Behind the Scenes: Pharmacy Team's Vital Role in Cancer Care

When you’re being treated for cancer, there are a number of different specialists who make up your care team. One of the most essential is someone you’ll probably never meet—your pharmacist.

The pharmacy team at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute is a crucial part of the patient’s healthcare journey, says Dina Dumercy McHenry, Pharm.D., the Institute’s director of pharmacy services. “Our dedicated pharmacy professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure your safety, improve your treatment experience and pioneer new standards of care.”

Navigating Complex Challenges with Precision

One of the most significant challenges in healthcare is supply chain issues and the unpredictable nature of medication availability. National drug shortages can create immense difficulties for patients and providers, particularly in specialized fields like cancer care.

“In my career, I’ve never seen anything like the drug shortages we’ve had over the past two years,” says Dr. Dumercy McHenry. “Some of these medications are used in the curative space and suddenly they aren’t available or they are available in limited quantities.”

To address this, Miami Cancer Institute’s pharmacy team has become expert in sourcing alternative medications and implementing conservation strategies. This careful management ensures that every patient continues to receive the vital treatments they need without interruption.

Their proactive approach extends to other healthcare supply chain issues, too, such as shortages of IV fluids. “It demonstrates our team’s ability to adapt and ensure continuous, high-quality patient care,” Dr. Dumercy McHenry says.

Training the Next Generation of Specialists

As medicine becomes more advanced, the need for highly specialized pharmacists grows. New, complex drug therapies require an expert understanding of their use, their potential side effects and their interactions with other drugs.

To meet this demand and build a sustainable pipeline of talent, Dr. Dumercy McHenry says Baptist Health is focused on expanding its pharmacy education programs.

Miami Cancer Institute’s Pharmacy Postgraduate Residency Program is the first and largest PGY-2 (Postgraduate Year Two) oncology program in Southeast Florida, according to Dr. McHenry. In 2024, the program introduced a PGY-2 residency in Investigational Drugs and Research Pharmacy, the first of its kind in the state.

“It is very difficult to recruit pharmacists with the experience necessary in a research setting. We need a pipeline of future oncology and investigational drug service pharmacists,” declares Dr. Dumercy McHenry. “These residency programs ensure that we are preparing experts who can manage the intricate demands of modern medicine, from clinical trials to personalized treatment plans.”

Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in Treatment

The Miami Cancer Institute pharmacy team’s expertise is integrated directly into every patient’s care plan. In 2024 alone, team members reviewed and helped standardize more than 1,100 cancer treatment plans.

This process involves optimizing medication regimens, clarifying which lab tests are needed for monitoring, and building standardized order sets within Baptist Health’s electronic health record system, explains Dr. Dumercy McHenry. These efforts improve both the efficiency and accuracy of patient care, she adds.

In addition, the Institute’s pharmacy team documented more than 29,000 clinical interventions, with 10,000 of them specifically for managing treatment side effects. Dr. Dumercy McHenry says that by working within multidisciplinary clinics alongside physicians and nurses, Institute pharmacists provide specialized knowledge crucial for patient safety—especially as new medications are introduced.

Reducing Wait Times and Improving Patient Experience

Pharmacists at Miami Cancer Institute understand that a patient’s time is valuable, particularly for those who require regular infusions or treatments. Improving the preparation and delivery of medications to reduce patient wait time has been a key initiative.

“By identifying medications that can be safely compounded the night before a patient’s appointment, our team has made a significant impact on the patient experience,” states Dr. Dumercy McHenry. “About 30 to 35 percent of our patients now have zero wait time. That’s a meaningful improvement and one that gives them back precious time in their day.”

A Commitment to System-Wide Excellence

Collaboration is key to providing consistent, high-quality care across all of Baptist Health, according to Dr. Dumercy McHenry. The pharmacy department is leading efforts to standardize medication practices at all Baptist Health locations, including Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton and Mariners Hospital and Fishermen’s Community Hospital in the Florida Keys.

“This ensures cancer treatments are aligned and delivered consistently,” Dr. Dumercy McHenry explains. “By harmonizing medication formularies, creating system-wide guidelines for managing side effects and streamlining treatment order sets, we ensure that every patient receives the same high standard of care, regardless of where they are treated within Baptist Health.”

Dr. Dumercy McHenry adds that Miami Cancer Institute’s pharmacy team is a recipient of the Warren E. Weaver/Richard P. Penna Award, presented annually by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) for “advancing health quality and patient care.”

Says Dr. Dumercy McHenry: “From managing drug shortages to training future leaders and making patients’ treatment journeys smoother, our team of two dozen expert pharmacists is a vital force for innovation and safety at Miami Cancer Institute. Each and every one of us is committed to providing patients with the compassionate, high-quality care Baptist Health is known for.”

Dina Dumercy McHenry, Pharm.D., director of pharmacy services for Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute