THE PCCA BLOG

Chronic Pain, Hormones and Inflammation: Connecting the Dots at CONNEXT 2026

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:21:34 GMT

Featuring Sarah Zielsdorf, MD, MS, ABIM, IFMCP

Some patients don’t fit neatly into diagnostic categories. They’ve collected labels over time: fibromyalgia, endometriosis, mast cell activation, dysautonomia. Their labs fluctuate. Their symptoms overlap. They react to medications that are supposed to help. And too often, they leave appointments feeling unheard.

At CONNEXT 2026, Dr. Sarah Zielsdorf will address these complex intersections head-on — not as isolated conditions but as interconnected patterns across the endocrine, immune and inflammatory systems.

She’ll open the week alongside Sebastian Denison, RPh, in a live “Morning Warm-Up” session designed to answer unfiltered questions and fill education gaps for newer practitioners. It’s a practical starting point for a deeper conversation, grounded in real-world clinical uncertainty rather than textbook simplicity.

From there, Dr. Zielsdorf will move into one of the most challenging areas in modern medicine: chronic pain in women’s health. Conditions like adenomyosis, endometriosis and fibromyalgia are often treated as separate diagnoses. But she invites clinicians to look at what links them, including the spectrum of mast cell activation disorders, from MCAS to systemic mastocytosis, and their associations with dysautonomia and hypermobility spectrum disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

For many patients, these are not isolated problems but overlapping systems under stress. Supporting them requires compassion — and often compounded, individualized therapeutics due to sensitivities, allergies and trigger reactivity. Dr. Zielsdorf will discuss practical strategies, including low-dose naltrexone (LDN), bioidentical hormone therapy (bHRT), ketotifen and oral peptides — not as trends, but as tools that require thoughtful dosing, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and careful patient selection.

This theme will continue in her session on autoimmune and rheumatologic conditions, where inflammation is not simply a symptom but a driving force. She'll explore the expanding spectrum of autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders and the mediators that fuel them: diet, trauma, microbial influences and environmental triggers. LDN’s mechanisms of action and clinical applications will be examined in detail, alongside safety profiles and practical implementation considerations.

Inflammation is also central to hormonal transitions. During perimenopause, menopause and andropause, Dr. Zielsdorf frames the conversation around inflammaging — the chronic, low-grade inflammation that accelerates age-related disease — and metaflammation, the metabolic inflammation tied to metabolic dysfunction. She'll explore the role of the gut microbiome, intestinal hyperpermeability, circadian rhythm disruption, HPA axis dysregulation, thyroid imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction and weight gain — all through a systems-based lens.

The message is clear: Endocrine systems do not function in silos. As the science of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy continues to evolve, compounding pharmacies play a critical role in delivering precision therapeutics, especially for patients who cannot tolerate standard formulations or require individualized dosing strategies. Sebastian Denison’s complementary lectures will reinforce how these therapies translate into practical compounding solutions, bridging clinical insight with pharmacy application.

At its core, Dr. Zielsdorf’s presence at CONNEXT 2026 represents something bigger than a series of lectures: a shift toward integrative, systems-informed care that recognizes complexity rather than flattening it. If you treat patients navigating chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory conditions or hormonal transitions, these sessions will provide both clarity and direction.

Join us at CONNEXT 2026 and be part of the conversations redefining individualized care.

What’s in Store at the LDN Virtual Conference

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:53:03 GMT

Individuals who suffer from symptoms of gastrointestinal, autoimmune, dermatological and pain conditions make up 80% of the patient population. But here’s the good news: multiple studies indicate that low-dose naltrexone (LDN) may potentially help many of these conditions. Take a sneak peek at topics our Clinical Services team will discuss during the Low-Dose Naltrexone One-Day Virtual Conference on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

The Immune System — Autoimmune Conditions and the Benefits of LDN

by Catherine Henderson, PharmD, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

LDN has long been touted for its effects in autoimmune disorders. Understanding the mechanisms of LDN action involves diving deeper into immune system function and the irregularities that occur in autoimmune disorders. We’ll explore the data related to LDN’s various mechanisms for improving disease symptomatology and quality of life, as well as review real world published studies and cases of LDN use in various autoimmune disorders.

Dermatological Inflammatory Diseases and LDN

by Nat Jones, RPh, FAPC, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

LDN is growing in popularity in the dermatology world. It has proven to be beneficial for pruritus and inflammation due to its ability to attenuate toll-like receptors found in the skin. We’ll discuss two cases: one of a tattoo allergic reaction and one of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Tattoo reactions to the coloring agents can be intense and difficult to treat. HS is a chronic inflammatory, potentially scarring, skin disease primarily affecting apocrine gland-rich areas of the body (axillary, groin, perianal, perineal regions and abdominal folds), often mediating pain and considerable morbidity, both physical and psychological.

The Use of LDN in Veterinary Patients

by Katy Hecker, PharmD, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

As pet owners, we lovingly share many things with our pets including treats, affection and half of the bed. Research suggests we also share similarities in physiological function, disease state manifestation and treatment modalities utilized. Join in the discussion and learn more about the science behind LDN for veterinary clinical indications including behavioral disorders, atopic dermatitis, osteoarthritis, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and more!

Perimenopause and Menopause Are Inflammatory Conditions: The Use of LDN for Hormones and Weight Loss

by Sara Hover, RPh, FAARM, PCCA Director of Clinical Services

Understanding the inflammatory processes that characterize perimenopause and menopause will shed light on how the hormonal changes contribute to weight gain and obesity. Central to this discussion is the shift in estrogen profiles — from estradiol, which possesses anti-inflammatory properties, to estrone, a pro-inflammatory estrogen that becomes predominant during menopause. This hormonal transition fosters an inflammatory state that can disrupt metabolism and promote adiposity. Additionally, the presentation will explore various options aimed at reducing inflammation and managing weight effectively. Key strategies include optimizing sleep quality, utilizing probiotics to support gut health and implementing LDN as an innovative therapeutic approach. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms linking menopause to inflammation and weight gain, along with practical interventions to enhance health and well-being during this pivotal life stage.

