Amber Ray Community pharmacists are well aware of how difficult it is for people to properly take their prescription medications; however, many pharmacists struggle with how to systematically figure out why. Only about 50% of people take their medications as … Continued

By Serena Mahalingam In 2008 the World Health Organization created the Commission on Social Determinants of Health to awaken society to the influences of social factors on health and health inequities. Though not a new idea, the commission felt it … Continued

By: Amber Ray Health is strongly impacted by the conditions in which people grow, learn, work, and live. Consider, for example, the health implications of trying to exercise in a neighborhood with no sidewalks, being unable to read a prescription … Continued

By: Amber Ray Do pharmacy quality measures actually measure pharmacy quality? Quality Basics There are two fundamental problems with the US healthcare system: cost and quality. It is well-known that the US spends more than any other country on healthcare. … Continued

About the author: Toneth Sang recently completed her first year at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Drug prices in the United States (US) far exceed that of other industrialized nations. For instance, the price of the top 20 highest-revenue … Continued

By: Amber Ray The Perils Facing Safety Net Organizations Safety net practices, those “providers that organize and deliver a significant level of health care and other needed services to uninsured, Medicaid and other vulnerable patients,” help make up the fabric … Continued

Reflections from the Inaugural Medication Optimization Summit By: Amber Ray Chapel Hill – Often discussed but rarely understood. This is how many view the concept of “value” in healthcare. This is in part due to the complexity of improving health … Continued

Chapel Hill, NC – The Center for Medication Optimization (CMO) is pleased to announce that it has received a $200,000 translational grant from The Eshelman Institute for Innovation, in collaboration with UNC Health Care, AlignCare Services, LLC, and Affiliate Health … Continued

Author: Amber Ray What’s on the horizon for Medicare technology-based healthcare in 2019 Part 1 of our blog about technology-based services and the role of pharmacists In the age of convenience and connectivity, information has become accessible in quantities and … Continued

Ben Urick, PharmD, PhD Research Assistant Professor Ben Urick is a health services researcher in the Center for Medication Optimization. Dr. Urick’s primary research focuses on the role of community pharmacists in the evolving healthcare system and the use of … Continued