Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer interact with many healthcare professionals and support service providers along their journey. They may see some providers only once or twice. Patients may see others regularly enough to think of them as family. There are some care team members who patients may not realize are very involved and have a huge impact on their treatment journey. The team of oncology pharmacists and oncology pharmacy technicians plays an extraordinary role, many times behind the scenes, in keeping patients safe and moving their treatments forward.

What is an Oncology Pharmacist?

According to the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, “The oncology pharmacist is often one of the few team members that fully understands the safety, efficacy, pharmacologic, and financial components of patient care in individuals with cancer.”^1. Their extensive education and training prepare them with an in-depth knowledge of treatment medicines as well as the ways these medicines and targeted therapies can affect patients. They understand treatments’ impact on patients in terms of interactions with other things, impact on patients’ other diseases or health issues, as well as spotting and managing side effects, and suggestions for navigating the costs of therapies. Oncology pharmacists are also involved in developing practice processes and policies, managing investigational therapies, and working with the clinical research team. Not only do they provide patient education, but they deliver important training to the whole medical care team to ensure the team stays up to date with the latest developments. 

Thompson’s Clinical Oncology Pharmacists:

Jessica Hodge, PharmD

Nicholeah Lewallen, PharmD BCPS

Cynthia Bogartz, PharmD

Kellie Cobb, PharmD

Russ Coble, PharmD

Olga Marlar, PharmD BCPS

Diana McDonell, PharmD

Rachel Peaytt, PharmD

Katy Robertson, PharmD

Kasey Smith, PharmD

Emily Stout, PharmD

Donna Swindall, PharmD

Aubrey Waddell, PharmD BCOP

What is an Oncology Pharmacy Technician?

Oncology pharmacy technicians play an integral role in the oncology pharmacy team. They are essential in the preparation and compounding of sterile hazardous medications. They have completed thorough training on sterile compounding ensuring our patients at Thompson Oncology receive quality medications. Their training also encompasses federal and state regulations regarding safe practices that confirm our patients, staff, and the public are protected from hazardous medication exposure. Not only do they compound medications but they also complete the necessary work to keep Thompson’s cleanroom suites in compliance with the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy.  Our technicians at Thompson Oncology are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and many are certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. 

Click HERE to learn more about Thompson Oncology Pharmacy Technicians.

What makes Thompson’s Oncology Pharmacy different from other cancer care centers?

At Thompson Cancer Survival Center and Thompson Oncology Group, we have an extraordinary clinical oncology pharmacy team. These highly educated and experienced professionals bring such value to our providers and clinical staff, but also and mainly to our patients.

Another patient safety process:

Examples of excellence in Thompson’s Oncology Pharmacy include:

*Each infusion services location has a pharmacy licensed by the Tennessee State Board of Pharmacy that staffs one or more pharmacists at all times of operations.

*An oncology pharmacist completes an initial review of each individual patient that comes into the infusion center.  This review includes but is not limited to the following:

• Reads current dictations completed by the provider to confirm that diagnosis and medications ordered match what has been noted by the provider
• Assesses appropriateness of medication usage. Confirming there is adequate research & clinical data to support the use of the drug for the patient’s diagnosis.
• Ensures medications are dosed according to guidelines and accurately using the patient’s current height and weight
• Evaluates all pertinent labs and scans to ensure it is safe for the patient to receive the medications ordered by the provider

*Once orders are confirmed to be correct and as intended, the oncology pharmacy technician prepares each patient-specific medication in a sterile environment compliant with all state and federal regulations.

*After an initial review by the first oncology pharmacist is completed, a second oncology pharmacist independently double-checks the orders and verifies the approval.

*The medication is then delivered to the infusion nurses for administration to the patient.

*The oncology pharmacists remain available for consultation or to address any questions or concerns

Follow this link to better understand some of the pharmacy team’s Tools of the Trade.