Multidisciplinary practice advancement: Role of a clinical pharmacy specialist in a pediatric specialty clinic.

Purpose: To describe clinical pharmacy specialists' role in improving the use of specialty medications within a pediatric outpatient setting.

Summary: The outpatient pediatric specialty clinic (PSC) at the University of Iowa added a clinical pharmacy specialist to multidisciplinary teams within the PSC to focus on patient education, providing clinical recommendations, coordinating insurance approval, addressing barriers to adherence, and performing follow-up monitoring. Supplemental activities include coordinating between the electronic health record-integrated on-site specialty pharmacy and the PSC, assisting with quality improvement projects, developing policy revisions, negotiating access to specialty products, and answering medication information questions.

Rheumatologic Medication Use During Pregnancy.

Chronic rheumatic diseases often occur in women of reproductive age, and the effect rheumatic disease has on pregnancy varies depending on the condition. Medical management of rheumatic diseases during pregnancy may prevent joint or organ damage and minimize the adverse effects of the disease itself on pregnancy outcomes. Each patient requires individual assessment to control disease activity while minimizing or avoiding medications with potential maternal or fetal toxicity.