Page 30 - Christiana Care Focus April 2019

Innovation |
Taking bold steps
to reduce drug shortages
Christiana Care joins Civica Rx to help stabilize supply of essential generic drugs
As part of a nationwide effort to reduce chronic drug shortages, Christiana Care Health System has joined Civica Rx, a new nonprofit organization created to give health systems reliable access to essential generic drugs at an appropriate price.
Civica Rx is an innovative, collaborative initiative to reduce costs and increase stability and predictability in the supply chain of many generic medications.
“This innovative effort... has the potential to drastically improve our operating efficiency, which ultimately benefits the
hristiana Care joined Civica Rx for the opportunity to positively transform the existing generic drug pricing and supply model. Civica Rx will enter long-term contracts with both its health system partners and its
manufacturing partners to set the demand and assure that there is a dedicated manufactured capacity for the medications that hospitals like Christiana Care require to optimally care for its patients.
Civica Rx also will provide transparent pricing for all of the drugs it manufactures, so hospitals can understand the true price of making the drug and as a way to ensure the costs are sustainable.
Civica Rx’s unique business model is designed to ensure that essential generic medicines are consistently accessible and affordable within a robust and reliable supply chain.
The company plans to bring at least 14 hospital-administered generic drugs to hospitals and health care systems in 2019 as the initial focus of the company’s efforts, with many additional medications prioritized by the health care systems in the next phase of focus.
The company is working toward becoming a U.S. Food & Drug Administration-approved manufacturer and will either directly manufacture generic drugs or subcontract manufacturing to trusted supply partners. 
“In our commitment to deliver accessible, high-quality, affordable
care to everyone we serve, we are continuously looking for strategic C
partnerships and opportunities for innovation that will make a positive impact on the health and well-being of our community,” said Sharon Kurfuerst, Ed.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, FACHE, FABC, chief operating officer for Christiana Care.
“Our partnership with Civica Rx will enable us to gain access to more affordable drugs and ensure
that drug shortages do not negatively impact our patients. We are excited to be in this partnership which will ultimately impact the neighbors
we serve.”
Sharon Kurfuerst, Ed.D.
Civica Rx was established in 2018 by three philanthropies and seven health care systems which, like Christiana Care, have experienced firsthand the impact of generic drug shortages, such as the national shortage in saline in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
“Drug shortages are a significant challenge for hospitals across the nation,” said Terri Corbo, Pharm.D., BCPS, FASHP, vice president of Christiana Care Laboratory and Pharmacy Services. “At Christiana Care, we have a strong track record of successfully meeting the needs of our patients on a daily basis, but behind the scenes it takes tremendous effort and resources to respond to drug shortages when they do happen.
28 CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM
patients we serve.” Terri Corbo, Pharm.D.