Cypress Care Announces First Place Finish at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s Annual Conference
Cypress Care, a Healthcare Solutions company, today announced a first place finish for research submitted at the 20th annual Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s (AMCP) educational conference. The observational study evaluated the effects of anticonvulsant use on opiate utilization and total prescription costs. The research confirmed that the introduction of anticonvulsants results in a decrease in opiate utilization while increasing total prescription costs after 90 days of therapy. The study found that total prescription costs increased slightly because anticonvulsants were added as a secondary medication.
Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) December 7, 2009 — Cypress Care, a Healthcare Solutions company, today announced a first place finish for research submitted at the 20th annual Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s (AMCP) educational conference. The first place prize was awarded to Cypress Care’s pharmacy intern, Scott Phillips, for research on drug therapies within the workers’ compensation industry.
Cypress Care is one of 12 locations chosen to host a student pharmacy intern from the AMCP/Pfizer national internship program. As a host site for the program since 2003, the company is allowed to choose a research topic for each of their pharmacy interns. Phillips worked under the tutelage of Chip Robison, Pharm.D., AMCP academic preceptor and director of clinical pharmacy services for Cypress Care. The study, “A Retrospective Analysis of the Effects of Anticonvulsant Use on Opiate Utilization and Total Prescription Cost in a Workers’ Compensation Population” was submitted in the descriptive research reports category.
“The use of opiates in the treatment of workers’ compensation patients is certainly a concern to all pharmacy and managed care professionals,” said Jim Andrews, R.Ph., senior vice president of pharmacy services. “We closely monitor opiate use because of our concern for each patient’s quality of care and the individual’s ability to return to work.”
The observational study evaluated the effects of anticonvulsant use on opiate utilization and total prescription costs. The research confirmed that the introduction of anticonvulsants results in a decrease in opiate utilization while increasing total prescription costs after 90 days of therapy. The study found that total prescription costs increased slightly because anticonvulsants were added as a secondary medication.
“This a great award for Cypress Care and for Scott,” said Robison. “As a result of his efforts and our participation in the national internship program, our customers are able to reap the benefits of Scott’s research and Cypress Care has been nationally recognized.”
As a core pharmacy service offering, Cypress Care stays abreast of drug utilization, cost trends and safety issues so that the latest information can be provided to customers. As a leader in the workers’ compensation and auto casualty markets, and a URAC accredited workers’ compensation pharmacy benefit manager, Cypress Care utilizes continuing research to educate customers and provide expert consultation on ways to improve clinical outcomes.
For more information, contact Nancy Hamlet, vice president of marketing, at 678-730-2467 or Chip Robison, director of clinical pharmacy services, at 678-730-2464.
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