PCCA’s Clinical Services team responded to well over 45,000 calls from our members in 2023, assisted in more than 300 formulation developments, presented at 30 Speaker Bureau educational sessions and 39 PCCA training events, plus much more. In January 2024, they responded to approximately 4,500 calls with a satisfaction rating of 100 percent and an average resolution time of under 35 minutes (the average resolution time depends on the amount of calls received and may not always remain under 35 minutes). Data, however, does not truly reflect the behind-the-scenes, comprehensive and multi-departmental collaboration our Clinical Services team delivers to compounding pharmacies and the patients they serve. Nor does the data reflect the sincere gratitude and appreciation expressed by PCCA members with clinical services access.

You have a true treasure on your Clinical Services team! Don is a wealth of information, which he shares readily. I have enjoyed speaking with him over many years. Thank you!
— PCCA Member, January 2024

Formulation Development: Content Evaluation to Collaboration

Content evaluation focuses on ensuring the accuracy of clinical information contained in all presentations provided by various speakers, long before a seminar or educational event occurs. More importantly, it also involves assessing opportunities for new formula development.

For example, during a recent presentation review, a PCCA clinical compounding pharmacist noticed a specific formula requested by a doctor was not included in the PCCA formulation database. Our pharmacist contacted the member pharmacy that was developing the preparation and learned help was needed to resolve some formula issues. Shortly thereafter, our pharmacist reached out to the PCCA Formulation Development team. Through discussions and testing, they recognized incompatibilities between the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) contained in the original formulation. To rectify the issue, two separate formulas were created for simultaneous use, which eliminated incompatibility issues while addressing the physician’s original request. The collaborative nature between our Clinical Services and Formulation Development teams resolved a member-specific issue and created new formulations in the PCCA database, while ensuring seminar attendees had access to formulas and comprehensive information before the speaker walked onto the stage.

Deborah was very helpful! Our hospice doctor was very pleased with her suggestions and we are working on a formula for his patient.
— PCCA Member, January 2024

Collaboration Enables Comprehensive Support

By interacting with our compounding pharmacy members throughout various PCCA programs — including Concierge Compounding, Advisory Council and multiple PCCA Education events — our Clinical Services team often uncovers unmet patient needs that, in turn, help facilitate new product development at PCCA. In addition to sharing member insights with our R&D team, our Clinical Services team aids in product development by gathering additional information.

For example, during the development of SuspendIt^® Anhydrous, members of our Clinical Services team reached out to various healthcare specialists to understand how our new anhydrous suspension vehicle may help their patients. By sharing this information with other PCCA teams, our Science team knew to create case studies evaluating the use of SuspendIt Anhydrous in feeding tubes for hospice, geriatric and pediatric patients. Our Formulation Development team knew which formulations — including flavors — to develop and test. Our Clinical Services team members with expertise in animal care researched and shared the animal species that would best tolerate SuspendIt Anhydrous and those that are not good candidates.

In addition to the expert guidance PCCA Clinical Services team members provide daily for patients with specific conditions — from autism spectrum disorders to autoimmune diseases and beyond . PCCA members with clinical services access can also rely on this team for business and marketing support, as well as guidance on regulatory changes that impact community pharmacy.

Watch a short video, featuring PCCA Compounding Pharmacist Mark Gonzalez, PharmD, for a glimpse of A Day in the Life of a Clinical Services team member.

These statements are provided for educational purposes only. They have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not to be interpreted as a promise, guarantee or claim of therapeutic efficacy or safety. The information contained herein is not intended to replace or substitute for conventional medical care or encourage its abandonment.