Using LDN for Chronic Pain Conditions

by Tricia Heitman, PharmD, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

LDN is gaining attention for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to manage pain and opioid addiction. By acting on the opioid receptors at lower doses, LDN enhances endorphin production, which can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain associated with various conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders. Many patients report significant relief from chronic pain and inflammation while taking LDN. We will discuss the appropriate doses and review the literature associated with LDN and pain.

LDN for Gut Inflammatory Disorders

by Ranel A. Larsen, PharmD, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

LDN is emerging as a promising therapeutic option for enhancing gut health, particularly in the context of IBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). LDN helps to regulate immune responses, improve epithelial barrier function and reduce inflammation within the gut, all of which are critical for maintaining intestinal homeostasis. In IBD, LDN may lower disease activity and enhance quality of life, while in IBS, it can alleviate symptoms such as pain and bloating. Overall, LDN's role in improving gut health underscores its therapeutic potential to support management of complex gastrointestinal disorders.

How to Market LDN Studies

by Mark Gonzalez, PharmD, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

Today’s compounding pharmacist wanting to effectively market LDN to practitioners and patients has access to tools that were not as available 20 years ago when LDN started to become popular. Clinical studies, therapeutic reviews and case series are now readily available to substantiate what were once only theories on the effectiveness of naltrexone in autoimmune disorders. These studies span a wide array of specialties and medical conditions. Research groups such as the LDN Research Trust, publications such as the series of three LDN books and many of the clinical presentations given on the subject of LDN all reference these studies. The pharmacist and marketer must leverage the power of this data as part of their communication to both the practitioner and the patient they are marketing to. With the additional aid of social media, positive patient stories can accompany the data from these clinical studies to make for attractive and effective marketing.

Register for the Low-Dose Naltrexone One-Day Virtual Conference today and get more details — plus more information — on the potentials of LDN. We look forward to additional discussions and answering your questions!

These statements are provided for educational purposes only. They have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not to be interpreted as a promise, guarantee or claim of therapeutic efficacy or safety. The information contained herein is not intended to replace or substitute for conventional medical care or encourage its abandonment.

The Power of Kindness

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:59:17 GMT

by Brian Williams, Founder, Think Kindness, ThinkNext: International Seminar 2024 Keynote Speaker

I'm thrilled to speak at the upcoming ThinkNext: International Seminar 2024 (ThinkNext24) in October. My keynote, "The Power of Kindness: Strategies to Unite and Elevate Your Organization," isn't just another feel-good presentation — it's a call to action backed by science and proven results.

For nearly two decades, I've sparked kindness movements in more than 1,200 corporations, schools and other entities. What I've discovered is that kindness isn't just nice to have — it's a powerful catalyst for business growth, employee satisfaction and community impact. In the competitive world of independent pharmacies, kindness can be your secret weapon for success.

During the keynote, I will unveil strategies to help you:

Boost employee morale and productivity through simple acts of kindness.
Create marketing campaigns that resonate deeply with your community.
Increase customer loyalty by fostering a culture of compassion.
Differentiate your pharmacy in a competitive market.
Implement kindness-based leadership practices that inspire your team.

I'll share real-world case studies of small businesses that have implemented kindness-based strategies and seen remarkable results. From increased foot traffic to improved customer experience, the impact of kindness on the bottom line — which I call "Kindness ROI" — is undeniable.

We'll explore how small investments in kindness can yield significant returns, not just in profit, but in community goodwill and employee satisfaction. You'll get actionable tools to measure and maximize this return in your pharmacy. Imagine being able to quantify the impact of your kindness initiatives and use that data to drive further success!

You'll leave the keynote feeling inspired and equipped with useful ideas to make a difference. Whether it's implementing a new community outreach program or simply changing how you interact with your team and customers, you'll have the tools to start your kindness revolution.

What excites me most is the opportunity to meet all of you — the changemakers in your communities. Your role as a pharmacist puts you in a unique position to touch lives every day. Imagine the impact we can have when we combine your expertise and community connections with the science-backed power of intentional kindness!

I can't wait to share stories, exchange ideas and build connections with each of you at the seminar. Together, we'll explore how we can use our businesses as a force for good, creating a ripple effect of kindness that extends far beyond our pharmacies.

Join me this October and let's embark on this inspiring journey together. Get ready to be energized, motivated and equipped to make our world a little bit kinder, one act at a time. The future is bright, and it starts with us. See you at ThinkNext 2024!

Amazing Opportunities for Pharmacy Students

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 03:43:49 GMT

Pharmacy students interested in compounding, networking and learning have some amazing opportunities offered by PCCA Institute, including a scholarship contest to attend ThinkNext: International Seminar 2024.

The fourth annual Pharmacy Student Scholarship contest, presented by PCCA Institute, offers students currently attending accredited pharmacy schools to share their vision for compounding pharmacy with hundreds of pharmacists (potential employers) and fellow students at ThinkNext International Seminar, October 17-19, 2024, in Houston, Texas.

The Scholarship Contest winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to ThinkNext 2024, where they will deliver a 10-minute, mainstage presentation on their choice of one of three topics related to advocacy, innovation or business development. Finalists are awarded free virtual registration to ThinkNext 2024, as well as recognition at the event.

“Why Compounding?”

Holly Seyler, now a fourth-year student at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and winner of the 2023 Pharmacy Student Scholarship, asked and answered this question during her presentation at ThinkNext 2023.

“I have to say compounding really is its own community,” Holly said. “I’ve seen us sharing ideas, telling each other about the challenges we face, and I’m reminded why, out of all of the different fields in pharmacy, I want to be a part of it.

“I love knowing that I can work with a patient and their provider to get the patient exactly what they’re looking for in medicine — to have a suspension in a certain flavor, to provide a cream base that doesn’t irritate the skin because it’s made with a revolutionary new base or with a filler that won’t trigger allergies. The ability to customize medicine is the key to what makes the field of compounding so great.”

