CAPhO 2024 Concurrent: Oral Anti-Cancer Drugs - Pharmacy Strategies to Promote Safe and Integrated Community Care
With the rise of oral anti-cancer drugs (OACDs) the roles and responsibilities of community pharmacists and specialty oncology pharmacies are growing. OACDs are often prescribed as part of more complex regimens and in populations with a myriad of comorbidities and concurrent drug therapies. Learn about the challenges faced by community pharmacists, the role of specialty pharmacies and the importance of collaboration between health care providers, to optimize safety of OACDs. Explore the barriers faced when trying to engage community pharmacies and come prepared to discuss strategies to narrow the care gap and manage this complex population.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the challenges faced by community pharmacists in triaging oral anti-cancer therapies.
2. Using case-based examples:
a) Describe the role of specialty oncology pharmacies in bridging the gap between hospital and community cancer care to optimize safety of oral anti-cancer drugs.
b) Illustrate the need for collaboration and engagement between primary prescribers, pharmacists and patients to provide integrated holistic patient-centered care.
3. Discuss opportunities and barriers in engaging the patient's community pharmacy by reviewing the results of the Community Pharmacy Engagement Initiative (CPEI).
4. Propose strategies to narrow the gap created by having drugs dispensed in multiple pharmacies.