Stepping Up During Crisis: Leveraging Pharmacists to Expand Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care

Course Description

The COVID-19 pandemic had many potential impacts on people with mental health and substance use conditions, including direct consequences of infection, effects of infection control measures, and subsequent societal changes. Infection control impacted how mental health and substance use disorder care is delivered. To meet the needs, many strategies were developed, including telehealth and digital tools like apps and websites for therapy. This shift to telemedicine appears to be welcomed for use in some contexts and will likely outlast the pandemic. However, many fear it has potential negative impacts on rapport and therapeutic relationships. In addition, it does not meet the needs of individuals without the access and expertise necessary to use the technology. Determining when and where to continue using innovations developed during the pandemic is needed. This session will describe innovative and emerging opportunities utilized to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder care, outline strategies to remove barriers to care delivery by pharmacists, and highlight best practices and treatment standards that were applied during the pandemic.

Published Research Related to this Session:
  • Gillespie C, Kleinberg F, Zogas A, Morreale A, Tran M, Moore T, Miller D, McCullough M. Perceptions of clinical pharmacy specialists’ contributions in mental health clinical teams. Ment Health Clin;12(1):15-22. https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2022.01.015
  • Groppi J, Ourth H, Tran M, Morreale A, McFarland MS, Moore T, Jorgenson T, Torrise V. Increasing rural patient access using clinical pharmacy specialist providers: Successful practice integration within the Department of Veterans Affairs. AJHP 2021. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxab011
  • Moore T, Groppi J, Ourth H, Morreale A, Torrise V. Increasing Access to Care using Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Providers in Outpatient Mental Health: Successful Practice Integration within the Department of Veterans Affairs. JAPhA 2020;60:S107-S112.

Learning Objectives

  1. Assess how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health/substance use disorder treatment standards and best practices.
  2. Evaluate innovations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve access to mental health/substance use disorder care during a time of crisis.
  3. Choose collaborative practice models that integrate pharmacist practitioners and enhance access to mental health/substance use disorder care.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Faculty

Veldana Alliu, PharmD, BCPS
Tera Moore, PharmD, BCACP
View biographical information

Veldana Alliu, PharmD, BCPS
National Program Manager, Clinical Practice Integration and Model Advancement, Pharmacy Benefits Management, Clinical Pharmacy Practice Office
Veterans Health Administration

Dr. Veldana Alliu is a National Pharmacy Program Manager for Clinical Practice Integration and Model Advancement with the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) Clinical Pharmacy Practice Office (CPPO). Dr. Alliu received completed her education at the University of Florida where she received Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology before receiving her Doctor of Pharmacy. She completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System in Lake City, FL and PGY-2 in Health-System Pharmacy Administration at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. 
 
In her current role, Dr. Alliu serves as a national pharmacy subject matter expert supporting clinical pharmacy practice in Substance Use Disorders. Her role includes spearheading optimization, integration, and standardization of Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners (CPPs) in direct patient care roles to improve Veteran access comprehensive medication management services. She is actively involved in both the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP). Within FSHP, she is the education coordinator within her regional chapter and was appointed to the state’s Ambulatory Care Clinical Council. Dr. Alliu has worked for the VA for over 10 years as a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner and Clinical Pharmacy Leader before joining CPPO in 2019.

Tera Moore, PharmD, BCACP
National PBM Program Manager
Clinical Practice Integration and Model Advancement Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM)
Aurora, CO

Tera Moore, Pharm.D., BCACP has served the VA for over 19 years and is the National Program Manager for Clinical Practice Integration and Model Advancement with the Department of Veterans Affairs Pharmacy Benefits Management Services, Clinical Pharmacy Practice Office (CPPO). In this role, Dr. Moore develops and manages initiatives that aid in demonstrating the value and criticality of advancing clinical pharmacy practice across VA facilities. She has a particular emphasis on program development, implementation and outcomes assessments designed to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacy services impact on the quadruple aim of health care including better care, reduced health care costs, improved patient experience and provider well-being in Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Substance Use Disorders and Neurology. As a component of support for clinical pharmacist practitioners and clinical pharmacy leaders, she leads the innovative mentorship and coaching efforts. These programs provide clinical pharmacy practitioners and clinical pharmacy leaders the skills and support to transform clinical pharmacy practice to the changing needs of patients as part of a high reliability organization.
 
Dr. Moore received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of New Mexico and completed an ASHP-accredited Ambulatory Care Specialty residency at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) in San Antonio, TX. She is a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist. Dr. Moore’s experience spans across clinical practice, residency program director and leadership roles including Associate Chief for Clinical Pharmacy Services and Acting Chief of Pharmacy. Dr. Moore is a past recipient of the Certificate of Commitment from the VHA Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Patient Care Services, the VHA Under Secretary for Health Pharmacy Benefits Management Innovation Award and the PBM CPPO was awarded the ASHP Board of Director’s Award of Excellence. She was a member of the National Quality Forum’s National Quality Partners™ Serious Mental Illness Action Team in 2019 and has given multiple presentations reflecting her expertise in clinical pharmacy practice and leadership. She also has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications. She is a long-standing, active member of professional associations including the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP). As part of these organizations, she is a member of the ASHP Council on Education and Workforce Development and the AAPP Professional Affairs Committee, Core Outcomes Set Task Force and Workforce Development Paper Task Force.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Date: 04/17/2023
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-23-005-H04-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPEThe American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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AAPP owns the copyright, is licensed or has received permissions for use of, or is otherwise permitted to use copyrighted materials within any CPE activity. Authors and speakers are required to obtain necessary copyright permissions for content in CPE activities. AAPP complies with copyright laws and regulations.

Questions? Contact AAPP.

