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Learn more about OnePulse connect for healthcare practices
Learn how we can advance patient outcomes with innovative technology solutions
Quick Answer: Medically Integrated Dispensing (MID), also known as In-Office Dispensing or Medically Integrated Pharmacy, brings specialty medication dispensing directly into healthcare practices. Patients can obtain their medications directly from their provider’s office instead of through an external pharmacy. According to NCODA1, integrated dispensing networks achieve less than 5% prescription abandonment (compared to 20% industry average), fill prescriptions in under 2 days (compared to 14-30 days), and maintain over 90% adherence rates (compared to 60% industry standard) as compared to external pharmacies.
For specialty practices managing complex therapies in oncology, rheumatology, neurology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and other fields, Medically Integrated Dispensing/In-Office Dispensing has emerged as a strategic approach for maintaining control over patient care coordination, reducing therapy delays, and capturing appropriate revenue for clinical services.
The need is urgent: according to IQVIA's 2024 report, patients starting new therapies abandoned 98 million prescriptions at pharmacies in 2023, with abandonment rates increasing as costs rise.² This represents a critical gap in care that integrated dispensing models are designed to address.
This article provides a comprehensive roadmap for implementing in-office dispensing at your practice.
Medically Integrated Dispensing, also known as In-Office Dispensing or Medically Integrated Pharmacy, integrates medication dispensing directly within healthcare practices instead of going through external pharmacies. This approach provides immediate access to prescribed treatments at the point of care, streamlining the process for both patients and practitioners.
Rather than sending patients to a separate specialty pharmacy or mail-order service, the practice itself fulfills prescriptions, maintaining continuity of care and enabling real-time coordination between prescribers, pharmacists, and clinical staff.
Traditional specialty pharmacy dispensing creates a fragmented approach to patient care. The physician prescribes, the prescription is triaged to an external pharmacy, and the pharmacy handles fulfillment separately from the clinical care team. This separation introduces delays, communication gaps, and abandonment risk.
In the in-house dispensing model, the pharmacy sits inside the physician's practice. Staff have access to the same systems that clinicians use, enabling them to see the patient's full clinical picture for informed decision-making and proactive intervention. Therapy is easily accessible to patients, often resulting in faster start to treatment for the best possible outcomes.
According to NCODA (National Community Oncology Dispensing Association)1, Integrated Dispensing Networks demonstrate significant improvements across key performance metrics compared to industry averages.
The shift toward in-office dispensing is accelerating. Research published in JCO Oncology Practice found that the percentage of oncologists in practices with medically integrated dispensing increased from 12.8% to 32.1% between 2010 and 2019, a 151% increase over the decade.³
In-house dispensing models are most common in specialties managing complex therapies with higher-touch patient support requirements:
The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) establishes federal requirements for prescription drug identification, tracing, and verification. Practices implementing medically integrated dispensing must ensure compliance with DSCSA expectations for dispensers, including trading partner verification, product tracing, and verification capabilities.
State pharmacy boards regulate dispensing activities, with requirements varying by state. Common considerations include pharmacy permits, pharmacist supervision standards, facility requirements, and controlled substance handling where applicable.
Elevate Health Technologies' OnePulse Connect - Dispensing is a complete, turnkey program for implementing In-Office Dispensing at your practice. From set up and credentialling, through implementation to patient management and beyond- our program enables your practice to quickly earn additional revenue by enhancing patient care- it's how medicine should work.
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Learn more about OnePulse Connect In-Office Dispensing here
What is Medically Integrated Dispensing (or In-Office Dispensing)?
Medically Integrated Dispensing integrates medication dispensing directly within healthcare practices instead of through external specialty pharmacies, providing immediate access to prescribed treatments at the point of care.
What outcomes do integrated dispensing networks achieve?
According to NCODA1, integrated dispensing networks achieve less than 5% primary prescription abandonment (vs. 20% industry average), time to fill under 2 days (vs. 14-30 days), adherence rates over 90% (vs. 60%), and secondary abandonment of 10% (vs. 30%).
What is DSCSA and why does it matter?
The Drug Supply Chain Security Act establishes federal requirements for prescription drug tracing and verification. Practices implementing in-office dispensing must ensure compliance with DSCSA expectations for dispensers.
Do practices have to use a specific supplier or GPO for procuring medications?
Not with OnePulse Connect–Dispensing. Elevate Health Technologies remains supplier and GPO agnostic, ensuring practices maintain control over their business relationships.
Can In-Office Dispensing work alongside In-Office Infusion (IOI)?
Yes. OnePulse Connect providers a truly integrated In-Office Infusion and In-Office Dispensing program, enabling your practice to have two complete new revenue streams and a truly simplified journey for patients.
This article outlines the best practices to implement In-Office Infusions
What is a practical first step for exploring MID?
Start by aligning stakeholders (operations, RCM, clinical leadership) on goals, then evaluate implementation support, DSCSA oversight, patient engagement, and system integration requirements. Schedule a consultative meeting with an experienced MID partner to develop a tailored implementation roadmap.
Elevate Health Technologies is committed to making healthcare better for everyone. We collaborate with healthcare providers, patients, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and payors to deliver innovative technologies that truly make a difference.
Our In-Office Dispensing and In-Office Infusion programs enable patients to receive their care and treatments from their most trusted site of care- their provider.
Learn more at ElevateHT.com
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