Outpatient clinical pharmacy practice in the face of COVID-19 at a cancer center in New York City Journal Article


Authors: Yerram, P.; Thackray, J.; Modelevsky, L. R.; Land, J. D.; Reiss, S. N.; Spatz, K. H.; Levoir, A. C.; Pak, T. K.; Dao, P. H.; Buege, M. J.; Derespiris, L. M.; Lau, C.; Orozco, J. S.; Boparai, M.; Koranteng, L. A.; Reichert, K. E.; Yan, S. Q.; Daukshus, N. P.; Mathew, S.; Buie, L. W.; Tizon, R. F.; Freeswick, S.; Liu, D.; Harnicar, S.
Article Title: Outpatient clinical pharmacy practice in the face of COVID-19 at a cancer center in New York City
Abstract: Purpose: With the rapid spread of COVID-19 in New York City since early March 2020, innovative measures were needed for clinical pharmacy specialists to provide direct clinical care safely to cancer patients. Allocating the workforce was necessary to meet the surging needs of the inpatient services due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which had the potential to compromise outpatient services. We present here our approach of restructuring clinical pharmacy services and providing direct patient care in outpatient clinics during the pandemic. Data sources: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic clinical documentation involving clinical pharmacy specialist patient encounters in 9 outpatient clinics from March 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020. The analysis of the clinical pharmacy specialist interventions and the impact of the interventions was descriptive. Data summary: As hospital services were modified to handle the surge due to COVID-19, select clinical pharmacy specialists were redeployed from the outpatient clinics or research blocks to COVID-19 inpatient teams. During these 3 months, clinical pharmacy specialists were involved in 2535 patient visits from 9 outpatient clinics and contributed a total of 4022 interventions, the majority of which utilized telemedicine. The interventions provided critical clinical pharmacy care during the pandemic and omitted 199 in-person visits for medical care. Conclusion: The swift transition to telemedicine allowed the provision of direct clinical pharmacy services to patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. © The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords: cancer chemotherapy; retrospective studies; major clinical study; drug safety; drug withdrawal; cancer patient; neoplasm; organization and management; neoplasms; patient education; retrospective study; leuprorelin; patient care; cancer center; electronic medical record; intensive care unit; laboratory test; research; iron; outpatient department; cancer care facilities; medical practice; medical specialist; new york city; medical documentation; new york; risk reduction; medical care; data analysis software; outpatient care; ambulatory care facilities; hospital service; infection risk; professional standard; professional role; telemedicine; pegfilgrastim; pandemic; pharmacist; virtual reality; pharmacists; drug information; hospital pharmacy; new drug; pharmacy service, hospital; humans; human; priority journal; article; medication therapy management; multidisciplinary team; clinical pharmacy; pandemics; coronavirus disease 2019; covid-19; outpatient clinic
Journal Title: Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice
Volume: 27
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1078-1552
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.  
Date Published: 2021-03-01
Start Page: 389
End Page: 394
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/1078155220987625
PUBMED: 33459159
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7904665
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 April 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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