Last month, the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) announced the opening of the Westchester Medical Center Specialty Pharmacy, which is especially meaningful for those with complex, chronic, or rare conditions.
The new specialty pharmacy brings WMCHealth physicians, pharmacists, and patients together in one care environment to help patients obtain, understand and stay on specialty medications that often require close monitoring, prior authorization support and ongoing clinical follow-up. It’s a change that’s more meaningful than just opening doors to a new pharmacy.
A More Organized System
“For patients in Westchester County, this means they no longer have to navigate a fragmented system to access some of the most complex medications in healthcare,” says Urshila Shah, PharmD, BCPS, CPEL, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer at WMCHealth. “A patient may receive care from a WMCHealth specialist, but historically the prescription could be routed to an external specialty pharmacy or national call center that is not directly connected to the physician, nurse, pharmacist, or medical record,” she adds.
She notes that that disconnect can create delays, repeated phone calls, uncertainty and frustration at a time when patients are already managing a serious diagnosis.
“Those delays are especially concerning for patients with cancer, autoimmune disease, HIV, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, or pediatric conditions where time to therapy matters,” says Shah. “We are seeing the greatest opportunity in closing the gap between the moment a provider prescribes a treatment and the moment the patient can actually start it.”
“Patients should not have to leave the Hudson Valley to receive highly coordinated, world-class specialty care,” shares Shah. “Specialty pharmacy is often the bridge between the provider’s treatment decision and the patient’s ability to actually begin and stay on therapy. By keeping that bridge local and integrated, we can make the care journey less burdensome and more reliable for patients across Westchester and the Hudson Valley.”
A Balanced Approach
The WMCHealth team works directly with patients and providers to investigate benefits, complete payer requirements, identify available assistance programs, and reduce out-of-pocket barriers whenever possible. The team also supports medication counseling, refill coordination, clinical follow-up, and delivery options so that patients do not have to manage the logistics alone. Their approach is centered on meeting patients where they are and making the system easier to navigate, especially for those who may otherwise delay or abandon therapy because the process feels overwhelming.
Future Health Goals
Looking ahead, this capability will support the broader growth of complex care across WMCHealth, including oncology, complex pediatrics, transplant, cellular therapies, gene therapies, infusion services, and other advanced treatment programs.
“Our goal is for patients in Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and beyond to know they can access sophisticated therapies and the support required to sustain them without leaving the region,” says Shah. “We want Westchester to be known not only for advanced clinical expertise, but for a patient experience that is coordinated, personal, and easier to navigate.”
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