When dealing with a chronic disease, high-cost specialty medications should be as easy to access as possible. We take care of any prior authorizations and insurance appeals you may need and work with you and your health care provider during every step of the process. We also provide training on how to use injectables and the best practices for correct usage and adherence.  Once you have your medications, we connect with you on a regular basis to make sure that your refills arrive on time.  We also provide funding assistance to patients with high co-pays, including Medicare Part D patients. All of these services are at no additional cost to you or your insurance provider.

We’re excited to also be able to let you know that we will be attending the American Association of Dermatology’s meeting in San Diego this upcoming March 16-20. Diplomat will also be participating in the National Psoriasis Foundation’s Walk to Cure Psoriasis May 20, 2012 in Denver, CO. If you are affiliated with a support group or patient advocacy group in any of these areas — Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, and Hepatitis C — and think that Diplomat’s Patient Advocacy Navigator can help you, please do not hesitate to contact us through our email addresses listed below.

As always, if you or someone you love has any of the above diseases, please contact us at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642. After leaving a detailed, secure message, one of our trained staff will return your call as soon as possible. You can also reach us at our advocacy email address: dspadvocacy@diplomatpharmacy.com. Your information will be kept completely confidential.

Justine Dolorfino and Brenda Hawkes are the Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative and Patient Advocate Liaison, respectively, for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  

]]> http://diplomatpharmacy.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/expanding-the-patient-advocacy-navigators-services/feed/ 0 diplomatsp http://diplomatpharmacy.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/our-2011-american-society-of-hematology-ash-coverage-part-2/ http://diplomatpharmacy.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/our-2011-american-society-of-hematology-ash-coverage-part-2/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:07:39 +0000 diplomatsp http://diplomatpharmacy.wordpress.com/?p=1009 ]]> Part 2 of our 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) coverage gives you one attendee’s thoughts on the event. Our patient advocate liaison, Brenda Hawkes, was at ASH last December along with a few other Diplomat representatives. To review Part 1, consisting of a sampling of news from the conference, click here.

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Are Less-Prevalent Cancers Being Ignored?

More than 20,000 physicians, researchers, and industry representatives from more than 100 countries gathered in San Diego in early December for the 2011 American Society of Hematology annual meeting devoted to blood disorders, including lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma. The ASH conference is a concentration of topics on research, best practices and novel ideas all centered around blood cancers.

I was fortunate to attend this event as a representative of Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy and listen to scientists present data that could change patient care, updates in treatment and supportive care, and other cancer-related topics. You can read some of the highlights of the presentations, new drug therapies on the horizon and studies on things like changes in dosing and chemo/radiation combinations that made news from the conference in CURExtra Magazine here.

It can be hard to find coverage about how much time, energy and money these participants are collectively putting into finding a cure for Myeloma, MDS, Leukemia and Lymphoma.  These cancers are considered blood cancers to distinguish them from other cancers, called solid tumor types. In my work with patients and advocacy groups, I often hear that certain cancer groups feel shortchanged. This can especially be the case in October when so much emphasis is placed on breast cancer.  We all have seen the plethora of pink products, food items and ribbons in October.  It is not hard to understand how patients and survivors of other cancers can misinterpret the vastness of the pinkness as a slight to their kind of cancer.

As a result of attending ASH last month, I feel confident in telling you that this is not the case.  I sat in a room overflowing with experts during a Friday night panel discussion on the latest findings in Myeloma, sponsored by  the International Myeloma Foundation. It featured thought leaders from around the globe who were gathered to discuss this blood cancer… and this was just the start of the meetings for the weekend conference!  Others were held discussing MDS, Lymphoma and Leukemia among other topics.

According to the National Cancer Institute’s website, Multiple Myeloma rates are 5.7 per 100,000 men and women, or a chance of 1 in 155 of being diagnosed with myeloma during a lifetime.  Breast Cancer incidence is 124 per 100,000, which means that there is a chance of 1 in 8 of being diagnosed with breast cancer during a lifetime.  These odds, though seemingly disparate, did nothing to diminish how dedicated and determined these doctors were in the fight for the lives of their population of patients.

