscience testing company.

For the past decade, Chuck has worked closely with pharmacists and independent pharmacy owners to help them increase their service lines and profitability.  Prior to joining Cognivue, Chuck was the chief revenue officer at Pharmacy Development Services and more recently at Ananda Professional where he led commercial operations.

Chuck received his MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management.  Chuck lives in Lexington, Kentucky.  He enjoy running, cooking on Sunday nights, and visiting National Parks.

Building a Membership Model for Your Pharmacy Using Point of Care Services

2023-07-27T15:17:55-05:00June 22nd, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, News Release, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , |

Did you miss the meeting on July 18, 2023?  This meeting is now available –

CLICK HERE TO VIEW
AUDIO AVAILABLE

 

Learning Objectives: 

  • Why offer a membership model for your clinical services
  • What to offer in your membership model
  • Point of care testing that you should offer year around
  • How to charge and keep track of your members

Join ACA Corporate Member POCTi for a 1 hour webinar on “Maximizing Pharmacy Profits: Unleashing the Power of Point-of-Care Services in Your Membership Model” and receive more information on how your pharmacy can get started with Point of Care testing.

This activity will not offer CE credit.

Our Panelists:

Dr. Tara Schneider, PharmD. is an experienced pharmacy leader with a demonstrated history of providing and implementing revenue generating clinical. Her mission is to empower pharmacists to maximize the profitability of Point of Care Testing and to improve patient outcomes. She specializes in implementing Point of Care Testing (POCT) services for independent pharmacies across the US. Her vision is to be the trusted source for pharmacists who are ready to advance their knowledge of POCT.

Being an independent pharmacy owner herself, she understands the day to day struggles that pharmacists face. Many pharmacists have great intentions to start a new clinical service line, but lack the time. That is where POCTi has been so impactful. She offers turnkey solutions for compliance, protocols, marketing strategy, implementation, guidance, and ongoing support to generate new revenue while improving patient outcomes through POCT. She believes in meeting her clients where they are in their journey to help them be successful in reaching their goals with POCT.

Dr. Schneider earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK. After many years practicing as a clinical hospital pharmacist and pharmacy administrator, she opened a closed door non-dispensing pharmacy that focused on POCT. Her background as a healthcare administrator gave her a deeper knowledge and understanding of compliance, operational requirements, implementation, protocols and procedures that she enjoys sharing with her members.

Chuck Schneider, MBA is the Co-founder of the Point of Care Testing Institute and is the Director of Pharmacy at Cognivue, a neuroscience testing company.

For the past decade, Chuck has worked closely with pharmacists and independent pharmacy owners to help them increase their service lines and profitability.  Prior to joining Cognivue, Chuck was the chief revenue officer at Pharmacy Development Services and more recently at Ananda Professional where he led commercial operations.

Chuck received his MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management.  Chuck and Tara, live in Lexington, Kentucky.  Together they enjoy running, cooking on Sunday nights, and visiting National Parks.

Maximizing Pharmacy Profits: Unleashing the Power of Point-of-Care Services in Your Membership Model

ACA COMPOUNDING FACULTY PRESENTS

2023-06-13T12:57:05-05:00June 6th, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, News Release, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , |

Things You Should Know About Preparation For USP Changes

On Monday, June 12, 2023, ACA Compounding Faculty presented an open forum, open to all pharmacy professionals, about preparing for the upcoming USP Changes, how to prepare, what you should know. These changes will go into effect on November 1, 2023.  Will you be READY?

Host:  Ernie Gates, RPh, FACA

Panelists:

  • Denise Frank, RPh, FACA, FAPC
  • Brenda Jensen, CPhT, CNMT, MBA
  • Lisa Ashworth, BS Pharm, RPh, BCSCP, FACA

Recording – CLICK HERE
Audio Only – CLICK HERE

OPEN FORUM

ALL PHARMACY PROFESSIONALS

FREE

Say that Again? Community Pharmacy’s Role in Identifying Untreated Hearing Loss

2023-05-31T15:55:33-05:00May 12th, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, News Release, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , |

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 6 U.S. adults ages 18 and over reports some trouble hearing — approximately 37.5 million U.S. adults—but less than half (46.0 percent) of them have seen a doctor or other health professional about their hearing or ear problems in the last five years.

Untreated hearing loss significantly impacts an individual’s quality of life and contributes to high health care spending. A JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery study showed that untreated hearing loss was associated with $22,434 higher total health care costs per person over a 10-year period compared with costs for those without hearing loss.

Additionally, untreated hearing loss impacts individual’s quality of life and mental health. It can lead to isolation, and has been associated with serious conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, dementia, reduced mobility, and falls.

