In this episode of Framework Focus, host Dr. Mark Fulton sits down with TJ Griffin, the Chief Clinical Officer at PharMerica, for an exploration of the Long-Term Care Pharmacy landscape as we begin a new year. In this conversation, the pair dive into the workforce challenges faced by LTC pharmacies. Griffin also explores the advancements in pharmacy practice, including an expanded scope and additional opportunities for pharmacies.
Griffin shared his journey in pharmacy from his early days in retail pharmacy in Florida to his now 20-year career at PharMerica.
“I wish I had learned about long-term care pharmacy in pharmacy school,” Griffin remarked. “But part of my effort now is talking to students going to pharmacy school… and trying to get the word out and get more kids excited about long-term care pharmacy.”
Griffin offered details about his role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among many highlights, his pharmacy was among the first to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as well as a supplier of more than $20 million in personal protective equipment to assisted living facilities. In addition, Griffin was a part of Operation Warp Speed. Operation Warp Speed was a public/private partnership initiated by the United States government to facilitate and accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
“It’s been an amazing journey through COVID,” Griffin noted. “I think our skilled facility partners… were heroes coming to work every day with everything they had to deal with.”
Later in the episode, Griffin offered his take on the expanded scope of practice in LTC Pharmacy as well as the additional opportunities for pharmacists to participate more in patient care.
“It has increased our ability to have a hospital-like formulary environment in certain states,” Griffin said. “Those changes don’t always happen quickly… but I think you’re seeing a little bit of that in every state.”
About PharMerica
PharMerica is the second-largest long-term care pharmacy in the country. They have 115 LTC pharmacies across 46 states. PharMerica is the national leader in pharmacy services, serving our partners in over 3,100 long-term care, senior living, IDD/behavioral health, home infusion, specialty pharmacy, and hospital management programs.
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Framework Focus is the first-ever podcast focused exclusively on Long-Term Care Pharmacy. We release a new episode on the second Wednesday of every month that addresses the hottest topics in LTC pharmacy through timely interviews with industry trailblazers, thought leaders, and LTC pharmacists. Follow and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen so you do not miss an upcoming episode.
