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Letters & Recommendations
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DelfiniGram™: GET ON OUR UPDATE LIST
A Key Testimonial
That Keeps Us Motivated, Inspired & Moving Ahead
...huge difference
in my professional life...now have the confidence...your
workshops help re-ignite for many the real reason they got involved
in pharmacy and medicine in the first place...we definitely can
make a difference!... |
"I have
been meaning to thank you and Mike for all of the training and insight
that you have given me. It really has made a huge difference in my
professional life. For example, this summer I tackled an important
safety debate. It took me many hours, but at the end of the day, I
concluded that we, as a company, needed to make new recommendations.
Without my Delfini training, I would have never had the confidence,
nor been able to develop a convincing case. I know sometimes the jaded
medical world may feel that evidence-based medicine and critical evaluations
are nice academic exercises that rarely, if ever, influence member
safety. We know that this is not the case. Keep carrying the banner
of enlightenment in 2011! Your workshops help re-ignite for many the
real reason they got involved in pharmacy and medicine in the first
place. We definitely can make a difference..." Name Held in Confidence |
............................................................ |
State of
Washington
...people are raving about your training... |
"Mike and Sheri, I just wanted to thank you once again for the great job you did today, teaching our staff EBM assessment for validity and usefulness. You were inspiring to our staff. I just loved to see how attentive they were and to hear the great questions that were asked. They were getting your messages! Fantastic.
People are raving about your training. I just heard how professional that it was, that HRSA and the other agencies were represented in style and the staff really appreciated that. I believe they recognized that we brought the very best to them, showing that we value EBM and their work in this area.
Again, thanks so much. It was such a pleasure to work with you to make this day so special for our staff."
Siri
Siri Childs, Pharm D
Pharmacy Policy Office Chief
Department of Social & Health Services
Health & Recovery Services Administration
Division of Medical Benefits & Care Management
Medical Consulting & Pharmacy Policy Units
State of Washington
|
............................................................ |
And more from the State of
Washington
...superb evidence
reviews...
Link
to Delfini Washington State Health Care Technology work. |
State of
Washington Health
Care Authority
"Hello
Sheri and Mike, thanks for shouting out to the Washington State
Health Technology Clinical Committee. Along with the help of organizations
like Delfini providing us with superb evidence reviews, we are showing
a way that the US should follow, in my opinion. I appreciate your
linking your contacts to our work. Best Wishes, Brian"
Brian R. Budenholzer, MD, FAAFP
Health Technology Clinical Committee Chair
Health Care Authority
State of Washington |
............................................................ |
The Regence
Group
...nobody does it better
than Delfini!!!...wonderful program...been to many of your programs
and continue to learn, be inspired and stretch...already incorporating
the information as well as your tools into our processes...
Reference Letter from
Chief Pharmacy Officer click
here |
"Dear Delfini
(Mike/Sheri), Thank you for a wonderful two-day course on evidence-based
medicine tools and applications. In an era of high tech, high cost
medical technology and medications, Regence has made evidence-based
medicine the core of its business model and guiding principle in
making healthcare decisions.
Delfini has been both
the inspiration and support in helping us build and evolve this
foundation with their guidance, teachings, and EBM tools for ready
application in critically appraising the literature. I want to complement
Delfini on an outstanding presentation and the ability and flexibility
to adapt and structure the presentation for a multi-disciplinary
staff of healthcare professionals (medical directors, nurses, pharmacists,
students), such that all benefit. I have attended several of your
presentations and each time I attend there is always something new
to learn or additional "pearls" of knowledge to add to
my EBM tool kit. My staff has told me the same!
As always, we appreciate
your time in working closely with us and customizing presentations
to help meet the needs of our audience. Nobody does it better than
Delfini!!!
Warmest regards, Lynn"
Lynn Nishida, R.Ph.
Director, Clinical Pharmacy Services
After Two Days Following
A Delfini Training Retreat...
"Dr. Stuart and Sheri, I wanted to thank you both for the wonderful
program you put together. I've heard all the same things echoed
by the staff that were noted in the evaluations. For myself, I think
I've been to more than six of your programs and I continue to be
inspired and stretched each time. We are already incorporating the
information you provided, as wells as your tools into our processes.
We look forward to working with you again and further improving
our processes with your knowledge and tools. Again, thanks for everything
and have a great summer."
Helen Sherman, R.Ph., Pharm.D., Senior Director - Chief Pharmacy
Officer Pharmacy Services, The Regence Group, Portland, OR
"I have seen your
program 3 times (make that 4 times) and I learn something new (ok,
a lot new) every time. I really appreciate the way you constantly
update your material to be relevant. I would sit through a day of
your seminar once or twice a year." Program Attendee |
............................................................ |
David Holloway,
MD
Senior Vice President & Chief Quality Officer
Parkview Health
Fort Wayne IN
...already using tools
in real life...like the organized approach...helped us change...real
success...improved patient care...help us use resources optimally...invaluable... |
After
one month for a Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee consultation
for one of our clients...