In addition to speaking at ThinkNext 2023, Holly was also invited to attend the 2023 PCCA ACT Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Expanding Student Opportunities

PCCA Institute is also hosting the first-ever PCCA Student Day at ThinkNext 2024. The inaugural event, held Saturday, October 19, allows students to integrate more into the compounding world by networking with the best and brightest. The day’s agenda includes sessions tailored to pharmacy students, including:

Opening Up a New Compounding Pharmacy: Top Things I Learned During the Process
Panel Presentation: Compounding Pharmacy Rotations and Residency Programs
What’s Hot in Compounding

Registered participants are also invited to attend the Friday night Rockstar Ball and dinner, where they can jam with PCCA team members and compounders.

All pharmacy students may attend the full, three-day ThinkNext 2024 conference at a special, discounted rate — giving them access to multiple keynote presentations, clinical compounding sessions, workshops and additional networking opportunities.

Compounding Courses Offered Throughout the Year

Learn more about PCCA Institute’s online and in-person compounding education opportunities for pharmacy school students.

Listen in as Holly highlights reasons for students to apply to the PCCA Pharmacy Student Scholarship contest.

Nonsterile Pharmacy Training: Mastering the Role of the Designated Person

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:43:54 GMT

Revisions to USP 795, which went into effect November 1, 2023, introduce a new position for compounders: the Designated Person. This person or group of persons are responsible for creating and overseeing training, reviewing compounding staff competencies and maintaining training records for all compounding staff members. In this blog, we review the key responsibilities of the Designated Person for training standards and explore solutions that may help drive greater efficiencies in your compounding pharmacy’s training program.

by Jerra Banwarth, RPh, FAPC, PCCA Director of Online Education

Key Responsibilities of the Designated Person

As the guardian of pharmacy training, competency testing and recordkeeping, the Designated Person must:

Develop Training Programs: Create, implement and maintain a comprehensive training program that aligns with USP 795 requirements, including detailed, engaging and effective training materials.
Ensure Core Competencies: Competency isn't just about experience; it's about demonstrable skills. The Designated Person must ensure that all personnel involved in compounding are competent in their tasks, which involves annual assessments and practical evaluations of required competencies which are documented and tracked yearly.
Document and Track Training: Accurately record all staff training activities, completion rates and competency assessments; manage and track records; and make appropriate updates to training materials.
Implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Ensure staff members read, understand and adhere to the facility’s SOPs. This includes keeping the documents current and relevant to the pharmacy's daily operations on an annual basis.
Create Quality Assurance & Control with Corrective Actions: The designated person must create and manage a quality assurance and quality control program. Any deviation from those established standards will require immediate attention. The Designated Person must investigate, document and implement corrective actions for any out-of-specification events, ensuring continuous quality improvement.

Streamline Nonsterile Pharmacy Training Responsibilities with eLearning

We developed the PCCA eLearning Compounding Training & Learning Management System to simplify training and provide management efficiencies to ensure compounding pharmacies retain compliance.

Comprehensive eLearning Platform: Our eLearning platform delivers ready-made, interactive and USP-compliant training courses that cater to different learning styles (auditory, visual and tactile), enabling retention of information.
Customizable Competency Assessments: The competency assessment templates are customizable to fit specific procedures and equipment used in your pharmacy, saving significant time while ensuring assessments are relevant, consistent and comprehensive.
Automated Tracking and Documentation: The eLearning Management System included with the platform automates tracking and documentation of training and competency assessments. Expiration alerts serve as reminders for annual training and assessments while easy access to documents streamlines administrative processes.
Integration of SOPs: Integrating your facility’s SOPs into the Learning Management System can ensure that staff are not only reading but also understanding and applying these procedures. Interactive and scenario-based lessons make SOPs more relatable and easier to remember, helping staff understand and apply procedures.
Continuous Updates: Ongoing updates ensure training content remains current with industry changes, helping to maintain compliance and the overall quality of compounded products.

The role of the Designated Person is undeniably challenging, but with the right tools and solutions, it becomes manageable and even rewarding. By leveraging PCCA’s comprehensive eLearning Compounding Training & Learning Management System, the Designated Person can effectively implement and sustain robust training programs. This ensures compliance with USP 795 and fosters a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within your compounding pharmacy.

Click to learn more about how our eLearning Compounding Training & Learning Management System can help your pharmacy and request a free demo!

PCCA members with clinical services access may contact our Clinical Services team for help with USP 795 compliance and other compounding concerns.

$27/Day Delivers Comprehensive Support

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 15:38:09 GMT

PCCA’s Clinical Services team responded to well over 45,000 calls from our members in 2023, assisted in more than 300 formulation developments, presented at 30 Speaker Bureau educational sessions and 39 PCCA training events, plus much more. In January 2024, they responded to approximately 4,500 calls with a satisfaction rating of 100 percent and an average resolution time of under 35 minutes (the average resolution time depends on the amount of calls received and may not always remain under 35 minutes). Data, however, does not truly reflect the behind-the-scenes, comprehensive and multi-departmental collaboration our Clinical Services team delivers to compounding pharmacies and the patients they serve. Nor does the data reflect the sincere gratitude and appreciation expressed by PCCA members with clinical services access.

You have a true treasure on your Clinical Services team! Don is a wealth of information, which he shares readily. I have enjoyed speaking with him over many years. Thank you!
— PCCA Member, January 2024

Formulation Development: Content Evaluation to Collaboration

Content evaluation focuses on ensuring the accuracy of clinical information contained in all presentations provided by various speakers, long before a seminar or educational event occurs. More importantly, it also involves assessing opportunities for new formula development.

