fall 2004 - walgreens · please continue to submit your questions to [email protected], and...

In this season of beautiful color changes, we’re making some colorful changes ourselves. We now have a new name, a new look, and a new brand.

We proudly present Walgreens Home Care’s new logo:

Our new brand reflects our caring attitude and emphasizes our relationship with our customers. It is clear and concise, just the way we do business. It also highlights the committed resources Walgreens offers to make us a national provider of high-quality, integrated home care services. As we embrace more fully the proud heritage of the Walgreens name, we want you to know that we pledge our commitment to excellence with every encounter—whether in person, by phone, or e-mail.

Within the next three months, most of our printed, painted, or projected materials will be updated with our new brand. Your account executive will provide you with these new items.

We are very excited about our new brand. And we look forward to continuing to serve you and your patients as Walgreens Home Care. Have a wonderful autumn.

– Ronald D. Allen, R.Ph., P.A.-C.

Vice President, Walgreens Home Care

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season is here. And Walgreens Home Care has a comprehensive Synagis® Program. Each year during fall through spring, approximately 125,000 babies are hospitalized with severe RSV infections that may cause long-term health problems. Like you, we’re committed to protecting pediatric patients from upper respiratory tract infections caused by RSV.

www.walgreenshomecare.com (continued on page 2)

Our New Look and Feel

Volume 1 Number 3 ©2004 Walgreens Home Care, Inc.

Fall 2004

WalgreensHome

Care

A Home Care Newsle t ter for Heal thcare Profess ionals

Synagis®

Program


Our flexible, multifaceted Synagis® Program can help make RSV season come and go more easily. These are some of the many services provided through our program:

• home nursing visits or dispensary services at convenient locations to administer injections.

• careful drug monitoring by our pharmacists.

• easy-to-read, monthly reports summarizing patients’ compliance and clinical progress.

• educational information for parents.

Enroll your pediatric patients in our Synagis® Program today, and take advantage of all our services this season. After your patient joins our program, we will provide you with monthly follow-up reports.

To enroll your patients, all you have to do is complete our Synagis® Program Fax Order Form and send it toll free to our pharmacy center at 1-888-249-5564. After we receive the fax form, we will call to confirm your patient’s registration and verify that the information is complete and accurate.

Flu Vaccine Shortage: Due to the nationwide shortage of flu vaccine, Walgreens is not offering shots in our retail stores. Walgreens is redirecting our supply of vaccine to healthcare providers who can ensure it is distributed to those at highest risk for flu complications.

Please disregard future newspaper advertisements for flu shot clinics, as these ads were printed prior to knowledge of the vaccine shortage.

Drug Discount Card: The Walgreens Health Initiatives Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program is designed to help seniors and other Medicare

beneficiaries save money on many of their prescriptions. Our card is honored at nearly 40,000 retail network

pharmacies— including Walgreens, Albertsons, Eckerd, Osco, Rite Aid, and Savon—as well as through mail service.

Medicare beneficiaries can obtain prescription savings from 10 to 25 percent or more.

Synagis® Program (continued from page 1)

Our Latest

News

(continued on page 3)

Our Latest News (continued from page 2)


In addition, beneficiaries who meet specific annual income requirements (less than $12,569 for an individual and less than $16,862 for a couple*) will be eligible for a $600 annual prescription credit.

We hope you will encourage your patients who do not have retiree pharmacy benefits to take advantage of this potentially cost-saving program. For more details about the Walgreens Health Initiatives Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program and enrollment information:

• request an enrollment packet from a Walgreens Home Care clinician.

• visit a local Walgreens pharmacy to pick up an enrollment packet.

• call Walgreens Health Initiatives Member Services toll free at 1-800-533-7606 (TTY: 1-888-411-0767).

*Income levels vary in Alaska and Hawaii.

New Numbers for Easier Access: We’ve made getting in touch with us even simpler! Instead of having a phone and fax number for each of our locations, we now have three national toll free contact numbers for Walgreens Home Care. Please take note of our new contact information.

