Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Joins Global Leaders of Medically Integrated Practices to Advance Patient Care

Fort Myers, Fla., November 3, 2022 – Physicians and leaders of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) joined key influencers and oncology care professionals at the 2022 National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA) International Fall Summit held in Orlando, Oct. 27 – 29.  The multi-day gathering of global oncology care professionals focused on exploring new opportunities to improve patient care in medically integrated practices through numerous educational and networking opportunities.

Several discussions featured leaders from Rx To Go, the in-house oral oncolytic pharmacy of FCS, that works exclusively with the statewide practice’s physicians, clinicians and patients to provide timely dispensing and convenient home delivery of medications. The expert Rx To Go team of pharmacists, technicians and staff deliver an advanced level of personalized assistance and disease management so that patients achieve optimal clinical outcomes.

FCS Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Services Ray Bailey, BPharm, RPh served in the pre-conference session, “Step By Step to Begin in Office Dispensing Workshop” as well as a session entitled “NCODA’s Non-Profit Partner Update and Recipient Story: Be the Match.”

FCS Associate Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services, RxToGo, Roger Orr, PharmD, BCOP, conducted a session on “An Overview of FGFR Inhibitors.”

“NCODA has been, and remains, a valuable partner to FCS,” notes FCS President & Managing Physician Michael Diaz, MD. “The landscape for oncology-based pharmaceuticals is constantly evolving as new drugs, studies and protocols enter the market. Medically integrated practices across the globe, including our own, benefit greatly from sharing and engaging in the discussions presented in this forum.”

Additionally, Rx To Go leaders also had the opportunity to highlight their work in medically integrated pharmacies.

FCS and Rx To Go Associate Directors of Pharmacy Clinical Services, Chris Elder, PharmD, BCOP and Roger Orr, PharmD, BCOP, are participating in the Medically Integrated Pharmacy Residency program, spearheading a future residency program that will be a part of the state-wide practice. Together they provided information and recruitment for residents attending the summit.

Associate Director of Specialty Pharmacy Nursing Services – Rx To Go, Dawn Landolph, RN, BNS, OCN, MPA wrote: Nurses, An Essential Role in the Medically Integrated Pharmacy Space in the Fall issue of Oncolytics today, NCODA’s publication.

Director of Quality and Compliance – Rx To Go, Kara Sammons, RPht, CPhT, MSPharmReg, wrote a career advancement article: So, you’re a Pharm Tech… now what? in the Fall issue of Oncolytics today, NCODA’s publication.

Beyond the three-day event, several FCS physicians, clinicians, pharmacists and leaders are actively involved in NCODA committees, those members are:

• Lucio Gordan, MD, FCS Chief Medical Officer of Therapeutics & Analytics – Accreditation & Working Group, Executive Accreditation Council
• Kara Sammons, MSPharmReg, CPhT, FCS Director of Quality and Compliance, Rx To Go – Co-Chair Accreditation Working Group
• Lauren Trisler, PharmD, FCS Clinical Oncology Pharmacist – Positive Quality Intervention (PQI) Committee, IV Chemotherapy Education (IVE) Committee
• Chris Elder, PharmD, BCOP, FCS Associate Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services – Chair, IV Chemotherapy Education (IVE) Committee, Clinical Planning Subcommittee
• Kristen Boykin, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, FCS Director of Pharmacy Operations – IV Chemotherapy Education (IVE) Committee
• Jeanine Ewing, PharmD, BCOP, FCS Clinical Oncology Pharmacist – IV Chemotherapy Education (IVE) Committee
• Austin Cox, PharmD, FCS Senior Director of Trade Relations, Rx To Go – Chair, Treatment Support Kit Committee

“Our Rx To Go and Pharmacy teams continue to set the bar as world-wide leaders in quality improvement initiatives that directly and positively impact patient care. Their contributions have led to significant improvements in both patient experience and outcomes,” says FCS Chief Executive Officer Nathan H. Walcker. “We thank NCODA for providing the opportunity for our leaders to share their experience and expertise on this international stage.”

Rx To Go is accredited by URAC for Specialty Pharmacy, Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) with Oncology Distinction, and dually accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®) for specialty pharmacy and digital pharmacy practice.

NCODA is a globally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to building a patient-centered, medically integrated community of health care providers whose focus is to innovate the continuity of cancer care so that every patient receives the maximum benefit from their cancer treatment.