For example, during a recent presentation review, a PCCA clinical compounding pharmacist noticed a specific formula requested by a doctor was not included in the PCCA formulation database. Our pharmacist contacted the member pharmacy that was developing the preparation and learned help was needed to resolve some formula issues. Shortly thereafter, our pharmacist reached out to the PCCA Formulation Development team. Through discussions and testing, they recognized incompatibilities between the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) contained in the original formulation. To rectify the issue, two separate formulas were created for simultaneous use, which eliminated incompatibility issues while addressing the physician’s original request. The collaborative nature between our Clinical Services and Formulation Development teams resolved a member-specific issue and created new formulations in the PCCA database, while ensuring seminar attendees had access to formulas and comprehensive information before the speaker walked onto the stage.

Deborah was very helpful! Our hospice doctor was very pleased with her suggestions and we are working on a formula for his patient.
— PCCA Member, January 2024

Collaboration Enables Comprehensive Support

By interacting with our compounding pharmacy members throughout various PCCA programs — including Concierge Compounding, Advisory Council and multiple PCCA Education events — our Clinical Services team often uncovers unmet patient needs that, in turn, help facilitate new product development at PCCA. In addition to sharing member insights with our R&D team, our Clinical Services team aids in product development by gathering additional information.

For example, during the development of SuspendIt^® Anhydrous, members of our Clinical Services team reached out to various healthcare specialists to understand how our new anhydrous suspension vehicle may help their patients. By sharing this information with other PCCA teams, our Science team knew to create case studies evaluating the use of SuspendIt Anhydrous in feeding tubes for hospice, geriatric and pediatric patients. Our Formulation Development team knew which formulations — including flavors — to develop and test. Our Clinical Services team members with expertise in animal care researched and shared the animal species that would best tolerate SuspendIt Anhydrous and those that are not good candidates.

In addition to the expert guidance PCCA Clinical Services team members provide daily for patients with specific conditions — from autism spectrum disorders to autoimmune diseases and beyond . PCCA members with clinical services access can also rely on this team for business and marketing support, as well as guidance on regulatory changes that impact community pharmacy.

Watch a short video, featuring PCCA Compounding Pharmacist Mark Gonzalez, PharmD, for a glimpse of A Day in the Life of a Clinical Services team member.

This Year International Seminar Is Going Virtual

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 13:09:24 GMT

By PCCA

Every year, International Seminar is the homecoming for PCCA members. It is the place where new research and regulatory updates are reviewed, groundbreaking products are unveiled and relationships are renewed. PCCA International Seminar is essential to the advancement of pharmacy compounding as a crucial medical service for countless patients around the world.

But this year, our homecoming will look different than it has before.

PCCA is dedicated to bringing you the most intuitive and in-depth virtual event on the pharmacy compound landscape this year during International Seminar 2020. Despite necessary travel restrictions implemented for the safety of our members, the event will be just as essential to you and the advancement of your pharmacy as a force for personalized medicine in your community.

And yes, it will also be fun! Like Nathan Lyon’s incredibly informative and hilarious presentation on food as the original pharmacy and the importance of overall nutrition. This is just a glimpse at the quality of education International Seminar attendees expect every year.

PCCA is developing a lineup of industry professionals who will bring their expertise to our virtual conference. Their goal is to empower you from the comfort of your own internet connection. We are excited about the lineup of speakers (which we’ll update regularly on our International Seminar website and about some of the surprises you’ve come to expect from the world-wide leader in pharmacy compounding innovation, products, support and advocacy.

Learn more about joining this year’s virtual International Seminar!

Key Takeaways from PCCA’s 2020 Marketing & Sales Virtual Conference

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:12:19 GMT

By Erin Michael, MBA, MS, CPhT, PCCA Director of Outside Sales

On two consecutive Saturdays in May 2020, PCCA hosted its first Marketing and Sales Virtual Conference (our first ever virtual conference overall, too). Considering how much the COVID-19 pandemic has affected independent compounding pharmacies, we chose to focus on strategies and tactics specifically designed to help them through this crisis and beyond. To accomplish this, we worked with experts in many aspects of sales, marketing, general business development, pharmacy and combinations of all the above — including presenters who currently own their own pharmacies. They guided and engaged with our virtual attendees while imparting countless pearls of business wisdom that they could implement immediately to rebuild business today and in the future. Below is a sample of the expert advice that our presenters offered.

Control What You Can Control during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has taken us from a “bear” market to a “bull” market; take advantage of this time when compounders are in a positive spotlight
Take control of what we can control: New prescriptions may be drying up, but prescription refills and supplement sales can be priorities
Move from a broad focus to a micro focus: Identify compounding specialties that are less affected by the pandemic and pursue them
You cannot over-communicate in a time like this (to staff, to patients, to doctors)
For doctors, you’re not providing one particular product; you’re providing solutions, innovation, hope when other therapies have failed — you’re providing your availability as a trusted resource
For patients, let them know you’re open and here to serve them during the COVID-19 pandemic; provide them peace of mind in addition to health care
Stay on top of refill reminder phone calls:
- Monitor data to see who is due for a refill in a certain timeframe
- Frame these calls as a check-in, and let the customer lead the conversation; be empathetic to their needs and concerns; offer other products when appropriate (e.g., nutritional supplements, hand sanitizer)
- Pick the right staff member(s) to do these calls; some people are naturals and some need coaching and a script
- Long-term benefits: This builds relationships with patients (and their doctors); it gives more control over what prescriptions are filled on which days
Use alternative ways to offer refill reminders, such as email or through a smartphone app
Consider creating “immunity kits” that patients can pick up with their prescriptions (hand sanitizer, mask, supplement, protein bar, etc. as a kit)
Consider “sidewalk shopping” (outdoor retail setup in front of pharmacy) if possible

