News

SIU Pharmacy offers cancer patients convenience, expertise

Published Date:


In January 2023, the SIU Pharmacy at Simmons Cancer Institute celebrates its 1-year anniversary. The pharmacy is located next to the Infusion Unit on the first floor of the Cancer Institute at 315 W. Carpenter.

Two pharmacists and two pharmacy technicians fill prescriptions and assist patients five days a week at the institute. Pharmacists Megan Stoller of Springfield and Christy Brewer of Chatham are both graduates of St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Certified Pharmacy Technicians Maxine Daniels of Springfield and Jessica Guenther of St. Paul, Minnesota, have a combined 36 years of pharmacy experience.

The SIU Pharmacy was established to provide patients with specialty medications that are not commonly available at general retail pharmacies. In addition to filling prescriptions and counseling patients on their medications, the providers work on Prior Authorizations, often an extra step required for insurance to cover the specialized drugs’ costs. Program Services Aide Jenny Bonds helps to coordinate financial assistance for patients who have large co-pays even after insurance coverage.
 
The pharmacy does not have all the ‘front store’ products of bigger retail chains, but the team plans around the patients’ unique schedules to have the proper oncology drugs available and prescriptions ready when an appointment brings them into SCI.
 
“We want it to be a positive and convenient patient experience,” said Megan Stoller. “We are right here in the same location as their doctor’s offices, so it cuts down on the turnaround time for their visit and increases their access to medication experts who specialize in oncology care.”
 
“This week we even did a ‘chairside delivery’ of some Emla cream to a patient receiving treatment in the infusion unit,” she said.

In the future, SCI hopes to expand the pharmacy services to provide soothing creams and anti-nausea medications to patients as they begin their journey, during the initial chemotherapy education. They also would like to collaborate with more insurance providers to serve a broader patient population.  

 

More from SIU News

hearing loss patient, now hearing better than ever

From Silence to Sound: Hearing Restored at SIU Medicine

With dozens of texts and calls coming in from anxious homebuyers and sellers, Kerris Osborn’s days are already full. Add in the demands of co-owning a busy deli with her husband, and it’s clear the
AMWA award logo

SIU physicians recognized with AMWA 2025 Inspire Award

The American Medical Women’s Association has selected seven physicians at SIU School of Medicine as recipients of the 2025 AMWA INSPIRE Award.
Art browsing at Denim & Diamonds

Denim & Diamonds marks 25 years of improved cancer research and care

Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU is hosting its 25th annual Denim & Diamonds fundraising gala on Saturday, October 11.