MEDICALLY INTEGRATED PHARMACY ACCREDITATION
As the leading non-profit association for the patient-centered medically integrated oncology community, NCODA’s Center of Excellence Medically Integrated Pharmacy Accreditation Program is committed to empowering pharmacies to deliver positive, patient-centered care by providing leadership, expertise, quality standards, and best practices.
The NCODA Accreditation Program is based on compliance with the ASCO/NCODA Patient-Centered Standards for Medically Integrated Dispensing.
The ASCO/NCODA Quality Standards, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, were created to elevate oncology practices’ performance by focusing on dispensing oral medications in an outpatient setting. These Quality Standards help optimize patient compliance while allowing practices to be more cost-effective.
We recognize the importance of developing, endorsing, and continually improving these Quality Standards. That’s why NCODA works with experts within oncology practices to make sure we’re serving both patients and practices to the fullest extent.
NCODA CoE MIP Program Highlights
- First and only accreditation program designed specifically for medically integrated pharmacies
- Innovative patient-centered standards
- Without the presence of administrative burdens
- Designed to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of services, and decrease costs
- Provides a framework to foster improvement in medication adherence, reduce waste due to cost avoidance, shorten medication fill times, and improve patient and clinician satisfaction
- Benefits MIPs through adoption of quality standards and best practices and tracking valuable patient outcomes
- Eliminates clinical fragmentation through seamless coordination with the patients Care Plan Protocol
Pharmacy Accreditations
Designed for Oncology MIP
Designed for MIPs servicing multiple specialty disease states.
Designed for multi-specialty MIPs with significant oral oncology patient population.
NCODA Quality Standards
When establishing medically integrated dispensing (MID) services, MID organizations should focus on maximizing patient convenience. This means providing timely access to treatment, ensuring financial support, and delivering individualized patient education and monitoring.
PQIs improve patient satisfaction and lead to better outcomes through appropriate patient identification, standardized patient monitoring recommendations, increased speed to therapy, reduced cost and hospitalization, and improved adherence techniques for the patient and their medically-integrated teams.
Implementation of a successful MID service requires careful planning. We specifically created these foundational standards and systems to help MID organizations achieve the highest quality care for patients. In this Quality Standard, we outline the processes, operations, and workflows that support thriving, ongoing operations.
NCODA practices are data-driven, using Health Information Technology to accurately manage each patient’s condition and treatment across the entire team. The collaborative relationship that exists within medically-integrated organizations helps patients and physicians manage treatments in real-time. Because of this relationship, patients experience improved quality of care, which includes maximizing the duration of therapy and dose intensity, increasing adherence, reducing adverse drug reactions, and minimizing waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The accreditation standards provide a framework to foster improvement in medication adherence, reduce waste due to cost avoidance, shorten medication fill times, and improve patient and clinician satisfaction.
- Our accreditation program benefits MIPs through the adoption of quality standards and best practices and tracking valuable patient outcomes.
- The NCODA CoE MIP accreditation is preferred for the Prime Therapeutics IntegratedRx Oncology program.
NCODA CoE MIP Accreditation Programs are robust, meaningful, and budget-friendly. Our focus is on the patient, not the bottom line. Initial accreditation and subsequent reaccreditations cost $10,000-$13,500.
NCODA offers accreditation templates for purchase to assist practices in complying with the NCODA accreditation standards. Templates include, but are not limited to, clinical evaluation forms, error logs, new patient packet, training checklists and MIP standard operating procedures (SOPs). These templates help guide practices through the accreditation process and address ALL of the accreditation requirements. (link to resources page for purchase)
We provide an assigned reviewer with experience in pharmacy accreditation and pharmacy operations to answer questions and assist in ensuring compliance with standards. The assigned reviewer is available via phone or email to answer any questions through the entire process, such as accessing/navigating the portal, standard interpretation, and recommending best practices.
Documents may be uploaded to accreditation portal for review and feedback throughout the 4-month self-study period (prior to official submission of self-study).
Real time reviewer feedback allows the MIP to ensure compliance with NCODA accreditation standards before implementing new processes and helps to ensure fewer non-compliant findings on the self-study review report.
To apply for NCODA CoE MIP Accreditation, the organization’s Clinicians, pharmacy technicians, and practice administrators must enroll as members of NCODA and meet the following eligibility requirements:
- CoE MIP Accreditation
- The organization must be a medically integrated pharmacy currently dispensing oral oncolytics to approximately 50% of its patient population
- CoE MIP Multi-Specialty Accreditation
- The organization must be a medically integrated pharmacy.
- CoE MIP Multi-Specialty with Oncology Focus Accreditation
- The organization must be a medically integrated pharmacy currently dispensing oral oncolytics.
NCODA membership includes complimentary continuing education opportunities, up to date information on emerging trends and legislation, and opportunities to collaborate with experts in oncology. NCODA members have access to a vast library of helpful tools and templates that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the NCODA standards.
Accreditation is completed in steps over 8 – 12 months. The detailed process can be viewed here.
Accreditation training includes a comprehensive overview of the accreditation process,
standards, criteria, and guidance, as well as strategies for a successful accreditation outcome.
- Accreditation training is offered at each Spring Forum and Fall Summit.
- Individual accreditation training may be arranged by contacting the Director of Medically Integrated Pharmacy Accreditation.
Guidance and Support:
- MIPs are assigned an accreditation team comprised of an accreditation reviewer
responsible for documentation review/feedback, standard interpretation, process
questions, etc. and a surveyor responsible for conducting the onsite survey and
completing the final accreditation report. - The designated NCODA accreditation team is available to provide guidance, resources
and standard interpretation throughout the 8-to-12-month accreditation process and
beyond.
Additional Resources
- NCODA creates and warehouses resources on the website allowing MIPs access to a
comprehensive suite of resources to assist in patient management, financial assistance,
patient cost avoidance and waste tracking, staff development and training.