How Specialty Pharmacies Are Becoming a More Central Part of Patient Care

In the second part of Pharmaceutical Commerce’s conversation with Bill McElnea, vice president of population health, and Hinal Sharma, diabetes clinical care coach, at Shields Health Solutions, the discussion centers on how health system specialty pharmacies can gradually scale high-touch support models and how their role within patient care may continue to evolve.

Speaking from the health system specialty pharmacy perspective, McElnea explains that expanding these models starts with building strong core specialty pharmacy competencies while preparing to support patients with comorbidities that extend beyond traditional specialty areas, including diabetes and COPD. He also notes that some patients require more support between appointments, creating opportunities for specialty pharmacists to play a larger role in chronic disease management.

Looking ahead, Sharma says she believes specialty pharmacies are moving toward becoming more of a primary hub within patient care, pointing to their ability to serve as a single, accessible point of contact that helps connect patients with guidance from the broader clinical care team. She adds that many specialty pharmacies are already expanding beyond specialty medications into maintenance therapies and durable medical equipment, reinforcing their growing role in care coordination and population health efforts.

Watch the first part of their interview with PC, live from Asembia AXS26:

1. Asembia AXS26: Rethinking Specialty Pharmacy as a Care Management Platform