We’ve created a blog section on pharmacyquality.com for posts related to managing performance information and other general quality-related topics. If you have common questions or suggested topics, we’d love to hear from you! We hope you enjoy the topics and possibly even learn a thing or two about performance measurement, EQuIPPTM, or the broad topic of pharmacy quality.
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What does the 2020 Star Ratings Technical Notes Mean for Medicare Beneficiaries?
Every October, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) publish an update to the Star Ratings for Medicare Part C & D plans. This update serves as an annual “check-up” on how well the Medicare program is working to improve quality of care for the millions of enrollees in the program. Like reviews in any type of industry, changes can be swift and sudden. On the other hand, some programs move steadily along – be it in either a positive or negative manner. So, what did the 2020 Star Ratings Technical notes tell us? To put it simply, the program...
Happy American Pharmacists Month!
Happy American Pharmacists Month! As we celebrate American Pharmacists Month this October, let me be among the many who say “thank you” to all pharmacists for what you do to serve your communities every day. You are truly “indispensable.” This year, the theme of American Pharmacists Month is “Easy to Reach, Ready to Help.” That is so true, isn’t it? Pharmacists are easy to reach and ready to help. We appreciate your willingness to help and improve upon the patient lives of whom you serve. There is a long list of things that make pharmacists special. I would suggest that we could begin that list today...
Front Door Service
The idea of having medicine delivered to a patient’s house isn’t new. Many independent community pharmacies have been delivering medications to houses and assisted living facilities for years, and chain pharmacies now offer this same service in same day, next-day, two-day, and standard shipping formats. One important reason for this service is that pharmacists can continue improving medication adherence and patient outcomes, even when that patient might not be able to physically visit the pharmacy. Delivery is an excellent solution for many housebound patients in receiving their medication. If your pharmacy is considering prescription delivery, or wanting to re-evaluate its delivery...
When to Begin Your Immunization Push
August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a great time to begin your promotion of in-pharmacy vaccinations… but wait, that’s only one month out of the year. Most pharmacists are giving immunizations all year round, so why the push in August? Yes, influenza vaccine usually ships late July and early August. Pharmacies are also eager to get a jump on immunization season, and it ties in great with National Immunization Month. It also ties in with “Back to School” for traditional school calendars and signals the end of summer. Many pharmacies take the initiative to book screenings in early summer with...