Report Describes Oncology Pharmacy Practice Landscape in United States

Results from a national survey of Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association members offer a glimpse of the landscape of oncology pharmacy practice in the United States. Survey findings were published online ahead of print in the Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice.

“The highest number of oncology pharmacist full-time equivalents was dedicated to the ambulatory infusion or clinic setting,” reported corresponding author Shawn P Griffin, PharmD, of the University of California, Irvine, and study coauthors. “This is consistent with current trends in oncology care, as most treatments occur in the outpatient setting.”

The authors analyzed responses from 68 organizations: 40 academic centers and 28 community centers.

Responding organizations had a median 49 infusion chairs and a median 23,500 annual infusion visits, according to the study. Fifty-seven percent of pharmacy departments said they reported through a pathway led by a business leader, 24% to a physician leader, and 10% to a nursing leader.

Organizations had a median 16 oncology pharmacy full-time equivalents. At academic centers, 50% of inpatient and 30% of ambulatory pharmacist full-time equivalents were dedicated to clinical activities. At community centers, 45% of inpatient and 50% of ambulatory pharmacist full-time equivalents were dedicated to clinical activities, researchers reported.

Certification for oncology pharmacists was encouraged at two-thirds of organizations, while 18% of organizations required certification. Organizations reported a median four board-certified oncology pharmacists.
  
“This is the first comprehensive, nationwide survey that describes the practice of oncology pharmacy at health care institutions in the United States,” researchers wrote. “The results … lay the foundation for future practice-related metric and benchmarking research to evaluate and advance pharmacy practices at cancer centers across the country.”

Reference
Griffin SP, Signorelli JR, Lasko A, et al. Oncology pharmacy practice in the United States: results of a comprehensive, nationwide survey. J Oncol Pharm Pract. Published online May 16, 2023. doi:10.1177/10781552231174858