Social Media Is Crucial during the Pandemic

The pharmacy needs a greater focus on social media marketing and patient communications
Communicate recent policy changes: curbside service or drive-thru/shipping procedures; updated hours of operation (on all platforms — Yelp, Google, Facebook, website, etc.)
Be transparent and reassure your patients that you have their safety in mind; be trusted, reliable and flexible
Share social media content that shows how you’re giving back to your community (such as the #CompoundingHandoff ) as well as fun things your staff is doing (which builds trust with your followers)
Share other social media content like relevant articles; Facebook Live videos on properly wearing masks, your reopening plans, etc.; or “Did you know?” video series of little-known pharmacy offerings
Live videos humanize your pharmacy; they are more candid and vulnerable. They get better placement on social feeds and have a higher potential for engagement than regular video
Live videos can and should be longer (the typical 2-minute-or-less rule doesn’t apply); followers get notified when you go live, so 5+ minutes gives them time to tune in
Optimize based on the channel. Your video will be more impactful for an Instagram user when you record in portrait (vertical) vs. landscape (horizontal) because Instagram users are primarily on mobile devices. Facebook has a more even split between mobile and desktop, so landscape is used more often
Feature retail products online, such as vitamins/supplements, gifts, cards, wrapping supplies, puzzles, tea, coffee, seasonal products

Virtual Meetings with Prescribers Are an Unprecedented Opportunity

The pharmacy salesperson/marketer needs a completely virtual transition for physician visits
You normally have 2–3 minutes with a doctor when you visit their office, but virtual meetings give you 30 minutes uninterrupted; virtual meetings are also more cost effective
Don’t forget: Your prescribers are going through the same situation that you are. They are business owners. They’re looking for new ways to reach out to their patients and provide for the future, too. Share your creative best practices and your knowledge of the economic resources available with them
Educate primarily, sell secondarily — provide guidance and insight right now as a trusted advisor because prescribers are hungry for education
What you need: Zoom (or similar) account; Outlook (or similar) calendar request; digital or print invitations with relevant materials (and goodies!); your compounding pharmacist/pharmacy team
- BONUS: PCCA Science research (public), FormulaPlus^™ formulas with extended beyond-use dates (for PCCA members with Clinical Services access)
Pro tips:
- Send them materials beforehand (email content or mail a binder)
- Support a local business by sending the doctor lunch during your meeting
- Turn on your camera and encourage doctors to do the same (it’s more personal)
Consider using clinical PowerPoints on Zoom
- BONUS: PCCA members can access our customizable presentations on the PCCA Marketing Resources page
If you’re a marketer, you could have the pharmacist join you on the call — you have a captive audience, and you are going the extra mile to earn their business
Scared of doctors turning down your meeting request?
- Invite them through a variety of channels (phone call, email, mail, fax)
- Practice your elevator pitch and tailor it to their specific needs
- Rejection is redirection; “no” means you need to get creative and find a different angle that works
Offer virtual workshops on key clinical topics to doctors (and patients)
A virtual meeting is not just a single opportunity. Keep meeting with doctors (build relationships, educate on new compounding specialties, etc.)
Always follow up:
- Find opportunities to reconnect with doctors, especially new doctors (for example, if you have a positive patient story to share)
- Share notes you took during the call
- Send a thank-you with links to your website and social media pages

Virtual Consultations with Patients Are a Must

Don’t just expect patients to come to you; advertise your consultation services (local interest groups, publications, social media, etc.)
Again, educate primarily, sell secondarily — continue to inform patients on why they need to maintain their medication regimens, and educate them on the importance of immune system support right now
Consultation set-up process:
- A customer requests an appointment (their health journey begins)
- Every staff member should be able to access the calendar and book a time slot
- Immediately share intake forms and request they be returned 72 hours prior to appointment
- At the beginning of each week, a staff member calls to confirm all appointments
- When the customer comes to pick up their initial therapy, schedule a follow-up consultation (2 months later is good generally); engage them, answer questions, review and adjust therapy as needed
Consider using FaceTime (or similar app) to help your customers have a personal virtual shopping experience from the comfort and safety of their home

And that was just a sample. I was honored to be a part of PCCA’s 2020 Marketing and Sales Virtual Conference. It was inspiring to see so many compounders and marketers come together to help navigate their pharmacies through the crisis that we all find ourselves in. And I hope that you’ve found some strategies and tactics here that you can implement in your own businesses right now.

PCCA members can watch our entire 2020 Marketing and Sales Virtual Conference on PCCA Play. It is free for subscribers, and it is available as a 12-month rental for non-subscribers.

Erin Michael, MBA, MS, CPhT, PCCA Director of Outside Sales, joined the PCCA staff in July 2006. She has been working in pharmacy for more than 25 years, of which 23 have been in compounding and promoting the practice of pharmacy. She previously worked for an independent pharmacy owner and was the general manager of multiple locations. Erin was instrumental in developing and implementing programs to promote and grow the compounding and traditional parts of that business. She holds an MBA in healthcare administration and an MS in hospitality management. She was recognized as PCCA Technician of the Month in August 1999 and California Pharmacists Association Technician of the Year in 2003.

New Releases on PCCA Play — August 2019

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 14:34:00 GMT

By PCCA

PCCA Play is our educational media library exclusively for members. It offers tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of educational content available on desktop, tablet or smartphone. PCCA members can also access premium content through a subscription or a la carte rental.

PCCA Play includes everything from main-stage presentations at our live events to our recorded webinars, bringing PCCA members the information they need, when and where they need it.

Now Free
Here is a video that is now free on PCCA Play.

Quality and USP <800> Implementation
This video is a combination of two presentations from the 2017 PCCA Quality Symposium. In part one, Ross Caputo, PhD, Eagle President, covers essential quality assurance elements for compounding pharmacies. In part two, Jerra Banwarth, RPh, FIACP, PCCA Education and Training Manager, discusses USP <800> risk assessment steps in detail.

New Release (at a Great Price)
This new release on PCCA Play is available for just $95.00.

USP <797> — Is Your Pharmacy Ready?
PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist Matt Martin, PharmD, and Eagle Vice President of Operations Megan Jeffrey Liotta, MS, share detailed information about how the revisions to USP General Chapter <797> may affect personnel qualifications, facilities and documentation in compounding pharmacies.

Members, stay tuned to PCCA Play: We’ll release our latest webinar recording on the revised USP <795> soon!