Phone .................................................1-888-492-5442

HME/RT Fax ...................................1-888-246-6510

IV Fax ................................................1-888-249-5564

Infusion Referrals Made Simple: We can help make infusion referrals easier and faster for you with our convenient Walgreens Home Care Pocket Card. No more calls to insurance companies and no more time spent providing detailed information up-front, only to learn the referral can’t be accepted. With our new pocket card, infusion referrals can be made in two easy steps:

1. Call the pharmacy infusion center toll free at 1-888-492-5442.

2. Provide your patient’s information—name, date of birth, name of health plan, policy number, and type of infusion therapy ordered.


That’s all you need to do. We will verify your patient’s insurance eligibility. If we are authorized to provide service, we will expedite the infusion order; and if not, we will inform you which providers can serve your patient.

You can expect outstanding results from our expert infusion pharmacy team. Once we admit a patient, we manage the care process—from patient education and medication profiling to lab results monitoring. We also follow strict safety and quality control procedures during drug preparation and administration. In addition, we coordinate home nursing services.

We provide clinical excellence in these home infusion therapies:

• Antibiotics

• Antivirals

• Biotech/Injectable Drugs

• Chemotherapy

• Colony Stimulating Factors

• Hydration

• Immunotherapy

• Inotropics

• Pain Management

• Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

We also specialize in enteral nutrition therapy and nebulized respiratory medications. Walgreens Home Care provides statewide infusion coverage in Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin. And we cover most areas in Illinois and Indiana. Contact your account executive today for your own pocket card.

Following is a journal/summary review written by Carol Spielman Lezak, Following is a journal/summary review written by Carol Spielman Lezak, Following is a journal/summary reviewsenior communications specialist, Marketing.

“Older Adults Receiving Home Enteral Nutrition: Enteral Regimen, Provider Involvement, and Health Care Outcomes,” by Heidi J. Silver, PhD, RD, CNSD, et al. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 28:92-98, 2004Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 28:92-98, 2004Parenteral

Authors Silver et al surveyed a multiethnic sampling of 30 adults, on average 68.4 years old, during their first three months of home enteral nutrition. The study conclusions drawn from the in-home, structured interviews with their caregivers are consistent with the enteral feeding philosophy and care plans administered by Walgreens Home Care.


Leading with

Research

Our Latest News (continued from page 3)



The study was performed to examine the relationships among provider involve-ment, the enteral regimen itself, and healthcare outcomes for patients receiving their home care from an “informal” (family) caregiver. Among the variables considered were patient characteristics, the enteral nutrition regimen followed in the home, the prescription and compliance with it, provider involvement, and the actual outcome. The caregivers reported providing an average of 62 care hours weekly, with an average of 20 functional, care management, technical, and nutrition-related tasks. As Silver et al noted, “Overall, their reported need for training exceeded the number of tasks for which they reported receiving training. They were generally unprepared for caregiving, [and] lacked competence and confidence….” Reported adverse events included gastrointestinal complications, occurring in up to 63.3 percent of patients, which interrupted daily infusions; and water intake that was half the calculated need and associated with decreased urination. In addition, “complications and type of feeding tube were associated with unscheduled healthcare visits and readmissions.” Silver and her team concluded that more frequent monitoring, reassessment, and intervention from a multidisciplinary team that includes a dietitian can positively impact home enteral nutrition outcomes.

The above journal article supports our care approach and belief that obtaining maximum benefit and optimal outcomes from home enteral nutrition depends on attentive monitoring, and effective collaboration and training, among the patient, caregiver, nurse, and patient services representatives, along with consultation with a dietitian. Walgreens Home Care’s pilot program to further improve home enteral nutrition monitoring and patient compliance provides patients monthly, clinically focused phone calls to:

• ensure compliance and tolerance with the enteral formula

• monitor and avoid complications

• assist with timely reordering of products and supplies for home delivery.

In addition, the physician receives monthly updates about the patient’s compliance. Should further in-home clinical evaluation be needed, dietary or nursing consultation can be arranged. Since the inception of this monitoring program, Walgreens Home Care is achieving higher patient satisfaction, reductions in home enteral nutrition complications, and improved patient outcomes. This pilot will be implemented in all our facility locations in 2005.