My point is this: just because we do not see a different ribbon barrage every month on the shelves of our local supermarket does not mean that these other cancer types are not getting attention.  Believe me, these cancers are getting the attention they need. Professionals around the world are determined to find better treatment options, preventative methods, solutions to why these cancers strike, and the cure we all hope for.

Here are some are non-profit organizations working for these blood cancers that were discussed at ASH last month. Of course, they support the research and the professionals that serve patients and caregivers.  But more importantly, their work also supports the patient themselves with empathy, knowledge education, and hope.  Visit these sites to learn more about the newest findings and maybe even where to make donations to help fund the research that is dedicated to these cancers.  Your dollars will go further if you streamline the donation instead of looking for different colored ribbons on packaging.

International Myeloma Foundation
MDS Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

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If you or a loved one has a diagnosis of myeloma, MDS, leukemia, or lymphoma, let us know if we can help. Call our toll-free advocacy hotline at (855) 284-4642 and after leaving a secured message, one of our trained staff will reach out to you.

Brenda Hawkes is a Patient Advocate Liaison for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy.  If you have any questions or comments about the Advocacy Navigator Program please feel free to contact her at bhawkes@diplomatpharmacy.com.

This brand new social website is explained by its design team as a place that “lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.”

Diplomat’s Patient Advocacy Navigator is now on Pinterest, too! We’re collecting pins from all around Pinterest and the web that pertain to cancers, autoimmune diseases, HIV/AIDS, and more. We also have a miscellaneous board that is already chock-full of “Hope, Inspiration, Knowledge, & Everything Else.” If we don’t have a board up about a disease state and you’ve seen some great pins that you think could fit that subject matter, let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ and we’ll look for pins about that topic.

Want to pin with us but don’t have an account? Email us and we’ll send you an invitation!

Justine Dolorfino is a Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can get in touch with Diplomat about your needs at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642 as well as follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. You can also reach her via email.

“Patient P.W. ([rheumatoid arthritis] patient). She said she wanted to make sure that we know she has never dealt with a pharmacy who has ever been so helpful and so nice to her. She worked in the surgical/recovery room at a hospital for over 30 years and has dealt with many different pharmacies over the years. She shared she has yet to ever be disappointed in Diplomat and cannot be more thrilled with what we do to make sure every detail is taken care of and that she knows what is going on the entire way through.”

We also received this handwritten card recently:

“Dec. 11, 2011

Dear friends!

I just wanted to send a Christmas card because you all are very dear to me. Thank you so much for sending my Anastrozole to me for 5 years. I never would have been able to buy it. Now I am cancer free as far as I know. I have a mammogram later on this month.At least I think that I am free. I was in a bad car accident in 1993. I have not worked since that. To had cancer on top of that, I just don’t know what I would do without my Lord and people like you. I thank my Lord every day for His mercy and grace, I walk with a walker, but I can also drive and take care of myself.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!”

You, too, can experience the Diplomat Difference. If you or someone you know needs help with a prescription or co-pay, call our toll-free hotline at  855-284-4642 or email us at dspadvocacy@diplomatpharmacy.com to leave a message explaining your situation. Afterwards, one of our trained specialists will help determine how we can best help and return your call.

For additional information, please contact Brenda Hawkes, our Patient Advocate Liaison, via email or cell: 810.410.8730.

Justine Dolorfino is a Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can get in touch with Diplomat about your needs at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642 as well as follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. You can also reach her via email.

On November 18, 2011, EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is indicated for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either dry (non-vascular) or wet (vascular) and is a leading cause of blindness in older adults. The wet form usually leads to more serious vision loss. 

“EYLEA represents an important new therapy in the treatment of AMD,” said Phil Hagerman, president and CEO of Diplomat. “AMD is becoming more and more prevalent in Americans 60 years of age and older; Diplomat looks forward to providing services to help treat this growing population of patients to slow the progression of this disease.”

About Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy
Michigan-based Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, founded in 1975, serves patients nationwide as the country’s largest privately held Specialty Pharmacy and focuses on complete medication management programs for patients with serious and chronic conditions. Diplomat’s business model creates unique partnerships around both distribution and services with industry stakeholders with Group Purchasing Organizations, Hospital systems, retail chains and managed markets, always focused on improving adherence and the patient experience. Learn more about Keeping Patients Healthier…Longer® at www.diplomatpharmacy.com

While we look forward to continuing to share news and information on our Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, our monthly newsletter is a great way for you to see the month’s big stories at a glance.