"The evaluation results look very good. Proof of impact: people
are already starting to use the tools and material in real life.
1) Parkview Hospital and Parkview North have already changed the
way 'addition to formulary requests' are presented at their local
PNT. The docs like the organized approach. 2) The three Community
Hospitals approved the System PNT at their quarterly joint med staff
officers meeting last week. We take the matter before Parkview Hospital
next week, but don't think there will be any problems there. Well
done. Yes, you can use this. You earned it!"
Six months later...
"It has been six months since the Delfini Group customized
an evidence-based training program to help us change our processes
for drug reviews. We have already experienced real success which
we expect to be sustainable and which will improve the care we provide
to our patients and our ability to use our resources optimally.
The concepts and skills learned in the training—along with
the tools and process steps - —were invaluable to us and have
helped us transform our system. Highly recommended!"
One and a half years
later...
Reference Provided by W. David Holloway, MD, Sr VP, Chief
Quality Officer, Parkview Health
"Parkview Health has seven hospitals, five boards, four medical
staffs and all of the inherent complexities of such a structure.
Two years ago we consolidated our various hospital pharmacy operations
into one system support function. One goal was to decrease variation
within medication class; in other words, standardize the formulary
across hospitals and medical staffs. An important milestone was
creation of a System Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee with physicians
from the four staffs. That said, we took this opportunity to structure
the new committee's decision-making around evidence and not just
physician preference and advocacy, as had been the approach at the
'local' P & T's.
Mike and Sheri led a group of physicians, nurse, pharmacists and
administrators through a one-day EBM course, tailored specifically
to a system-level pharmacy and the types of decisions we might encounter.
By the end of the day we had: 1) created the structure and function
of the new committee, 2) general agreement of how we would use EBM
in decision-making, and 3) a good understanding of the resources/functions
needed from pharmacy to support the new committee. In addition,
we introduced this core group of clinical leaders to the concepts
and methods of EBM. This 'deep awareness' has helped many times
in other areas, such as better clinical pathway development. This
EBM training was a big 'ah ha' needed toward critical mass.
The System P & T is running well. Formulary variation is decreasing.
New products must be accompanied by proper 'critical appraisal'.
The committee can still decide to look beyond the evidence (we haven't
banished politics from the planet...yet). But we are definitely
making better decisions and we see fewer physicians willing to approach
without good RCTs. Also, our flagship hospital (about 550 beds)
decommissioned their separate P & T committee, choosing to cast
its fate with the System group. This is a nice endorsement by the
tertiary center..."
And EBM products...
"Mike, I
want to thank you for the outstanding evidence review and synthesis
Delfini did for our medical group on ACE inhibitors and angiotensin
II receptor blockers ARBs in heart failure. When I presented the
synthesis to our cardiologists they enthusiastically complimented
Delfini. They uniformly felt the synthesis was extremely thorough,
well-organized and highly useful evidence-based information. Another
example of Delfini’s superb work – I can’t thank
you enough for helping us navigate a challenging area." |
............................................................ |
Nicole O'Kane, PharmD
InterHospital Physicians Association
Portland OR
...instrumental role
in the enhancement of our processes...ideas to efficiently use available
resources...improved our efficiency... |
"I've been attending
seminars with the Delfini Group since 2001. They have played an instrumental
role in the enhancement of our P & T process. Their programs mix
together an enthusiasm for evidence-based medicine with factual market-driven
ideas to efficiently utilize the available resources. The Delfini
programs motivated me to plan a health system retreat in 2002. The
retreat was an opportunity for multiple P & T committee members
(hospital, primary care clinics, health plan) and supporting staff
to explore the importance of evidence-driven decisions in the P &
T process. The program included Delfini presentations and working
sections introducing tools to improve efficiency. Of course the retreat
was just a beginning, a starting point to build upon. And build we
have! Our P & T presentation format and discussions have become
more efficient, and we have standardized decision algorithms that
help during crossroad discussions for an individual therapy. The evidence
will never have all the answers. But this process brings a framework
of support that has improved efficiency and, I believe, a greater
satisfaction for committee members with the difficult task of P &
T therapy evaluations and literature review." |
............................................................ |
Maribeth M. Bettarelli,
PharmD
Clinical Associate, Clinical & Drug Information Resources Caremark
Inc.
Northbrook IL
...invaluable guidelines
and tools...used almost daily...wonderful assets...extremely useful... |
"Hi, Mike and Sheri!
I hope you're both doing well! If you don't remember me, I last saw
you at the Clinical Practice Guidelines & Clinical Improvement
Project Workshop...in Fort Lauderdale in May. Since then, I left Walgreens
Health Initiatives and started in the new Drug Information Team at
Caremark. I've been here since mid-August and have enjoyed it so far.
My current position entails the review of off-label diagnoses for
medications in our Prior Authorization program. (If you remember,
I had asked about the evaluation of off-label diagnoses at the last
workshop.) The guidelines and tools that you provided have been invaluable
and are used on an almost daily basis as I review journal articles
and consensus guidelines and write clinical consults. These references
along with those found on the web site are wonderful assets and are
extremely useful! I have shared this information with other members
of my team as well as students whom I have precepted.