Ms. R., a home oxygen patient, was traveling out of state for the first time since starting on oxygen and was a bit apprehensive. Nada—one of our respira-tory therapists from the state Ms. R. was traveling to—contacted and worked closely with Ms. R. to plan her trip so it was not only enjoyable, but safe as well.

Caring CountsA Case Study


Leading with Research (continued from page 4)


Ms. R. started making her travel arrangements a month prior to her flight to allow enough time—and it was a good thing she did. She soon learned the airline would not allow her to use her portable HELiOS™ unit onboard. After speaking with Ms. R.’s physician about this situation, he approved her making the three-hour flight without oxygen, as long as oxygen was waiting for her at the airport upon her arrival.

On Sunday, the day of the flight, Nada stopped by Ms. R.’s hotel (where the HELiOS™ liquid system was previously delivered) to fill the portable unit and make sure everything was in order. Nada then delivered the filled portable HELiOS™ unit to Ms. R. after her airplane landed and then rode two shuttles to accompany Ms. R. back to her hotel.

Ms. R. said her “anxiety was reduced to a manageable level,” and she only hoped that “there was a Nada in every city.” While we don’t have a Nada in every city, we do have many qualified, caring respiratory therapists in more than 40 cities.

Thank you for your questions. We are happy to provide you with information that is important to you and your patients. Please continue to submit your questions to [email protected], and indicate they are for this newsletter.

Q. What key reminders can I provide my patients when traveling with oxygen by car?

A. Traveling by car, where the pace is controlled, can be one of the best ways to travel with oxygen. Following are tips to make car trips safe and enjoyable:

• Patients should plan ahead and verify that enough oxygen is available to complete the trip. (Prior to the trip, Walgreens Home Care can supply contact information of dealers in the traveling area in case refills are needed.)

• An oxygen prescription should be carried with the patient.

• Compressed gas tanks need to be placed on the floor of the back seat of the car—not in the trunk— and secured to avoid their bumping together.

• Concentrators should be brought to be used when making stops overnight.

Caring Counts (continued from page 5)

HC Spectrum

Q&A



We're

Listening

Q. When traveling by public transportation, are there oxygen restrictions?

A. Compressed gas and liquid oxygen systems can be accommodated, but due to the electrical supply requirements, concentrators generally are not.

• If necessary, arrangements can be made to meet the patient to “top off” the oxygen supply along the way. Possible delays due to weather or mechanical problems should be taken into consideration.

• When traveling across the country, the patient should be aware of any significant altitude changes and discuss it with his or her physician.

Q. Where can additional resources about traveling with oxygen be found?

A. To find out more about traveling with oxygen:

• Request a copy of the Traveling with Oxygen booklet from Walgreens Home Care.

• Go to www.breathineasy.com or the National Home Oxygen Patients Association at www.homeoxygen.org.

• Call the transportation company that will be used for details.

We care about our patients and strive to provide the best service available. Below are some compliments from the many letters we receive from satisfied patients.

C.K. wanted to share with us how thankful he and his mother were for our help C.K. wanted to share with us how thankful he and his mother were for our help C.K. wanted to share with us how thankful he and his mother were for our help in finding answers to a complicated issue.in finding answers to a complicated issue.

[We were] trying to navigate the healthcare system for alternatives, explana-tions and any help I could get, and got nothing but conflicting, inaccurate and incomplete answers from various sources—ranging from my mother’s insur-ance plans to Medicare to a senior “help” center. [Your pharmacist’s] knowledge of infusion medication and the Medicare system, and above all, his incredible willingness to help, saved my mother from having an unnecessary six-week stay in a nursing home or an impossible $17,000 out-of-pocket expense for a once-a-day infusion of an antibiotic! I don’t know what I—or more importantly, my mother—would have done without him. Thank you so much.

HC Spectrum Q&A (continued from page 6)



Mark Your

Calendar

A Time to

Reflect


We're Listening (continued from page 7)

Another patient shares how happy she was with her quieter CPAP loaner—she Another patient shares how happy she was with her quieter CPAP loaner—she actually could sleep at night.

