Sep 25, 2020
Today’s episode is an interview with Dr. Eleni Mastro, an independent consultant pharmacist. I invited her on the podcast because she uses her voice to advocate and educate. Optimizing drug therapy in the elderly is important. As an independent consultant pharmacist certified in Medication Therapy Management, Dr. Mastro helps facilities and geriatric patients manage drug regimens, decrease adverse drug events, and reduce costs. As a result, her patients and clients feel empowered. Dr. Mastro’s extensive background in pharmaceutical nomenclature and drug safety testing sparked her affinity to medication management.
Dr. Mastro earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University. She is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). She is licensed in New York and New Jersey.
Mentioned in this episode
Dr. Mastro's Website: www.compliance-reach.com
Email: em@compliance-reach.com
Facebook: Compliance Reach Pharmacy Consulting
Eleni Mastro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleni-mastro/
Brand Institute https://www.brandinstitute.com
American Pharmacists Association (APhA) https://www.pharmacist.com
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) https://www.ascp.com
Blair Thielemier PharmD linkedin.com/in/btpharmacyconsulting
Pharmapreneur Academy *AFFILIATE LINK* Coupon code for $50 off Month 1 is: VOICE50
Highlights from the interview
Dr. Mastro joined Pharmapreneur Academy with Blair Thielemeier and felt inspired to create a business working one-on-one with patients, their caregivers, and families to educate on disease states and medications. She also consults with prescribers and care facilities.
Dr. Mastro has a passion for working with the elderly. Helping patients one-on-one is rewarding to her. Narrowing down her business services was a challenge, but she feels confident with her choice.
Dr. Mastro shared a success story about working with an elderly gentleman with dementia. Using her problem-solving skills, Dr. Mastro looked at all the “pieces of the puzzle,” optimized his drug therapy, encouraged an increased activity level, and saw the behavior change he needed. He felt better and slept better, and his family was happier as a result.
Patients find Dr. Mastro in a number of ways: referrals from healthcare professionals, word of mouth, Facebook, fliers, networking with pharmacies, and her website. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been a barrier to in-person meetings, Dr. Mastro has had the opportunity to meet with many patients using Zoom.
Dr. Mastro’s familiarity with the Beers List is important to her business. Researching medication doses, making recommendations to prescribers (on dose and appropriateness), looking at bloodwork with deeper insight, and make clinical decisions based on data ultimately helps helps her manage drug regimens, decrease adverse drug events, and reduce costs.
One of Dr. Mastro’s favorite resources is the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) website. The insights, CE, and network of member pharmacists strengthens her knowledge base and helps her be a more effective pharmacist. COVID-19 and transitions of care are two topics on the ASCP website Dr. Mastro found especially useful in recent months.
One of the best pieces of advice Dr. Mastro has ever had was about imposter syndrome. Someone warned her about it, and it made an impact on her. She recognized the little voice in the back of her head (imposter syndrome) that was holding her back. She pushed it aside so she could move forward with her business idea and feel confident she would succeed. It’s a turning point so many entrepreneurs face, and she encourages others to recognize the feeling and push forward in spite of self-doubt.
Patients, the adult children of patients, and healthcare providers may not realize they need Dr. Mastro’s services. Marketing her medication therapy management (MTM) service creatively and getting patient buy-in is one of her biggest challenges. When she develops a relationship and educates patients and families, they feel empowered and able to advocate for their health/their loved one’s health.
On her journey from Brand Institute to founding Compliance Reach Pharmacy Consulting, many patients, families, other pharmacists, and entrepreneurs have impacted Dr. Mastro. She says that meeting amazing people is the best thing that’s happened on her journey.
If you are a patient, family member, caregiver, or facility interested in reaching out to Dr. Mastro, please visit www.compliance-reach.com or e-mail Dr. Eleni Mastro em@compliance-reach.com.