Celebrating National Pharmacist Day: Specialty Pharmacy Spotlight

National Pharmacist Day is celebrated each year on January 12 and is a chance to celebrate the incredible work pharmacists do for patients. Pharmacists are a critical part of the healthcare system and regarded as one of the most trusted professions in America. Pharmacists do much more than dispense medications and specialty pharmacies like PFSP rely on the experience and expertise of their pharmacists to provide specialized care- pharmacists like Alisa Eibling.

Meet Alisa Eibling, PharmD, CSP, Pharmacist in Charge, Clinical Director, and one of the key team members at PFSP Specialty Pharmacy.

What is your official title/position- can you describe what that means a little?
Alisa: “Clinical Director /Pharmacist in Charge. This means that I am in charge in developing, maintaining and promoting our clinical program and ensuring patients have good outcomes. As Pharmacist in charge, it is my job to make sure we are operating within all board regulations, state and federal laws to ensure patient safety. In other words, I’m captain of the ship.”

Can you describe what a typical day might entail at work or some of the responsibilities you have?
Alisa: “In typical day, I am assisting in dispensing to make sure things run smoothly. I am ensuring that all patients have been counseled on their medications, that interventions are identified and resolved, that our clinical program is performing at the standard that it should be, resolving any issues that come up with patients, team members, systems or processes, analyzing and creating reports, developing and implementing new protocols or policies, preparing for Accreditation for URAC, Rare, ACHC. Meeting with team members to address any operational or clinical issues. Developing and implementing our training program, and precepting future pharmacy practitioners.”

Alisa is a Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP). This means she has met special credential to be recognized as an individual who has demonstrated knowledge and skill to provide competent specialty pharmacy services. The CSP credential indicates to employers, physicians, manufacturers, patients, payers, and the public that the pharmacist has proficiency in specialty pharmaceuticals.
Alisa: “Being certified in Specialty Pharmacy, validates all of the hard work that goes into preparing yourself to serve patients in these disease states. It not only demonstrates to yourself that you have the knowledge that it takes to practice in this field but also demonstrates to the patients that you can be a trusted resource for them. CSP also represents a desire to further our education and go beyond what we learned from school. It allows me to fulfill my desire for lifelong learning and I look forward to achieving more certifications in my career.”

What makes your work in specialty pharmacy unique?
Alisa: “Our time and attention to the patients to guide them through therapy and better outcomes sets us apart from many other organizations.”

What is the most exciting aspect or thing you like most about being a team member at PFSP?
Alisa: “Fast paced, creative, supportive environment where you can build a better pharmacy and patient experience.”

What motivates you at work?
Alisa: “Making healthcare work with whatever resources I can find. Far too many times healthcare fails the patients, I try to create ways to prevent that and fill the gaps in their care.”

Alisa is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill. Alisa, are you a sports fan? Who are you routing for?
Alisa: “UNC Tar heels, always!”

What is something special or unique you can share about being a PFSP team member?
Alisa: “Everyone has your back, no one is alone, we are truly a team.”

PFSP Specialty Pharmacy is licensed to ship specialty medications to all 50 U.S. states plus D.C. and have extensive training and resources to ensure patients get the care they need, where they need it when they need it. Because specialty medications come with strict protocols for storage and usage, delivering therapies without delay or interruption is key for patients to have a successful treatment journey.