As a URAC-accredited organization, the PMC Specialty Pharmacy joins a select group of industry leaders that meet rigorous standards for healthcare quality, safety and accountability. To earn this accreditation, specialty pharmacies must demonstrate high performance in their submitted measures within URAC’s Specialty Pharmacy program.

The PMC Specialty Pharmacy earned this esteemed accreditation by displaying excellence in measures such as positive clinical outcomes, high patient satisfaction scores, operational excellence, quality improvement initiatives, compliance with standards and documentation quality and positive audit results.

“Being recognized as a URAC Top Performer is both an honor and a powerful validation of our commitment to delivering exceptional patient care,” said Sarah Elswich, PharmD, Specialty Pharmacy Manager. “This recognition reflects the hard work, data-driven innovation, and relentless dedication of our team. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our journey and motivates us to continue advancing pharmacy care for the patients and communities we serve.”

The evolving role of specialty pharmacies in serving patients with complex, chronic diseases is critical to improving patient outcomes, particularly with adherence to pharmacy accreditation standards.

“Now more than ever, specialty pharmacies are an essential part of the patient care team and patient experience,” said URAC’s President and CEO Shawn Griffin, MD. “URAC congratulates Pikeville Medical Center on their achievement of Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation. This achievement demonstrates excellence in pharmacy operations, product handling, patient education and patient management. When an organization achieves URAC accreditation, they demonstrate their commitment to improving their quality of care, which is important to patients, providers and payers.”

For more information, please visit URAC’s website: www.urac.org.

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Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) continues to improve pediatric services across Eastern Kentucky. In 2020, the hospital opened the Appalachian Valley Autism (AVA) Center, bringing new therapy options for children on the autism spectrum. In 2021, PMC opened the region’s only children’s hospital, giving families access to high-quality care without having to travel far from home.

Since then, four departments at PMC have completed extensive training to become Certified Autism Centers by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). These departments include the Emergency Department, Urgent Care, Pediatric Clinics, and the Mettu Children’s Hospital. This certification means the staff in these areas are trained to understand and support children with autism and sensory needs.

The Emergency Department at PMC also holds a “pediatric ready” certification and was one of the first in Kentucky to do so. A dedicated pediatric wing was created to provide a calm, child-friendly space during medical emergencies. For less serious conditions, PMC offers two urgent care clinics in Pikeville and Prestonsburg that treat children ages two and up. No appointment is needed, and both locations offer daytime, evening, and weekend hours to fit busy schedules.

PMC strives to provide the best possible care for children throughout the region. With certified staff,  kid-friendly spaces, and convenient access to treatment, families can trust that pediatric health is a top priority at Pikeville Medical Center.

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The PMC Specialty Pharmacy offers a wide spectrum of patient support, including medication counseling and management, ongoing monitoring and financial services. These services ensure patients achieve the best possible outcomes while managing their side effects and potential complications. In addition, pharmacy staff facilitate communication between patients, healthcare providers and insurance companies, assist with prior authorizations and ensure patients receive refills on time.

In addition to the specialty pharmacy and outpatient pharmacy, PMC’s inpatient pharmacy cares for all hospitalized patients by offering a “Meds-to-Beds” program, filling and delivering prescription medication to the patient’s hospital room upon discharge. This eliminates the need to stop at the outpatient pharmacy on their way home.

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PMC pharmacists work diligently to ensure patients receive the right medication in the correct dosage and provide guidance on taking medicine safely and effectively. This expertise is especially crucial for individuals with chronic conditions who rely on medication to maintain their health.

In addition to dispensing medications, PMC’s pharmacists are educators and consultants. Pharmacists offer valuable information on managing chronic conditions and understanding potential drug interactions. This guidance helps patients make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

There have been major updates completed with plans for further expansion. In addition to prescription medications, the PMC Pharmacy offers many over-the-counter (OTC) products. It is a convenient source for many healthcare needs, from pain relievers and cough syrup to vitamins and first-aid supplies. The walk-in pharmacy provides a wider variety of OTC medications and easy access to checkout.

