Real-world outcomes have become an increasingly important metric for measuring value. Part of this value centers on the increasing emphasis on the patient (consumer) experience. To this end the industry needs to not only consider the standard “care” or utilization data that is currently available, but also (and perhaps more importantly) more deeply consider what data could or should be gathered if we are to develop compelling real-world evidence that truly reflects the patient experience around pharmaceutical products and services. Specifically, real-world outcomes and evidence (RWE) should be considered a critical driver of clinical innovation and optimization.  In order to drive innovation and value, this means going beyond shallow post-marketing surveillance or trying to squeeze insights out of administrative transactional data, in favor of a strategy built upon a better understanding of the patient/care context that impacts the course and experience of illness in and outside of formal treatment settings.   

In this article, we discuss the unique role specialty pharmacy can play in shifting the existing paradigm from a transactional model to an experiential model for fueling real-world data acquisition.  This framework creates both a conceptual and organizational structure that allows for more valuable data acquisition and insights that align specifically with patient needs and typically fall outside standard operational databases.  

Areas Covered     

Who Should Attend    

Pharmacist, Adherence and Patient Portal Developers, data scientists, clinical researchers, pharma marketers

Why Should You Attend

Pharmaceutical spending continues to rise. There is also a shift from traditional to more costly and complex specialty medications. This shift has also been accompanied by increased responsibility on the part of the industry for real-world data and outcomes, making medication adherence and related patient support data more imperative than ever. Programs designed to address adherence also represent an opportunity to better capture and leverage real world data to better improve the consumer-patient experience, improve adherence that also helps inform market positioning and better operationalizing of the product value proposition.

Topic Background

Self-administration of medications at home reduces costs but also increases patient responsibility on the part of the patient and/or family.  This also creates a potential disconnect between the physician and patient about issues such as missed doses. There exists a significant opportunity to improve adherence and persistence by providing better support throughout the course of care, by connecting and benefiting patients, caregivers, practitioners, payers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Programs for selecting medications, focusing on adherence, education, and patient support. The objective is to help patients stay compliant with their medication regimens, cope effectively with adverse effects (AEs), and minimize communication gaps in the health care system. Such programs differ in structure and content, but typically they start with phone contacts by health care professionals (eg, nurse or clinical pharmacist). During the call, there is discussion about medication education, administration instructions, counseling about AE management, and emotional support. A recent review of patient support programs suggested they have a positive effect on adherence and persistence but limited or mixed effects on satisfaction.