Our newsletter will arrive in your inbox at the end of each month. We will not hold or use your information for any other purpose other than the distribution of this newsletter, and you are free to unsubscribe at any time.

Consider signing up for the newsletter if any of the following applies to you:

• You don’t have a Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+ account and aren’t interested in signing up.
• You follow a lot of accounts and find that updates sometimes get lost in your feeds.
• You’re interested in a monthly email that contains updates from the Patient Advocacy Navigator.
• You’re interested in a monthly email that contains links to top stories about cancers, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and more.
• You’re interested in a monthly email that includes suggestions to improve the patient lifestyle.

Justine Dolorfino is a Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can get in touch with Diplomat about your needs at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642 or at our advocacy email address. You can follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Please let Justine know if you have any suggestions about how we can improve the newsletter.

Phil Hagerman, R.Ph. to Deliver “State of Specialty Pharmacy Industry” During 2012 Armada Summit General Session

December 19, 2011, Florham Park, NJ – Armada Health Care is pleased to announce that Phil Hagerman, R.Ph., President & CEO of Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy will join the 2012 Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit Faculty. Scheduled for May 2, 2012, Mr. Hagerman will deliver the “State of the Specialty Pharmacy Market” Address during the Summit’s General Session.

“We very much look forward to Phil joining our General Session Faculty and welcome his expertise and in-depth knowledge of the current landscape of the specialty pharmacy market,” stated Armada CEO, Lawrence Irene, R.Ph. 

“I am honored to be selected by Armada to deliver the “State of the Market” address.  The Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit has become the focal point of the industry to showcase the growth and expansion of specialty pharmacy services for all industry stakeholders.  I look forward to both sharing and learning at this pivotal event,” stated Hagerman.

Phil Hagerman, President/CEO of Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, started the company with his father, Dale Hagerman, in 1975 and in 1991, he took on the role of president and CEO. Phil has been a regular speaker at state and national pharmacy and hospice conferences on innovative and creative pharmacy; and developing and marketing a specialty pharmacy practice.

Phil was named Pharmacist of the Month by Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA), a national network of over 1000 compounding pharmacies. He also received the Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award from The Michigan Pharmacists Association; and the Blue Chip Award for Outstanding Business Practices from the United States Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, Phil was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Michigan and Northwest Ohio Region.  In 2011, he was named Grant Thornton Leader and Innovator of the Year. 

Further, Phil has led the company’s tremendous growth period, and in 2009, 2010, 2011 Diplomat was named as one of INC. Magazine’s fastest growing private companies in America.

 Phil has worked as a consultant for the United States Department of Justice, and served as an expert witness in cases of drug diversion. He is an adjunct instructor of pharmacy for Ferris State University.

About the 2012 Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit

Scheduled dates for the Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit are May 1-4, 2012 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.  The Armada Summit has grown to become the industry’s foremost annual healthcare conference for the specialty pharmacy market. The “best in class” venue and comprehensive agenda offers each

attendee the opportunity to gain important knowledge about the rapidly growing specialty pharmacy channel. The full agenda provides numerous events including: specialty focused business sessions, vendor exhibit hours, and expert industry panel discussions, dozens of educational seminars on specialty pharmacy, live CE credits and more. The conference format is meticulously designed to allow each attendee the opportunity to network with leading healthcare executives and other industry stakeholders to establish strong business relationships. Upon conclusion, conference participants will depart having gained a new and meaningful insight that transfers today’s specialty pharmacy trends into tomorrow’s successful business opportunities.

In 2011, over 1,500 industry professionals representing nearly 400 specialty healthcare organizations attended the annual Armada Summit. They included: owners, senior trade executives, sales and marketing executives, medical directors, pharmacy directors, specialty nurses and other key representatives from specialty pharmacy providers, national & regional health plans, Pharma/Biotech manufacturers, brand/generic drug companies, wholesale distributors, and other industry organizations.  It is estimated attendance at the upcoming 2012 Armada Summit will break all previous records and include nearly 2,000 healthcare professionals from the specialty pharmacy marketplace.

The Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit is considered one of the top five annual healthcare conferences in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.  Registration and other detailed information about the 2012 Summit are available online through www.armadasummit.com.

About Armada Health Care (Armada)

Armada is the nation’s largest specialty pharmacy group contracting organization for comprehensive and cost effective access to the nation’s $100 billion specialty pharmacy industry. Armada offers specialty pharmacy providers, Pharma/Biotech manufacturers, health plans and wholesale distributors a total specialty pharmacy channel management solution through customized patient programs, prescription-data-management services and unique purchasing agreements on specialty pharmacy products purchased and dispensed within this market.  For more information about Armada, please visit www.armadahealthcare.com.

About Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy

Michigan-based Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, founded in 1975, serves patients nationwide as the country’s largest privately held Specialty Pharmacy and focuses on complete medication management programs for patients with serious and chronic conditions.  Diplomat’s business model creates unique partnerships around both distribution and services with industry stakeholders in Group Purchasing Organizations, hospital systems, retail chains  and managed markets, always focused on improving adherence and the patient experience.   Learn more about Keeping Patients Healthier…Longer® at www.diplomatpharmacy.com.   

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Chris Benz, Business Development Director

Armada Health Care

Phone: 973-564-8004

Email: chris.benz@armadahealthcare.com

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“The Seed and the Soil” In The Search for the Cure from the International Myeloma Foundation
We highlighted this post on our social networks, but this is well worth reading for those not as familiar with Myeloma.

Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act from Living With Multiple Myeloma
Brenda Hawkes learned about this act, which seeks to make oral chemotherapies billable the same way that IV chemotherapies are, at ASH 2011. Though this link was written before the conference, it was covered there.

What’s hot at ASH 2011? from Pharmastrategyblog.com
This post was written before the author went out to the meetings, but highlights some of the important topics that were interesting to the author. Some key notes include Jakafi (ruxolitinib) receiving FDA approval; this drug can be used to treat complications of Myelofibrosis. Many new drugs are now on trial or pending approval as well and can make a difference for Myeloma and Lymphoma patients.

Obinutuzumab Bests Rituximab in Patients with Relapsed Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Encouraging Findings Reported for Ibritumomab Tiuxetan in Follicular Lymphoma from Cancer Network
In the first comparison trial between these two drugs, Obinutuzumab was shown to be more effective than Rituximab. The researchers decided, in addition, that Obinutuzumab could be safely used in conjunction with chemotherapy for this population.
Ibritumomab Tiuxetan trials also yielded results that demonstrated potential.

New Findings for Vaccine Isotypes and Blood Cancer Trials from GEN
Researchers believe they may be able to use immunotherapies successfully to treat blood cancers. This could be an important step forward.

Key Pressentations and Meeting Takeaway Points from OncLive
Check out these video interviews from the conference.

Study Favors As-Needed Treatment Over Maintenance Therapy for Patients with Follicular Lymphoma from an ASH press release
Researchers found that asymptomatic follicular Lymphoma patients benefited more from drug therapy as-needed, the traditional form of treatment for these patients.

Jack Aiello’s Updates from the International Myeloma Foundation
These recaps, written by a Myeloma patient, present the viewpoint of a person with Myeloma looking at the myriad of treatment options available out there. Mr. Aiello noted that many doctors seem better aware of causes of relapsed or refractory treatment, when the therapy stops working or never was effective respectively.

Pat Killingsworth’s Updates from the International Myeloma Foundation (also affiliated with Living With Multiple Myeloma)
These updates present the perspective of a relapsed Myeloma patient also looking at the variety of therapies out there with a mind on how the new options could benefit his specific case. There was a wealth of information on new therapy research at this event.

ASH Updates from Oncology Nurse Advisor
There’s a lot to take in here but some key points include Lenalidomine’s potential use in maintenance therapy for relapsed/advanced Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma,  positive results for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) when treated with Erlotinib, and that there were minimal complications for both  mother and unborn child when pregnant women with Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma received standard chemotherapy during the 2nd and/or 3rd trimester.

What Is Myelofibrosis? from Novartis
Watch this short (under 2 minutes!) video and learn more about this disease.

Emerging Lymphoma and Myeloma Treatments Focus on Improving Individual Patient Response from an ASH press release
Much of the new research presented at ASH 2011 focused on individualized treatment for patients that can take advantage of the many new possibilities for both of these diseases.