International Seminar - What's Now, What's New and What's In Store For This Year's Seminar

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:43:24 GMT

by Renee Prescott, Pharm D, Director of Education and Training

The compounding industry’s biggest event, PCCA’s International Seminar is the place to learn the latest trends, see the latest products and catch up on the latest happenings with your compounding peers. Make plans to join us October 9-12 in Houston.

International Seminar is by far my favorite event of the year! After 9 months of dedication, it is amazing to see it all our hard work come to fruition and feel the passion in the room as attendees get reenergized about our profession.

We have an exciting lineup of speakers who will present on a wide range of topics to help meet the educational needs of all audiences.

Do you love high level clinical education?
- You won’t want to miss the presentations by Dr. Mark Rosenberg, MD on Integrative Treatments for Cancer and Dr. Jill Carnahan, MD will on Metabolic Endotoxemia and Chronic Diseases. These two renowned speakers will present hot, new topics that have yet to be presented at a PCCA event.
- Want more clinical education? We have continuing education (CE) hours available with presentations on gut harmony, fatigue, heart health, drug epidemic and opioid crisis and more.
Are business, leadership and sales topics more your thing?
- PCCA has partnered with Bill Kaiser to present Creating a High Performing Culture in Your Pharmacy. Also, Cate Gregory from The Get Real Project will present on dealing with conflict and developing business with trust.
- For those you who heard Dean Minuto speak for us a few years ago, tell all your colleagues how awesome his presentation is! His sales workshop on Yescalate™ - Getting to Yes Faster is a must see session for those in marketing and sales.
USP, legal and regulatory sessions also take center stage at International this year. Make sure you are in compliance by December 1, 2019 by attending all our Quality workshop tracks.

In conjunction with all these great educational opportunities, Former FDA Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD will take center stage on Thursday afternoon. PCCA will have an opportunity to talk to him next month about what we want his presentation to cover. We want you to be a part of that conversation too. If you have ideas for what you’d like us to suggest, send an email to education@pccarx.com and let us know.

And of course, we all need some time to relax and have fun during International Seminar! Whether that’s joining us for yoga, fitness boot camp, or meeting your colleagues for some networking and fun, we have plenty of activities planned for you.

Don’t forget that your registration fee also includes breakfast, lunch and snacks every day, plus opening reception, and Thursday evening dinner and the awards banquet.

International Seminar is designed to keep you connected to what’s now, what’s new and what’s next!
Go to www.pccainternationalseminar.com to see the full agenda and to register.

New Releases on PCCA Play

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:27:17 GMT

PCCA Play is our educational media library exclusively for members. It offers tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of free educational content available on desktop, tablet or smartphone. PCCA members can also access premium content through a subscription or a la carte rental.

PCCA Play includes everything from main-stage presentations at our live events to our recorded webinars, bringing PCCA members the information they need, when and where they need it.

Now Free
Here is a video that is now free on PCCA Play.

PCCA Bases Overview
Join PCCA's Director of Research and Development, Daniel Banov, MS, RPh, as he discusses the science behind eight exclusive PCCA products as well as corresponding formulations.

New Releases
Here are some of our newest releases on PCCA Play.

Potency Testing & Stability Studies
Eagle’s Business Development Manager, Dylan Herr, describes why it is important to potency test compounds as well as the difference between potency testing and stability testing.

What to Implement to Avoid Receiving an FDA-483
Ross Caputo, PhD, Eagle President, covers what pharmacies need to do before, during and after an FDA inspection.

What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas? Not When It Comes to HRT Education

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 18:10:33 GMT

By Ranel Larsen, PharmD, RPh, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist

This is the saying that comes to mind of when we think about Las Vegas. But, in the case of PCCA’s HRT Symposium, what happens in Vegas does not, in fact, stay there.

“HRT Vegas,” as we often call it, happens each year in February and focuses on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It is the compounding industry’s biggest hormone replacement event, and this year was no exception. The same can be said of all PCCA Education. At each event, we ask for feedback on suggested topics, speakers and ideas to make the next event bigger and better. This year, HRT Vegas was exceptional, with engaging topics and an incredible line-up of speakers tailored to the needs of our attendees. One of the advantages of compounded HRT is being able to customize the therapy for each patient’s specific needs because, as we know, one size does not fit all. HRT is also a complex topic and should not be considered without a thorough understanding of how all the body’s hormones interact with each other. This is what attendees learn at HRT Vegas, plus much more. Let’s look at some highlights.

HRT and Safety
When we talk about hormones, one of the first things that is usually brought up is safety. Estradiol may improve cognition¹and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,^2,3cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and other comorbidities in postmenopausal women. With heart disease being the number one cause of death in women, why are more not using HRT? There are two reasons: A poor understanding of the science by physicians and the general public, and a fear of breast cancer. Let’s take a minute to look at a few key studies.

We will start with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study. It is important to have a thorough understanding of this study, as it contains valuable information, and it had and still has a huge impact on the use of hormones. If you look at the estrogen-only arm involving conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), the results showed a decreased risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer and death.⁴ In addition, the WHI 18-year follow-up data showed a significant reduction in breast cancer incidence with CEE alone, and a significant increase in breast cancer incidence with CEE plus medroxyprogesterone.⁵ So it seems that medroxyprogesterone is likely the suspect here.

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published a study that concluded that natural progesterone, not medroxyprogesterone acetate, enhances the beneficial effect of estrogen on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in postmenopausal women.⁶ This suggests that there is a major difference between progesterone and medroxyprogesterone. Just take a look at the chemical structure of each, and you can see how truly different they are. Then, compare the structures of estradiol and testosterone. Look at how a small change can drastically change the chemical. It’s not too surprising that progesterone and medroxyprogesterone have such different actions.

