For patients living with specialty conditions, such as complex pulmonary conditions, care often involves managing life‑sustaining medications with intricate dosing, equipment, and little margin for error. Even one missed dose can quickly become an emergency. Many patients rely on a specialized care team that can anticipate challenges, respond quickly, and provide ongoing support through every step of treatment.
That comprehensive, patient‑first mindset is at the center of Accredo Specialty Pharmacy’s approach to care, and it’s embodied in the work of Mark Hahn, PharmD, senior manager of Accredo’s Advanced Pulmonary Conditions Therapeutic Resource Center (TRC). In a recent appearance on the American Pharmacists Association’s (APhA’s) Rx Inspiration podcast, Hahn shared his journey to becoming a specialty pharmacist and the work his team does to support patients living with complex pulmonary conditions.
A lived experience becomes a compass for care
For Hahn, the work is personal. His own experiences as a patient – including a kidney transplant and later a stage four lymphoma diagnosis while he was in pharmacy school – shaped his perspective and his career. Those moments gave him firsthand insight into what patients are feeling when their lives are suddenly defined by medications, appointments, and uncertainty.
“Everything has been through the eyes of the patient for me,” he said. “These conversations aren’t two minutes at a pharmacy counter. They can be five, 10, sometimes 30 minutes because the therapy is so complex.”
For some patients, medications can have half-lives measured in minutes – meaning the medication level in the body declines by 50% in that very short period of time. When a drug clears that quickly, even a brief interruption can create a serious risk, making continuity of care essential. Hahn recalled supporting patients during emergencies, travel disruptions, and severe weather events, where rapid access to expert guidance made a tangible difference.
“This is truly a team approach,” Hahn shared, describing how Accredo’s pharmacists, nurses, pharmacy technicians, social workers, and patient access representatives work together to support patients throughout their care journey.
Listen to the full conversation with Mark Hahn on the Rx Inspiration podcast here.
Some quotes were lightly edited for clarity.
Accredo raises the standard in specialty pharmacy, delivering care beyond the prescription and additive savings beyond the trend. Through our pharmacy model, plan sponsors can count on competitive specialty drug pricing and access to the specialty therapies your members need. We provide condition- and drug-focused expertise that prepares you for what’s ahead while driving the most value for you now. Our pharmacy engine propels savings to you and delivers well-being support for your members at no cost.