Thanks again for the wonderful program. It was so nice to hang
out and get to know you better, too! Best regards, Maribeth"
|
............................................................ |
Chris McFarland,
PharmD
Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
Departments of Internal Medicine &
Family Practice
Lovelace at Journal Center
Albuquerque NM
...will become immediately
embedded in our strategies...will utilize the tools...more worthwhile
2 days than any week-long program I've attended...spectacular!...
Two years later...
...highly applicable...other courses and seminars covered much but
left me with little...Delfini's was comprehensive and practical...superbly
taught...rich with information...drove home key concepts...able
to apply...tool easily incorporated into practice...my highest recommendation...Delfini
offers something quite unique... |
“The information
gathered from this meeting will become immediately embedded in our
clinical practice strategies. I will be able to utilize these tools
in our evolving Journal Clubs (both clinicians and students/residents)
as well as in my own presentations to the Medical Staff. To take
this knowledge a step further even, I plan to discuss this meeting
during our upcoming Preceptor’s Conference with our College
of Pharmacy (and beg them to include such material in their curriculum!)
Thanks so much for
a meeting that was more worthwhile in two days than any week-long
meeting I have ever attended. The program was spectacular, free
of commercial bias, and comprehensive, despite the short duration.
I hope to be able to attend future programs you put on, as I think
you are both a dynamic speaker and basically a fun person to be
in the same room with!”
Two years later...
"I attended two courses 2 years in a row, and subsequently sent
our residents last year. I found the seminar to be highly applicable
across all stages of EBM understanding. Historically, I had participated
in other courses and seminars that covered much but left me with little.
If you can't walk away with something — some tool — in
hand to use, then what would be the worth? The Delfini Group provided
a comprehensive – and practical – approach to interpreting
EBM, but most importantly, they provided a tool that I was able to
easily incorporate into my practice. The two-day course provided a
hands-on workshop environment that drove home key concepts of EBM.
Participants were able to apply what they learned in several sessions,
using the tools that we ultimately were given. The group even received
software that assisted in using the principles that were taught. I
found it to be quite practical, superbly taught and facilitated, and
comprehensive in its applicability…I sincerely believe that
the Delfini group offers something quite unique, and not only that,
they practice what they preach and are always available afterwards…they
get my highest recommendations…the sessions are rich with information..." |
............................................................ |
George Alexis M.S.,R.Ph.
Clinical Pharmacy Manager
Veterans Affairs
Boston Healthcare System
...excellent...very
useful program...quality content...expert speakers...custom tailored
to meet our needs... |
"Dear Sheri and
Mike, I want to thank you personally and on behalf of all the participants
for an excellent and very useful program. The following day we had
a scheduled meeting and I received many personal thanks for not only
setting up the program but also the quality of the content and expertise
of the speakers. As I explained to them the thanks goes to Mike and
you who were willing to take the time to work closely with me to custom
tailor the program to meet our needs." |
............................................................ |
Jim Shahriar, M.S.,
R.Ph.
Clinical Pharmacist, Quality Programs
Blue Shield Pharmacy Services
San Francisco CA
...a pleasure...new
insights...wonderful job... |
"Dear Michael
and Sheri, it was a pleasure to meet you and attend the EBM course
on February 28 and March 1, 2003. Although I had studied the course
material in my graduate courses, the EBM program was very helpful
and gave me new insights in how to approach and evaluate literature
effectively. In fact, your two-day course reviewed two of my gradutate
courses. Thank you for such a wonderful job and please keep up the
good work." |
............................................................ |
Rosa Sanchez, Pharm
D
Retrospective Drug Utilization Review Clinical Pharmacist
Walgreen's Health Initiatives
Deerfield IL
...great program...especially
enjoyed information and decision aids...help us better communicate
with patients... |
"I just want to
thank you again for the great program you presented last week in Ft.
Lauderdale. The information presented will be very helpful, I especially
enjoyed the portion on 'Information and Decision Aids.' The information
provided will help us better communicate patient-related clinical
information to maximize our retrospective drug utilization review
interventions." |
............................................................ |
Tanner
Odom, PharmD
Care Management Pharmacist
Clinical Services Department
Walgreens Health Initiatives
Deerfield IL
...without a doubt
the best meeting I've ever attended...extremely relevant...couldn't
wait to get started the next morning...so useful... |
“I wanted
to thank you very much for the opportunity to attend the Clinical
Practice Guidelines Workshop this past week. This meeting was without
a doubt the best meeting I've ever attended. The information provided
was extremely relevant and will prove to be very useful for the
rest of my professional career. Never have I attended a meeting
where I couldn't wait to get started the next morning following
the completion of that days’ session. This information is
so useful, that we are looking to do some sort of a miniature workshop
to share this information with the entire Clinical Services group.” |
........
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