And finally, one of the most substantial pieces of evidence that hormones are safe is the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Hormone Therapy Position Statement, 2017. It concluded that hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and genitourinary symptom management and has been shown to prevent bone loss and fracture. In addition, they state, “The risks of hormone therapy differ depending on type, dose, duration of use, route of administration, timing of initiation, and whether a progestogen is used.”⁷

The Route Is Important
The Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS), which involved more than 700 women, looked at transdermal estradiol and oral progesterone and found no increase in breast cancer risk. It also concluded that the therapy relieved many of the symptoms of menopause, improved mood and improved several markers of cardiovascular risk.⁸ Another study showed that oral but not transdermal estrogen replacement therapy is associated with risk of venous thromboembolism in postmenopausal women, suggesting that transdermal therapy might be safer than oral therapy with respect to thrombotic risk.⁹ A recent study also highlighted that the transdermal route avoids the hepatic first‐pass metabolism, resulting in fewer adverse effects on coagulation markers compared to oral estrogens and does not increase risk of deep vein thrombosis.¹⁰

It’s a Symphony
PCCA’s HRT Symposium has evolved to a more functional medicine approach over the years, looking at the body as a whole and working to treat the cause instead of simply treating the symptoms. So not only did we learn about estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, but also about thyroid, adrenals and the gut, and how it is all connected.

Why Patients Need a Compounding Pharmacy
Compounders have something that is not offered anywhere else. We have the ability to customize and to use estriol and testosterone, which are not commercially available. We can make different strengths and dosage forms of estrogen and progesterone, and we can make it easy for patients by combining multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients into one dosage form. And most of the time, this means increased compliance and affordability, which means happy patients. “Happy wives equal happy lives,” right? Well I say that happy menopausal patients make for happy pharmacists and practitioners!

This is just a small sampling of what HRT Vegas provided. In addition, our speakers presented many formulas, compounding tips and tricks, and updates on public affairs and regulatory issues. The event brings together pharmacists, marketers and practitioners from all over the U.S. and Canada, building lasting professional relationships and empowering each other. HRT Vegas brings us together, helps us make connections and increases our knowledge to better serve our patients. When you come to PCCA’s HRT Symposium in Las Vegas, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas!

Can’t wait until next year? PCCA members can join us for our Nashville HRT Symposium from August 8–10, 2019. They can also earn their HRT Specialist designation by taking our C4 HRT Online Course, which starts May 13, 2019, and attending the Nashville HRT Symposium.

Ranel A. Larsen, PharmD, RPh, PCCA Clinical Compounding Pharmacist, is a graduate of the Roseman University School of Pharmacy, where she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2006. After working in retail pharmacy for three years, she transitioned to a compounding-only pharmacy, where she worked for over four years. Ranel joined the PCCA staff in April 2014. Her areas of interest include hormone replacement therapy for men and women, veterinary medicine, pain management and dermatology.

References
1.   Hogervorst, E., Williams, J., Budge, M., Riedel, W., & Jolles, J. (2000). The nature of the effect of female gonadal hormone replacement therapy on cognitive function in post-menopausal women: A meta-analysis. Neuroscience, 101(3), 485–512.
2.   Nilsen, J., Irwin, R. W., Gallaher, T. K., & Brinton, R. D. (2007). Estradiol in vivo regulation of brain mitochondrial proteome. Journal of Neuroscience, 27(51), 14069–14077. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4391-07.2007
3.   Wharton, W., Gleason, C. E., Lorenze, K. R., Markgraf, T. S., Ries, M. L., Carlsson, C. M., & Asthana, S. (2009). Potential role of estrogen in the pathobiology and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. American Journal of Translational Research, 1(2), 131–147.
4.   Anderson, G. L., Limacher, M., Assaf, A. R., Bassford, T., Beresford, S. A., Black, H., … Wassertheil-Smoller, S. (2004). Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: The Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 291(14), 1701–1712. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.14.1701
5.   Manson, J. E., Aragaki, A. K., Rossouw, J. E., Anderson, G. L., Prentice, R. L., LaCroix, A. Z., … Wactawski-Wende, J. (2017). Menopausal hormone therapy and long-term all-cause and cause-specific mortality: The Women's Health Initiative randomized trials. JAMA, 318(10), 927–938. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.11217
6.   Rosano, G. M., Webb, C. M., Chierchia, S., Morgani, G. L., Gabraele, M., Sarrel, P. M., … Collins, P. (2000). Natural progesterone, but not medroxyprogesterone acetate, enhances the beneficial effect of estrogen on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in postmenopausal women. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 36(7), 2154–2159.
7.   The NAMS 2017 Hormone Therapy Position Statement Advisory Panel. (2017). The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 24(7), 728–753. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000921
8.   Cobin, R. H., & Goodman, N. F. (2017). American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology position statement on menopause–2017 update. Endocrine Practice, 23(7), 869–880. https://doi.org/10.4158/EP171828.PS
9.   Scarabin, P. Y., Oger, E., & Plu-Bureau, G. (2003). Differential association of oral and transdermal oestrogen-replacement therapy with venous thromboembolism risk. Lancet, 362(9382), 428–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14066-4
10.   Mikkola, T. S., Savolainen-Peltonen, H., Venetkoski, M., & Ylikorkala, O. (2017). New evidence for cardiac benefit of postmenopausal hormone therapy. Climacteric, 20(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2016.1262839

These statements are provided for educational purposes only. They have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not to be interpreted as a promise, guarantee or claim of therapeutic efficacy or safety. The references cited did not necessarily evaluate PCCA products or formulas included in these statements. The information contained herein is not intended to replace or substitute for conventional medical care, or encourage its abandonment.

PCCA Play: February’s New Releases

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:20:19 GMT

PCCA Play is our members-only, educational media library. It offers tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of free educational content available on desktop, tablet or smartphone. PCCA members can also access premium content through a subscription or a la carte rental.

PCCA Play includes everything from main-stage presentations at our live events to our recorded webinars, bringing PCCA members the information they need, when and where they need it.