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This accreditation is awarded to only those healthcare organizations that demonstrate compliance with ACHC national standards. Accreditation by ACHC reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate a greater level of performance.

“At the PMC Specialty Pharmacy, we are always striving to improve patient care,” stated Sarah Elswick, PharmD, PMC Specialty Pharmacy Manager.  “Receiving this accreditation proves that we operate at a high level and meet the standards of quality, integrity and effectiveness put forth by the ACHC.”

ACHC is a nonprofit organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986. ACHC is an internationally recognized accrediting body with CMS-deeming authority for Home Health, Hospice and DMEPOS.

The PMC Specialty Pharmacy is committed to making the process as easy as possible for patients needing specialty prescriptions for rare, chronic and often complex medical conditions. The specialty pharmacy team provides support before, during and after the sale. In addition, they are available for consultations, insurance questions and financial concerns. PMC’s pharmacists provide consultations and clinical monitoring 24 hours a day.

For more information, please visit https://www.pmcky.org/pharmacy/, or call 1-888-762-5979

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Having an oncology pharmacy within the facility dedicated solely to mixing and preparing chemotherapy for all cancer patients is not a common practice for many cancer centers. However, the administration at the Lawson Cancer Center feels strongly that patients are better served by specialized oncology pharmacists and staff who are 100% dedicated to taking care of cancer patients.

“Our oncology pharmacists are there during every step of the patient’s care plan,” explained Robin Walters, PMC Oncology Pharmacy Supervisor. “We work closely with the oncologists, nurses and the entire care team to maximize the care our patients receive and to minimize any delays when it comes to their medication.”

At the Lawson Cancer Center, oncology pharmacists play a vital role acting as a reference on medications, dosing parameters recommendations that may be affected by specific medical conditions and troubleshooting issues that may arise.

For more information on the Lawson Cancer Center at Pikeville Medical Center, visit the Lawson Cancer Pages on pikevillehospital.org.

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After Barry Estep received his liver transplant in 2018, he found the specialty medication his doctor prescribed was difficult to find and costly. In 2020, Barry was delighted to learn that Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) had opened a specialty pharmacy, which eliminated much stress from his and other families across the region who previously had to wait for medication to be delivered through the mail.

“I have had several specialty medications associated with my transplant and was recently placed on another specialty drug,” said Estep. “I am incredibly grateful that the PMC Specialty Pharmacy can fill my prescriptions here, so close to home and able to help me understand why and what these medications do for me.”

The PMC Specialty Pharmacy provides access to specialty drugs used for rare or serious conditions such as chemotherapy, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and in Barry’s case, specialty medication for organ transplant patients.

In addition to simply filling the complex prescriptions, PMC specialty pharmacists work closely with patients on the use of their medications, comprehensive treatment assessments and monitoring. They keep an open line of communication with patients, physicians and caregivers. These medications generally require special administration such as injections and infusion services, and patients may need supervision or guidance from medical professionals to monitor their administration.

Unfortunately, these medications can be costly. Because of that, the PMC Specialty Pharmacy offers financial counseling programs for patients who struggle with the financial strain brought about by expensive medication. As an added convenience, PMC pharmacy techs are able to work directly with insurance companies to get prior authorizations when needed for coverage.

“The specialty pharmacy staff went above and beyond to ensure I had everything I needed,” said Estep. “They answered questions, followed up on the required tests and even helped with financial assistance for the new medication.”

In addition to patient counseling and financial assistance, the PMC Specialty Pharmacy also offers personalized refill reminders, medicine delivery services and clinical support.

“Our goal is to make this process as seamless as possible for patients who are already battling serious health conditions,” said Sarah Elswick, PMC Pharmacist and Specialty Pharmacy Manager. “PMC provides patients with medical care, and the PMC Specialty Pharmacy provides them with the complex medications they need, all while staying close to home. I’m so thankful we are able to offer this much-needed service to the people of our region.”

