The Role of Specialty Pharmacies in Treating Multiple Sclerosis

 Melville, New York, resident Ellen Scharaga holds a bachelor's degree in pharmacology from St. John's University. Since 2014, she has been an operational consultant at Alegria Specialty Pharmacy. In this role, Ellen Scharaga helps develop and provide specialty medications for managing chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune condition, impacts the central nervous system. It leads to coordination issues, limb weakness, visual difficulties, and in severe cases, immobility or disability. Doctors diagnose MS using imaging tests, lab analysis, and clinical evaluation. Treatment usually involves therapies, medications, or disease-modifying treatments to manage symptoms and slow progression.

Patients with MS can benefit from specialty pharmacies that offer specialized medication and support services for conditions like MS. Besides providing high-cost medication, these pharmacies offer patient education, medication management, and monitoring. Given the complexity of biological medications for MS, having the necessary expertise and resources for safely storing and transporting them is crucial.

Specialty pharmacy care is also valuable for patients with MS since it allows them to optimize their treatment. Skilled specialty pharmacists have direct contact with these patients to assess and monitor them proactively and address any concerns. Research shows that patients with MS receiving specialty pharmacy care experience fewer relapses than those utilizing community pharmacies.

Steven G. Avey Award - Recognizing Managed Care Pharmacy Professionals

 An operational consultant at Alegria Specialty Pharmacy, Ellen Scharaga has served in numerous leadership roles within the pharmaceutical industry. With over 30 years of experience, she has offered services in multiple diagnostic and treatment centers within the New York metro area. Ellen Scharaga maintains membership with numerous professional organizations, including the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy.

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) seeks to boost patient health by ensuring patients can access high-quality treatment and medications at an affordable cost. AMCP achieves its mandate through its philanthropic wing, the AMCP Foundation, which nurtures leaders in the managed care pharmacy industry. An honor granted by the AMCP Foundation, the Steven G. Avey Award seeks to recognize outstanding health care professionals who’ve demonstrated commitment and excellence in their contribution to the managed care pharmacy practice.

The award is named in honor of Steven G. Avey, a respected managed care pharmacy leader who made significant industry contributions. Since its inception in 2001, the award acknowledges visionary individuals who have contributed immensely to areas of research, clinical practice, public policy and education, and administration.

Areas of excellence considered for the award are professionalism, research, innovation, advocacy, and collaboration. Nominees are also expected to share Steven G. Avey’s worthy personal qualities, which included a passion for integrity, vision, and volunteerism. To be eligible for the award, candidates shouldn’t be current AMCP board directors, AMCP and AMCP Foundation employees, or AMCP Foundation trustees. Considered the industry’s highest honor, the Steven G. Avey Award is presented annually as part of the foundation’s mission to improve the collective understanding about the evolving nature of patient care.

What Causes Multiple Sclerosis?

 A graduate of St. John's University with a BS in pharmaceutical sciences, Ellen Scharaga has worked for many pharmaceutical businesses over the course of her career. Ellen Scharaga serves as an operational consultant with Alegria Specialty Pharmacy, where she helps the company develop and deliver innovative specialty medications for chronic illnesses like HIV, hepatitis C, and multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that originates in the brain and spinal cord but is caused by a malfunctioning immune system. The immune system in a healthy person fights infection by attacking foreign invaders (bacteria or other harmful cells) before they can cause health complications or illnesses. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks and destroys the protective layer around brain cells (neurons). This protective layer is called the myelin sheath.

The myelin sheath is not a foreign invader - rather, it is an integral element in the nervous system that helps brain cells communicate with each other. Cells that are abnormally deprived of these sheaths lose the ability to relay information across the brain and spinal cord. The consequence of this phenomenon is a reduced level of function in the brain and the areas of the body the brain communicates with.

The signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) vary in type and intensity. Often, multiple sclerosis is presented with a combination of two or more symptoms that may include muscle paralysis, chronic fatigue, vision loss, loss of balance and coordination, and sexual dysfunction. In some people, MS results in cognitive decline and bladder problems. At present existing treatments for MS focus on managing the symptoms, since the disease cannot be cured.

HOPA Annual Conference Offers Numerous Educational Opportunities

A former senior vice president of oncology pharmacy services with OncoMed, Ellen Scharaga possesses more than three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Currently serving as an operational consultant for Alegria Specialty Pharmacy, Ellen Scharaga belongs to such professional organizations as the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA).

As part of its efforts to advance and promote hematology and oncology pharmacy care, HOPA hosts several conferences and events during the year, including its annual conference. 

The HOPA Annual Conference is designed for pharmacy researchers, technicians, residents, and pharmacists working in the field of oncology and hematology. An educational event, it provides attendees with cutting-edge information about treatment guidelines, new technologies, and new clinical trials that improve patient care quality and health care delivery. Attendees are also given the opportunity to participate in clinical decision-making and new health care initiatives during the event.

In addition to providing attendees with educational benefits, the HOPA Annual Conference grants numerous networking opportunities. Poster sessions at the event allow HOPA members to present their work and engage with their colleagues.

HOPA’s 13th Annual Conference was held from March 29 to April 1, 2017, at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Conference sessions from the event can be purchased from HOPA online.

Osteoarthritis - Symptoms and Risk Factors

Ellen Scharaga of Melville, NY, serves Alegria Specialty Pharmacy in her capacity as an operational consultant. The pharmacy offers patients high-touch service. Ellen Scharaga helps in the delivery of new treatments for a range of conditions, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and arthritis. 

Osteoarthritis, the most prevalent type of arthritis, occurs when the cartilage at the ends of the bones becomes worn down. The hands, lower back, neck, knees, and hips are the most typically affected areas. Early warning signs include pain, stiffness, a grating sound or sensation in the joint, and a loss of flexibility. Bone spurs, which take the form of hard lumps around affected joints, may also develop.

It is more likely for women to develop osteoarthritis than men. The presence of other diseases, engagement in occupations that place stress on certain joints, and bone deformities all elevate the risk of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis has no cure. However, treatment can help one to manage the pain and slow the condition’s development.