View planning committee disclosures

2023 Program Committee and Recertification Editorial Board

Elayne D. Ansara, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Program Committee Chair
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
Veteran Health Indiana
Indianapolis, IN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jolene R. Bostwick, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Program Administrative Chair
Assistant Dean for Co-Curriculum and Professional Development & Clinical Professor
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
Ann Arbor, MI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Bridget Bradley, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor
Pacific University School of Pharmacy
Hillsboro, OR
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: ACCP PSAP May 2021, Neurology and Psychiatry Book
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: NACDS Community Pharmacy Residency Grant

Austin R. Campbell, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU
Columbia, MO
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Speakers Bureau
Financial Interests: Up To Date Contributor "Pharmacotherapy for schizophrenia: Long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs"
Non-Financial Interests: Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, Show-Me ECHO Project

Chelsea N. Carr, PharmD, BCPP
Advanced Practice Pharmacist - Psychiatry
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Catonsville, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Dana Chiulli, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist - Mental Health
VISN 06 Mental Health Clinical Resource Hub
Savannah, GA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jordan Cooler Haygood, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy
Columbia, SC
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Marissa Cullen, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist
UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Beth DeJongh, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Recertification Editorial Board Chair
Pharmacist
Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon, WI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

Bennett J. Doughty, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton, NY
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Achieve CE - CE provided for compensation, PsychU- Speaker's Bureau
Non-Financial Interests: New York State American College of Clinical Pharmacists Executive Board

Traci M. Dutton, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Mental Health; Program Director - PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Murfreesboro, TN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Member of VA PBM Educational Advisory Committee
which oversees Board Certification Study Groups

Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, MS
BCPP Program Director
Professor
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Psych U Section Advisor, Lexi-Comp Consultant/Reviewer,
SMI Adviser; Pharmacist Consultant
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: FDA/University of Maryland CERSI, Maryland Behavioral Health Department, NIH

Kimberly Ehrhard, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist, Psychiatry
The University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City , KS
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Michelle L. Geier, PharmD, BCPP
Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist Supervisor
San Francisco Department of Public Health
San Francisco, CA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Weitzman Institute Project ECHO Faculty
Abigail Hampton, PharmD, BCPP
Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist - Ambulatory
University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City, KS
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Courtney A. Iuppa, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Manager & Residency Program Director
Center for Behavioral Medicine
Kansas City, MO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Archana R. Jhawar, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist
Jesse Brown VAMC/ UIC College of Pharmacy
Chicago, IL
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kayla D. Johnson, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Thompsons Station, TN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Farah E. Khorassani, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Clinical Professor
St. John's University
Queens, NY
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Consultant- Alkermes (Sept 2021)
Dongmi Kim, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Clinical Professor
Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy
Florham Park, NJ
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jamie C. Kneebusch, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Clinical Faculty
UC San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy
La Jolla, CA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Erin D. Knox, PharmD, BCPP
Director of Experiential Education
UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Irvine, CA
Non-Financial Interests: Santa Ana Community College, Pharmacy Technology Program, Advisory Committee
Lauren E. Leiby, PharmD, BCPP
Behavioral Health Patient Care Pharmacist
Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Columbus, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Amber R. Lemons, PharmD, BCPP
Behavioral Health Pharmacist
Denver Health Medical Center
Denver, CO
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Linda D. Logan, PharmD, BCACP, BCPP, BCPS
Public Service Associate
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
Educational Grants, Research Grants or Contracts: HRSA Graduate Psychology Education Grant, CPNP Foundation Student Grant (Advisor),
UGA College Pharmacy Ansel Fund
Monica Mathys, PharmD, BCGP, BCPP
Professor
Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy
Dallas, TX
Non-Financial Interests: CPNP Foundation Board member

Lindsey N. Miller, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist and Associate Professor
Lipscomb University and Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Nashville, TN
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Social Security Administration- Board of Adjudication: Presentations on various disease states
Financial Interests: Pharmacy Times Panel Discussant- Payer Forum Sponsored by Alkermes (January 2020),
Pharmacy Times- CE Presentation Sponsored by Otsuka (August 2019)

Melissa Mitchell, PharmD, BCGP, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Director of Pharmacy;Residency Program Director
RUHS Medical Center
Moreno Valley , CA
External Consultant Activities, Advisory Panels, Speakers Bureaus, etc.: Neurocrine Speakers Bureau - Ingrezza, Janssen Speakers Bureau - Spravato,
Otsuka - PsychU.org Speaker
Thea R. Moore, PharmD, BCPP
Associate Professor
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jessica L. Mulhollan, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kristen Neumeister, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacist- Mental Health
John Peter Smith Hospital
Fort Worth, TX
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Megan O'Connell, PharmD, BCPP
Advanced Practice Pharmacist - Psychiatry
University of Maryland - Clifton T. Perkins Hospital
jessup, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Melissa C. Palmer, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Mental Health
Alaska VA Healthcare System
Anchorage, AK
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Haley Pals, PharmD, BCPP
Substance Use Disorder/Psychiatric Clinical Pharmacist
Tomah VA Medical Center
Tomah, WI
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Brittany L. Parmentier, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TX
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Jake R. Peters, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice/Clinical Pharmacy Specialist - Psychiatry
Butler University College of Pharmacy/Indiana University Health
Indianapolis, IN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Lindsey Peters, PharmD, BCPS
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Sarah J. Popish, PharmD, BCPP
Academic Educator
Department of Veterans Affairs
Vallejo, CA
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine
Tucson, AZ
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Heidi J. Wehring, PharmD, BCPP
Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose
Kara R. Wong, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Mental Health; PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Minneapolis, MN
No Relevant Financial Relationships to Disclose

All relevant relationships have been mitigated.

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Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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