The PMC Specialty Pharmacy is the only specialty pharmacy in the region to have a double accreditation. After a rigorous evaluation process, the PMC Specialty Pharmacy was double accredited by both the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC), which further demonstrates PMC’s commitment to the patients of Eastern Kentucky.

For more information on the PMC Specialty Pharmacy, visit https://www.pmcky.org/services/pharmacy/specialty-pharmacy/ or call (888) 762-5979.

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Recently, the PMC outpatient pharmacy unveiled two new services to make it easier for patients to receive their medications. Patients with prescriptions filled at the PMC pharmacy can now have their medication delivered as long as they are within the 41501 zip code.

In addition to the new delivery service, PMC is now offering a direct mail option for qualifying medications. This option is particularly beneficial to patients who need maintenance medications for certain diseases or conditions and those who want to maintain long-term supplies of particular medications.

“During the pandemic, we realized that many people were reluctant to venture away from their homes for safety reasons related to COVID-19,” explained James Glass, PMC Vice President of Retail Services. “We are thrilled to now be able to offer two different types of delivery options for medications filled at our pharmacy. Whether they are delivered by one of our drivers or through the mail, we want to make sure our patients have as many opportunities as possible to receive the medication they need.”
Unlike the local delivery service which is currently limited to the 41501 area code, the mail order option is available to any Kentucky resident, greatly expanding the area the PMC outpatient pharmacy can service.

The PMC pharmacy already provides, and will continue to provide, such services as 24/7 drive-thru prescription/over-the-counter (OTC) medication pickup and walk-in prescription/OTC pickup from 9am-9pm Monday through Saturday and 12-6pm Sunday. The PMC Pharmacy is located at 231 Hibbard Street in Pikeville, and provides many other services as well, including private walk-in consultations, specialty medications and many more. For more information, call (606) 218-3576, or visit pikevillehospital.org/services/pharmacy.

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Specialty prescriptions are sometimes difficult to navigate for those who need them the most. PMC is committed to making the process easier for patients needing prescriptions from a specialty pharmacy. Patients can count on the PMC Specialty Pharmacy team to provide support before, during and after filling a prescription. The team is also available for consultations, insurance questions, and financial concerns.

Some of the services available at the PMC Pharmacy include:

• Local, timely access to specialized medicines
• Enrollment in a patient management program

Ensuring easy access to medicine and uninterrupted therapy by offering:

• Medicine delivery
• Prior authorization assistance

The PMC Specialty Pharmacy provides medications required to treat certain diseases in a timely manner. Prior to PMC opening the specialty pharmacy, patients often had to search for ways to receive their specialty medication. Now, a team of dedicated professionals at PMC can assist in helping patients with prior authorizations and insurance questions in addition to dispensing specialized medication. PMC utilizes efficient procedures and overnight shipping to expedite the process, allowing patients to get needed medication sooner.

The PMC Specialty Pharmacy is located at 911 Bypass Road, Building E, Suite 2 in Pikeville. For more information on the services provided by the PMC Specialty Pharmacy, you may call the toll-free line at 1-888-PMC-KYRX (1-888-762-5979), visit online at pikevillehospital.org/services/pharmacy/specialty-pharmacy.

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For the very first time, patients can walk inside for their prescription drop-off and pick-up, consultations with a pharmacist, and more.

PMC’s pharmacists are on hand to discuss medications inside private consultation rooms, provide immunizations, and answer questions.

The new walk-in pharmacy offers the added convenience of stocking over-the-counter (OTC) medications for allergies, headaches, braces (for backs, knees and wrists), health/beauty aids, medical supplies, and much more”, said PMC Director of Outpatient Pharmacy, Lina Abdallah.

The pharmacy features the newest generation of automated prescription-filling technology called the Parata Pro Max® 2.  This new system empowers pharmacists to do even more through high speed automation, enhancing safety, accuracy, and efficiency.

Parking is easily available in front of the new walk-in pharmacy.

The three-lane drive-thru remains open for those who prefer this prescription drop-off and pick-up option.

For more information, visit www.pmcky.org/services/pharmacy or call 888-762-5979.

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