My CPAP machine is almost 10 years old and was making a terrible noise when I turned it on…. I would have had to go for another sleep study before I could get a new machine. The sleep study doctor’s office suggested I ask Walgreens if I could have a loaner machine in the meantime. Before you knew it, the respiratory therapist was at my door with a NEW machine.

Faith is the very first thing you should pack in a hope chest.

-Sarah Ban Breathnach -Sarah Ban Breathnach

In healthcare, one can sometimes encounter difficult situations. By having faith in ourselves and our work, we can transmit that energy to patients and give them the hope needed to help them in ways not thought possible.them the hope needed to help them in ways not thought possible.

This fall we'd like to acknowledge respiratory therapists and case managers for special recognition during the month of October. Respiratory therapists are the backbone of the respiratory care profession. Their ability to adapt to a wide the backbone of the respiratory care profession. Their ability to adapt to a wide range of situations, along with their caring devotion, help make patients’ path to independence a smooth journey. Case managers serve a unique role. They work closely with patients, healthcare providers, and payors to help prevent gaps in a patient’s treatment plan and coordinate services to provide the best outcome for patient’s treatment plan and coordinate services to provide the best outcome for all involved.

Respiratory therapists and case managers: We celebrate and thank you for your care and commitment to your profession!your care and commitment to your profession!

We will exhibit at these upcoming tradeshows/conferences: We will exhibit at these upcoming tradeshows/conferences:

• 20th Annual National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers Conference; October 14 to 17, Austin, Texas. To learn more, professionals Conference; October 14 to 17, Austin, Texas. To learn more, professionals providing care to the rapidly growing senior population and their families providing care to the rapidly growing senior population and their families can visit www.caremanagers.org, “News Room,” then “Calendar of Events.” can visit www.caremanagers.org, “News Room,” then “Calendar of Events.”

• 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of American College of Gastroenterology; October 29 to 31 and November 1 to 3, Orlando, Florida. For more informa- October 29 to 31 and November 1 to 3, Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit www.acg.gi.org. tion, visit www.acg.gi.org.

• 13th Annual National Workers Compensation and Disability Conference and Expo; November 17 to 19, Chicago, Illinois. For anyone involved in the and Expo; November 17 to 19, Chicago, Illinois. For anyone involved in the disabilities or workers’ comp industries, visit www.wcconference.com. disabilities or workers’ comp industries, visit www.wcconference.com.


Log on to the sponsoring organizations’ web site for more detailed information about these observances.

Observance Dates Sponsor Web Site

Healthy Lung Month All October American Lung Association www.lungusa.org

National Brain Injury

Awareness Month

All October Brain Injury Association

of America

www.biausa.org

National Case

Management Week

October 10

to 16

Case Management Society

of America

www.cmsa.org

National Physical

Therapy Month

All October American Physical Therapy

Association

www.apta.org

National Respiratory

Care Week

October 17

to 23

American Association

for Respiratory Care

www.aarc.org

National Spina Bifida

Awareness Month

All October Spina Bifida Association

of America

www.sbaa.org

Or to view observances for other months, visit the web site for the National Health Information Center at www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/.

The RSV Education and Support Program web site: www.rsveducation.com. Accessed September 2004.

Articles in HC Spectrum may be reprinted only by clients of Walgreens Home Care. Articles in HC Spectrum may be reprinted only by clients of Walgreens Home Care. Please attach the following statement: ©2004 Walgreens Home Care, Inc. Reprinted with permission.

Mark Your Calendar (continued from page 8)

“Talk About Prescriptions”

Month

All October National Council on Patient

Information and Education

www.talkaboutrx.org

American Diabetes Month All November American Diabetes Assocation www.diabetes.org

Great American Smokeout November 18 American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

National Family Caregivers

Month

All November National Family Caregivers

Association

www.nfcacares.org

National Home Care

Month

All November National Association for Home Care www.nahc.org

Susana Sancen

Editor

Mir Miller Hays

Susan Singer

Writers

Tim Buckley, RRT

Novartis AG

Consultants

Maria T. Perez

Designer

HC1077-1004

References

fall 2004 - walgreens · please continue to submit your questions to [email protected], and...

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