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Stay tuned for Part 2, featuring Brenda Hawkes’ personal viewpoint on ASH 2011 and the events she attended!

As always, to find out more about how we might be able to help you, please call our toll-free advocacy hotline at (855) 284-4642.

Justine Dolorfino is a Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can get in touch with Diplomat about your needs at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642 as well as follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. You can also reach her via email. If you’d like to see your recap or news release included in this sampling, let her know!

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MRI as a Noninvasive Method for Breast Cancer Prognosis from the American Association for Cancer Research
There is a lot of potential for MRIs to be used for doctors to measure tumors and prescribe therapies as a result. This study is preliminary, but researchers are interested in pursuing the noninvasive use of MRIs.

Intermittent Low-Carbohydrate Diets Might Be Best Choice for Prevention and Starch Intake May Influence Risk from the American Association for Cancer Research
A two-day-a-week low-carbohydrate diet was found, in research studies, to be more effective at lowering weight and insulin levels when compared to standard diets. More research on starch, specifically, is needed.

Sharsheret Presents On Patient Diversity with Sisters Network and Latina SHARE from Sharsheret
This link summarizes some trials up at the top, but Jewish, African-American, and Latina women may be especially interested in the recap of these three organizations’ presentation on the unique health, confidentiality, religious, and cultural concerns these patients may have about their cancer care.

Hispanic Women Have Higher Breast Cancer Mortality Rate from a San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Press Release
Researchers believe this may be because Hispanic women have a higher possibility of having chemotherapy-resistant tumors. The likelihood is around 20%.

Press Conference Audio Detailing Clinical Trial Results from the American Association for Cancer Research
Listen to this approx. 1 hour summary or download the MP3 version for portable listening.

Diabetes and Obesity Increase Breast Cancer Risk and Obesity Linked To Worse Outcomes from a San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Press Release
While the risk is increased in diabetic or obese patients over the age of 60, researchers are especially interested in the findings that two diabetes drugs, Glargine and Metformin, may interact with all cancer risk in significant ways. Glargine was found to nearly double the risk of any cancer, while the latter was found to reduce risk by 8 percent. Obese patients who received Tamoxifen had significantly better outcomes.

A New Test Could Help Doctors Assess Recurrence Risk for Breast Cancer in Patients with DCIS from a San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Press Release
Patients with ductal carcinoma in situ may be able to use a multigene test to assess their risk for recurrence. This would enable doctors to better individualize treatment on a patient-to-patient basis.

SABCS Update #1 from Pharmastrategyblog.com
There’s a lot at this link, but one big takeaway is the identification of three HER2 mutant phenotypes at MD Anderson. If these findings are validated, this means that researchers will have an improved understanding of HER2-positive breast cancer and will, hopefully, be able to move in more meaningful directions in their research to combat the disease. It is also worth noting that research involving anti-HER3 antibodies and immunocompromised mice was effective in treating breast cancers in these mice.

SABCS Update #2 from pharmastrategyblog.com
This update details 3 clinical trials of new medications that can help combat drug resistance in breast cancer patients. In the future, doctors may be able to successfully prevent drug resistance or choose an alternative therapy once resistance has made itself present.

Breast Cancer Survivors with BRCA Mutation Have Increased Risk for Cancer in Other Breast from a San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Press Release
The risk is more than 10%; this can be affected by the patient’s age at their first diagnosis of breast cancer; when the woman’s age was below 40, the risk increased to 26%.  Doctors should keep this in mind when counseling patients.

Many Opt Out of Reconstruction from a San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Press Release
While overall the rate of women opting for reconstruction is increasing, the total number still is under 25% of survivors. Financial assistance through insurance is a big obstacle in the way of many women interested in reconstruction.

San Antonio Recap from Y-ME Breast Cancer
This attendant was very pleased to see the extra focus on breast cancer medication side effects, hoping this will have a positive impact on the way doctors prescribe and monitor therapies to their patients. Many presenters also expressed hope that new medications and treatments will be available to patients at a reasonable cost.

