Direct-to-consumer healthcare is changing how patients engage with care, driven by growing demand for convenience, accessibility, and personalized experiences. VerifiedRx host Stacy Lauderdale is joined by Emily Fitt, Hailey Mulliner, and Heather Pace to discuss the continued rise of telehealth and direct-to-consumer healthcare platforms, the areas experiencing the most growth, and what these evolving models may mean for patients, providers, and health systems in the future.

Guest Speakers: Emily Fitt, MHA, MPH Senior Associate, Sg2 Intelligence Vizient, Inc.

Hailey Mulliner, MS-HSM Senior Director, Sg2 Intelligence Vizient, Inc.

Heather Pace, Pharm.D. Senior Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Vizient, Inc.

Host: Stacy Lauderdale, Pharm.D., BCPS AVP, Evidence-Based Medicine Vizient

Show Notes:

(00:52) The panel discusses where direct-to-consumer healthcare has gained the most traction, including:

• Men’s reproductive health
• Women’s contraceptives
• Dermatology and acne care
• Behavioral health
• GLP-1 and obesity management

(01:59) Heather explains how GLP-1 medication shortages fueled growth in compounded obesity medications and expanded telehealth services.

(02:47) Hailey shares insights from SG2 consumer surveys, emphasizing how patients increasingly want customizable, convenient healthcare experiences like other consumer industries.

(03:26) The group explores future expansion areas for direct-to-consumer healthcare, including:

• Cardiovascular disease management
• Type 2 diabetes
• Orthopedic care
• Cardiometabolic disease monitoring

(04:31) Discussion shifts to the benefits and drawbacks for patients, including:

• Increased convenience and access
• More comfortable treatment environments
• Greater patient empowerment
• Risks of fragmented care and disconnected treatment plans

(06:07) Emily outlines concerns for health systems, including:

• Increased emergency department utilization
• Lack of coordinated care
• Medication management gaps
• Challenges identifying medications prescribed outside the health system

(07:03) Heather discusses medication stewardship concerns, particularly as weight loss impacts management of other chronic conditions like hypertension.

(07:29) The panel highlights operational challenges for hospitals and procedural teams when patients fail to disclose GLP-1 medications prior to surgeries or colonoscopies.

(07:58) The conversation turns to how direct-to-consumer healthcare is permanently changing consumer expectations around convenience and accessibility.

(08:36) The panel debates whether health systems should compete with direct-to-consumer companies or pursue partnership strategies.

(09:51) Emily discusses how health systems can differentiate themselves by offering the full continuum of care that virtual only providers cannot.

(10:20) Heather Pace emphasizes the importance of partnerships between health systems and direct-to-consumer platforms to improve access while maintaining coordinated care.

(10:55) The group discusses emerging partnerships in the marketplace, including collaborations between pharmaceutical manufacturers and direct-to-consumer platforms.

(12:14)Workforce challenges are explored, including:

• Competition for clinicians
• Provider burnout
• Flexibility offered by virtual care employers

(13:17) The panel examines future trends involving AI, including patients using AI to interpret labs and emerging AI-assisted prescribing models in behavioral health.

(14:24) Closing thoughts on how direct-to-consumer healthcare is reshaping patient expectations and forcing health systems to rethink care delivery models.

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Defining and documenting pharmacist interventions beyond prescription revenue is essential to demonstrating the full value of pharmacy teams. Host Carolyn Liptak is joined by Dr. Karen Thomas from the University of Illinois Chicago and Dr. Thom Platt from UK Healthcare to share insights from a multi-system survey exploring how interventions are captured and used. They discuss the variability in current practices, the important role of both pharmacists and technicians, and the opportunity to better quantify clinical and operational impact to C-suite.

Guests:

Karen C. Thomas, PharmD, PhD, MBA Associate Director, Specialty and Infusion Pharmacies University of Illinois Hospital and Health System

Thom Platt, PharmD, PhD, MBA ,BCPS Director of Specialty Pharmacy Services UK HealthCare

Host: 

Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BS Pharm Pharmacy Executive Director, Regulatory Compliance Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Show Notes:

00:05 – Introduction Overview of VerifiedRx and the focus on pharmacy practice excellence.

00:14 – Episode Overview & Guest Introductions Host Carolyn Liptak introduces the topic: capturing the value of pharmacist interventions beyond prescription revenue. Guests:

• Dr. Karen Thomas, University of Illinois Chicago
• Dr. Thom Platt, UK Healthcare

00:57 – Health System Backgrounds

• UIC serves a diverse urban population with a strong Medicaid and Medicare presence
• UK Healthcare supports patients across Kentucky and surrounding states, including rural populations traveling long distances for specialty care

01:48 – What Sparked the Research

• Originated from a Vizient work group focused on outcomes and value
• Need for clearer frameworks to document and report pharmacist interventions
• Lack of standardized guidance from accrediting bodies and payers

02:56 – Survey Goals and Key Findings

• Explored how health systems define and document interventions
• Identified major variability in data collection and reporting
• Found alignment in defining clinical interventions, less consistency in non clinical ones
• Included responses from 24 health systems

04:21 – Broader Impact on Pharmacy Practice

• Reinforces the value of pharmacist contributions beyond revenue
• Highlights prevention of hospital visits and improved patient outcomes
• Emphasizes the need to better capture and communicate this value

05:38 – Applying the Research in Practice

• UIC developed a structured framework and documentation tool
• Supports initiatives like waste avoidance studies
• Aims to quantify cost savings from pharmacist interventions

06:49 – Relevance Beyond Specialty Pharmacy

• Concepts apply across all pharmacy settings
• Data can support staffing, funding, and program expansion decisions
• Helps communicate value to internal and external stakeholders

07:52 – Role of Pharmacy Technicians

• 96 percent of sites report technician involvement in non clinical interventions
• Examples include resolving medication access issues and addressing social barriers
• Technicians play a critical role in patient support and care coordination

09:58 – Future Opportunities

• Push toward standardizing intervention data collection
• Opportunity to reduce duplication of effort across health systems
• Goal to create scalable, shared frameworks

10:41 – Strategic Value of Intervention Data

• Supports conversations with leadership and external partners
• Demonstrates impact on outcomes like reduced ED visits and length of stay
• Strengthens partnerships with payers and manufacturers

11:34 – Additional Resources

• Study published in the Online Journal of Pharmacy
• Link available for listeners to explore further

12:03 – Closing Remarks Final thoughts and appreciation for guests Call to action: subscribe, share feedback, and stay engaged with VerifiedRx

Links and Resources: https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/13/6/172

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