Making hearing health care more accessible and affordable is a public health priority, especially as the number of older adults in the U.S. continues to grow.

While prescription hearing aids have been available for years, NIH data shows that only one in four adults who could benefit from hearing aids has ever used them.

To address this public health issue, in October 2021, the FDA formally proposed a rule to establish the new OTC hearing aids category for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Finalized in August 2022, the final rule allows hearing aids within this category to be sold directly to consumers in stores without a medical exam or a fitting by an audiologist.  Overall, among those reporting that they have trouble hearing, nearly two-thirds (62.6 percent) say that they have mild hearing loss, defined as “a little trouble hearing.”

The Role of Community Pharmacy

Community pharmacies are well-positioned to reach these individuals, who may not be aware of the recent availability of OTC hearing aids. OTC hearing aids that are FDA-compliance are usually more affordable than prescription hearing aids and can be FSA/HSA/HRA-eligible.

As the most accessible health care provider, pharmacists should be prepared to answer questions about OTC hearing devices and have the opportunity to discuss hearing screenings for patients during consultations.

Learn how to add a new clinical service to your pharmacy by offering in-store hearing tests and offering OTC hearing aids for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Hearing aids for more severe hearing loss or for users younger than age 18 remain prescription devices.

Unlocking the OTC Hearing Aid Marketplace

Join ACA Corporate Member Soundwave Hearing for a 30-minute webinar on “Unlocking the OTC Hearing Aid Marketplace” and receive more information on how your pharmacy can get started with their testing and OTC hearing aid solutions.

This activity will not offer CE credit.

Recordings:

Unlocking the OTC Hearing Aid Marketplace

Recordings Available On-Demand

Anthony Florek
President, Soundwave Hearing LLC

Anthony has thirty plus years of medical device Sales and Marketing experience developed at leading medical equipment and consumer product companies, including Johnson and Johnson, Allergan Medical Optics and Beltone (GN Hearing Care). Anthony brings 15 years of experience from the traditional hearing aid industry and leads the development of the business model and value proposition at Soundwave Hearing.

Scroll down to register.

Opportunities in Wellness: Integrating Advanced Point Of Sale Functional Testing in Community Pharmacy

2023-08-02T10:30:28-05:00January 5th, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, Functional Testing, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , |

Functional testing focuses on physiological function (i.e. how the body functions at a biological level), rather than the presence of markers of disease. Community pharmacies are well-positioned to offer functional testing to patients who want a clear picture of their unique health needs and to also provide nutritional and lifestyle intervention. This presentation will provide examples and evidence-based information on the concept of integrating Advanced Point Of Sale Functional Testing in the pharmacy practice, including stool testing, breath testing, saliva testing, dried urine testing, food intolerance testing, and others. Advanced Point of Sale Functional Testing has the potential to increase pharmacy revenue, improve patient outcomes, and expand the scope of the pharmacist and pharmacy technician without requiring a CLIA waiver.

Now available On-Demand

ACA & ACVP Members: $20
Non-Members: $35

Learning Objectives :

  1. Identify the different types of available testing to patients and the regulations.
  2. Discuss the different types of advanced point of sale functional testing.
  3. Discuss when to use the various types of advanced point of sale functional testing in practice.
  4. Identify which type of training is recommended to offer advanced point of sale functional testing.
  5. Compare the potential benefits and challenges to the patient and the practice.

Hillary Howell, PharmD, CCN, FACA

As a young teenager, Hillary worked as a pharmacy technician until graduating high school in 1998. Her passion for medicine led her to enroll in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Ferris State University and graduated in 2004. Shortly after graduating, she married her high school sweetheart and took a position as a retail staff pharmacist at a local pharmacy chain. This ultimately led to a manager position with the same company. Hillary has two children, Hunter and Tanner, which she adores. 10 years into her position as a manager, her husband James was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, leiomyosarcoma of the prostate. During his journey, the family decided to look into alternative treatments using both conventional and alternative therapies. Sadly, James’ journey ended 18 months later. As a single mother, Hillary decided to take her career in a new direction. She opened Michigan’s first integrative cash based pharmacy, Apothecary & Co, in 2019, focusing on helping others to find their root cause instead of applying a “bandaid”. Apothecary & Co proudly specializes in compounding, point of care testing, and functional medicine consulting. Since opening in 2019, Hillary received her Certified Clinical Nutrition designation in 2021. She is currently pursuing a certification program through the Institute for Functional Medicine. Besides the love for functional medicine, her other passion is medicinal herbalism leading her to complete coursework through Rosemary Gladstar’s The Science of Art and Herbalism program.

Go to Top