By: Jung (Glara) Un Seo, PharmD

ATHENS – The dictionary defines compounding as:

1. To combine so as to form a whole; mix.

2. To produce or create by combining two or more ingredients or parts: pharmacists compounding prescriptions.

In the state of Georgia, compounding is performed by licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Trained pharmacy staff may compound suspensions, intravenous medications, capsules and topical creams or ointments. They can prepare medications in dosage forms or strengths not manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.  They can also compound medications during a manufacturer shortage, for example, the Tamiflu suspension last flu season.

While all licensed pharmacies are allowed by law to compound medications, not all pharmacy staff members are specially trained in compounding topical pain medications.  Pharmacies may not stock the necessary ingredients or equipment for compounding topical pain medications.  Spine Care & Pain Management’s in-house pharmacy in Athens is fully equipped, and its pharmacists are specially trained in compounding medications frequently prescribed by the clinic’s prescribers.  The pharmacists at Spine Care & Pain Management received special training in compounding by the American College of Apothecaries (ACA) and are happy to provide such services for their patients.

Patients may prefer a specially compounded, topical pain cream for a variety of reasons. Some of the benefits of a topical, compounded pain cream include:

• Contain prescription strength active ingredients
• Treats the pain from a different angle
• Applied directly to the affected area
• Well tolerated by patients
• Low rates of side effects and drug-to-drug interactions
• Decreases the pill burden
• Avoids heavy metabolism by the liver
• Non-narcotic, low addiction and abuse potential

In order to receive the specially compounded medication, the patient will need to obtain a valid prescription from a prescriber at the Spine Care & Pain Management clinic.  On the prescription, the prescriber will note the various ingredients required and dosage strengths to cater towards the specific location and nature of the patient’s pain.  The patient may fill his/her prescription for the compounded medication at any pharmacy.  Billing insurance companies for a compounded prescription requires a special knowledge of the insurance plan and a specific computer system.  The pharmacy staff members at Spine Care & Pain Management are experienced in billing insurance companies for the compounded medications.  Most prescription insurance policies cover the costs of compounded medications.  The patient’s co-pay is determined by the patient’s insurance plan.

Insurance Coverage of Specially Compounded Medications:

• Most insurances cover specially compounded medications
• Covered by Workers’ Compensation
• If the patient cannot pay the full cost in one payment, a payment plan may be set up with the pharmacy

The pharmacists at Spine Care & Pain Management look forward to providing patients with the best pharmaceutical care available. 

Please feel free to contact us anytime with any questions about specially compounded medications:

Spine Care & Pain Management Pharmacists and Staff

ATHENS – The Northeast Georgia Procedure Center for Spine Care & Pain Management successfully passed a state inspection on February 14, 2012. These unannounced inspections usually occur every three to four years, and this is the first inspection since 2008.

During the two-day inspection, state officials observe all charting, the facility itself, policy and procedures, Infection Control program, and the Quality Improvement Program. They also observe a procedure during this visit.

“Our staff strives to provide the best quality care to our patients, and this state inspection certainly validates this objective,” said D. Janene Holladay, M.D. of Spine Care & Pain Management. “The mission of the physicians and medical staff at Spine Care & Pain Management is to facilitate your recovery by providing nationally recognized quality care.”

The Northeast Georgia Procedure Center is also accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation with AAAHC is voluntary, and allows ambulatory surgery centers to measure the quality of services and performance against nationally recognized standards. Spine Care & Pain Management’s ambulatory surgery center uses the latest diagnostic and treatment technology.  This includes x-ray guided injection therapies for much greater accuracy for long-term pain relief.

Athens, GA – November 2011

Members of the local healthcare and law enforcement communities are looking for ways to change a dangerous trend.

If you have opened a newspaper or turned on the television lately it is likely you’ve heard prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions, particularly in our local area and surrounding counties. According to a report dated July 2011, an analysis of autopsies performed by the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office in 152 counties, which drug overdose was the cause of death, found there was a 10% increase in the number of prescription overdose deaths in 2010 compared to 2009. Eighty-six percent of the 2010 deaths involved prescription drugs.

Recently a local physician, D. Janene Holladay, M.D. of Spine Care & Pain Management, attended an event, organized by the Ty Cobb Healthcare System in Hartwell, GA, that was focused on aiding in communication between healthcare professionals and law enforcement agencies on prescription drug abuse. At that time Dr. Holladay recognized the need for a goal directed, healthcare program in Clarke County and the surrounding areas; a prescription drug abuse forum was organized. The event took place at the Classic Center in Athens on Thursday, November 3, 2011. Those invited to participate were Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Dentists, Pharmacists and Law Enforcement Personnel from Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, Barrow, Walton and Oglethorpe Counties. Nearly 200 people were in attendance.

“We want to provide information healthcare providers can use to change this dangerous trend that is affecting our communities, families and neighbors”, said Dr. Holladay. She went on to say, “Patients, pharmacists, and healthcare providers all play a role in preventing and detecting prescription drug abuse. This program gave individuals information on recognizing and avoiding abuse. Hopefully they can apply some of those things in their own practices.”

Speakers at the event, which included, Special Agent in Charge, Jim Fullington of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Director Rick Allen and Special Agent Joe Arp, both of the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency, discussed issues that directly relate to the healthcare community. Director Allen also provided information on the recently passed Senate Bill 36, which provides for the establishment of a program to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. Staggering statistics about the increase of “pill-mills” in the state of Georgia were also shared.

Sponsors of this event were Spine Care & Pain Management, Millennium Laboratories, Medtronic- a medical technology company, Pinnacle Bank and Open MRI & Imaging of Athens.

Dr. Holladay, board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine, would also like patients to know they can help prevent prescription drug abuse too by doing the following:

• Provide a complete medical history and an accurate description of symptoms to your doctor to ensure he or she understands the complaint and can prescribe appropriate medication.
• If a doctor prescribes medicine, follow the directions for use carefully and learn about the effects that the drug could have, especially during the first few days during in which the body is adapting to the medication.
• Be aware of potential interactions with other drugs.
• Do not increase or decrease doses or abruptly stop taking a drug without consulting your health care provider first.
• Never use another person's prescription.
• Properly dispose of unused medications to avoid the possibility of others abusing them.

October 2011

This month the physicians and managers of Spine Care & Pain Management gathered to discuss the importance of leadership, values and a company vision. The meeting gave practice founder, D. Janene Holladay, M.D., COO, Steven Weilder and Medical Director, Gretchen Bryant, RN, the opportunity to share their vision for the upcoming year.

The City of Winder, GA held its annual health fair for all City employees this past month at the Winder Community Center. The City hosts this annual event for all of its employees and spouses to assist in their health education. The goal was to present employees and their families with multiple health, safety and medical options and resources available to them in the Winder area. Employees were encouraged to obtain complimentary, on-site lab work and flu shots as well. We admire the City of Winder for offering such valuable information and showing such concern for their employees. We at Spine Care & Pain Management were proud to support and participate in this important event.