New Release for February 2019

Compounding for Exotics
With Gary Riggs, DVM

How to Build a Niche Vet Practice [Available February 19, 2019]
With Mark Gonzalez, PharmD

PCCA's C3 Training Experience: The Pharmacist's Perspective

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 18:09:18 GMT

PCCA's C3 Training Experience: The Pharmacist's Perspective

PCCA's Comprehensive Compounding Course (C3) leads the industry in training pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and marketers on compounding techniques, USP <795> and <800> standards, regulatory information, clinical topics, and so much more. It is available exclusively to PCCA Members.

When you participate in C3, the twenty hours of continuing education you earn is just the beginning. As the company at the forefront of compounding education and advocacy, PCCA is proud to offer a customizable experience that allows you to focus on the topics that appeal to you, both in the classroom and hands-on in our state-of-the-art training lab.

Giving you the education you need empowers you to bring customized medicine to those who need it the most. We care deeply about the solutions you provide your patients and the education required to keep you at the cutting-edge of personalized medicine. Attending C3 with fellow compounding professionals means a stronger community for compounding pharmacies. It means meeting folks like Max, Lisa, and Denise, three pharmacists who recently completed C3.

We asked them a few questions about their C3 experience and this is what they had to say.

The Value

Because the educational experience is our top priority, we asked Max, Lisa, and Denise what they felt was the most valuable thing they learned at C3:

The Educational Sessions

Our presenters, discussing the latest topics in pharmacy compounding, are some of the best teachers in pharmacy compounding today. Max, Lisa, and Denise share that high appraisal of how informative and fun their favorite sessions were .

The Recommendations

Finally, these three C3 participants were happy to refer their fellow compounders--both pharmacists and technicians to PCCA training. Here's why:

C3 is a training experience for pharmacy compounding professionals who want to provide the highest quality customized medicine available in the world today. We hope you'll join us for our next C3 soon, or head over to our education & events page where you can check out or other upcoming symposiums and educational opportunities.

New Videos Added to PCCA PLAY

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 17:22:47 GMT

PCCA Play: January's New Releases

PCCA Play is our member-exclusive, educational media library. It offers tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of free educational content available on desktop, tablet or smartphone. PCCA members can also access premium content through a subscription or a la carte rental.

Our library includes everything from mainstage presentations at live PCCA events to our recorded webinars, bringing PCCA members the information they need, when and where they need it.

Hormones and the Skin and GI Health and Its Effects on the Skin
With Pamela W. Smith, MD, MPH, MS, and Ranel Larsen, PharmD, RPh

Chemical Peels and Resurfacing [Available January 24, 2019]
With Valcinir Bedin, MD, PhD, and Daniel Banov, RPh, MS

New Products Revealed at International Seminar 2018

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:05:00 GMT

New Products Revealed at International Seminar 2018

International Seminar is the largest event in the pharmacy compounding industry. Every year, it’s where we get to do one of the things we find most exciting: introduce compounders to new products that can help them meet their patients’ needs and operate their pharmacies more efficiently. Today was no exception.

This morning, we introduced International Seminar attendees to some exciting new products, including three pharmaceutical bases and an innovative pharmacy management software.

New Exclusive PCCA Bases
NataTroche™
NataTroche (PCCA #30-5027) is the first proprietary troche base made with natural ingredients and without polyethylene glycol or gelatin. It also has a really pleasant texture similar to chocolate that a lot of patients will like.

Perhaps most important, though, is the taste. NataTroche is subtly sweetened and flavored, and it masks bitter drugs well by itself, especially progesterone. For many formulations, compounders won’t have to add additional ingredients to adjust the flavor. This means that NataTroche is easier and more efficient for compounding pharmacies, and it creates a better experience for patients.

Click here for more information about NataTroche.

PermE8™ Anhydrous Gel
PermE8 (PCCA #30-5038) is an ideal base for transdermal compounds prescribed for pain, sports medicine, oncology and many more specialties. It has water activity below 0.6 (aw < 0.6), classifying it as an anhydrous base. Therefore, PermE8 allows for extended default beyond-use dates (BUDs) even without stability studies that can cost thousands of dollars. This makes customized transdermal medications more efficient for compounders, and their patients have the convenience of not needing to refill their prescriptions as often.

PermE8 can also hold multiple drugs at once, including ones in salt form, and it delivers them really well. The results of independent testing showed that PermE8 delivered ketoprofen through human skin comparably to PCCA Lipoderm®, and it significantly outperformed PCCA Anhydrous Lipoderm.

Finally, PermE8 has a nice, silky texture that isn’t greasy, and it spreads on the skin more easily than Anhydrous Lipoderm.

Click here for more information about PermE8 Anhydrous Gel.

W06™ Anhydrous Topical Gel
W06 (PCCA #30-5039) is ideal for dermatological and cosmetic compounded medications. Like PermE8, it has a water activity below 0.6 (aw < 0.6), which is where it gets its name. This allows for prolonged default BUDs. W06 has also been tested and shown to be able to accommodate sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), such as hydroquinone and ascorbic acid.

As with any great base for dermatology and cosmeceutical compounding, W06 has an elegant, refined feel, and its emollient properties moisturize and soften the skin as it delivers APIs.

Click here for more information about W06 Anhydrous Topical Gel.

RxDispense™: A New Breed of Pharmacy Software
RxDispense is the industry’s most advanced pharmacy software available today. It’s not the newest version of an existing application, or a new competitor in an existing space—it is a whole new breed of pharmacy management software.

RxDispense leapfrogs currently available solutions and brings the pharmacy industry to the forefront of technology. This new cloud-based platform was developed based on decades of experience in the pharmacy software space. Performance, speed, scalability and modular design are all in its DNA.

RxDispense is engineered to help pharmacies maximize staff efficiency, enhance workflow, improve patient care, adhere to regulations and grow without limit. Converting your pharmacy to RxDispense is straightforward, and the dedicated staff at RxDispense will help you every step of the way without the fear of business interruption.

Visit rxdispense.com for more information. RxDispense is currently only available in the USA.

Want to see what else is going on at International Seminar 2018? Check it out.