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Are you facing a diagnosis of breast cancer and need help accessing your high-cost, hard-to-get medications? Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy would like to help you. We provide over-the-counter treatments for side effects as well as quick shipping across the United States at no extra charge to the patient. We also have a patient assistance team that, in 2010, raised over $10 million in funds to help patients. To find out more about how we might be able to help you, please call our toll-free advocacy hotline at (855) 284-4642 (more information about our hotline can be found here!).

Justine Dolorfino is a Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can get in touch with Diplomat about your needs at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642 as well as follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. You can also reach her via email. If you’d like to see your recap or news release included in this sampling, let her know!

BH: I was overwhelmed by the conversation and support I found in this community of people that have been affected by breast cancer in some way. As my first experience on Twitter Chat, I thought I would just read and see what was going on. Before I knew it I was adding comments and suggestions to the chatter about that day’s subject— discussing cancer & the holidays! As a breast cancer survivor, I was able to reflect on my own experience and offer a few comments of support such as, “my advice is to take in every moment and find strength in hope.” It was an awesome experience and one that I could engage in from my desk in my home.

The next chat will be Monday, December 12, at 1PM EST, but the rest of the Monday chats in December will be at 9PM EST. For more information about the chat, and to see the latest times, go here. To check out more health-related chats, take a look at this list here.

What Are Twitter Chats Good For?
Twitter chats allow you a chance to talk immediately, in real-time, with people who share your interests. You can ask for advice, share your story, and connect with people from all across the world. Think of #bcsm as a way to attend a support meeting free of cost — no travel or sign-ups required! Taking advantage of this Twitter chat can give you a way to have your voice be heard by welcoming, friendly people who know what you are going through. Never has it been so easy to connect!

How Do Twitter Chats Work?
Online Twitter chats use a hashtag, a series of letters or words preceded by the pound sign (#). Each “tweet” (a 140 character message sent by a Twitter account) includes the hashtag of the Twitter chat. This way, you can run a search for a chat’s hashtag on Twitter and find all the tweets included in the chat. This chat in particular uses the hashtag “#bcsm.”

An example chat tweet might look like:
“Hi all! I am happy to be joining this week’s chat. Looking forward to talking with you. #bcsm”
When someone searches for “#bcsm,” you would be able to see that tweet as one of the results.

Joining Twitter is free — all you need is to sign up with an email address, then pick your username and password.

How Do I Participate?
We recommend using the free service, Tweetgrid — http://www.tweetgrid.com — assuming you already have a Twitter account, of course.

1. Go to the website — http://www.tweetgrid.com. Click on the option for “1×2,” which will give you two vertical columns that will automatically update. These vertical columns work as “search windows” and your next step is to tell each column what it needs to look for.
2. The left column will automatically default to searching for “twitter.” Click in this grey box and delete “twitter,” then type “#bcsm” (remember to include the “#” sign!). This will set the left column to automatically refresh with the latest tweets that include “#bcsm” — every tweet in this chat.
3. In the right column’s grey box, click and type an “@” sign, immediately followed by your username. Example: our username is “dspadvocacy,” so we would type in “@dspadvocacy” into this grey box. This will set the right column to automatically refresh with the latest tweets directed at you.
4. Above the columns, click the “login” button to log in with your Twitter username and password. Tweetgrid will not save your private data. This will just allow you to tweet and contribute to the chat from Tweetgrid itself.
5. Last set-up step! In the “Hashtag” field above the “login” button that you just clicked on, type in “#bcsm.” This will automatically include this hashtag into all of your tweets.
6. When the chat begins, you will be able to see all the latest posts in the chat in the left column, see who is talking to you in the right column, and contribute your thoughts by typing in a message in the text box next to “Tweet” at the top!

BH: It may look and sound complicated to get connected, but believe me, if I can do it—you can. And it is worth the effort. We all need to find and give support wherever we can. But, I am warning you—bring the tissues if you are a softhearted soul like me. I hope I will see you there.

For more information about #BCSM, you can check out their website or ask @jodyms or @stales on Twitter.

Justine Dolorfino and Brenda Hawkes are the Patient Advocacy Social Media Representative and Patient Advocate Liaison, respectively,  for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy. You can get in touch with Diplomat about your needs at our toll-free hotline at 855-284-4642 as well as follow the Patient Advocacy Navigator online at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. You can also reach Justine via email.