Nathaniel “Nat” Jones, R.Ph, FIACP, a pharmacy consultant with PCCA, has been appointed to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Advisory Council. The Council was established in 2015 by a new law that recognizes the critical role of palliative care in reducing medical costs while helping patients to recover from serious illnesses at any age or stage of illness.

The law charges the Council to consult with and to advise HHSC on matters related to establishing, maintaining, operating and evaluating the outcomes of statewide palliative-care consumer and professional information and education programs. The Council must submit a biennial report assessing the availability of palliative care in Texas; barriers to greater access to palliative care; and policies, practices and protocols in Texas concerning patients' rights related to palliative care.

The Council comprises 18 members appointed by the HHSC executive commissioner. These include physicians and nurses with advanced training and certifications in palliative care and pain management for pediatric and adult patients; and other healthcare professionals including a social worker, a pharmacist and a spiritual-care professional. The Council meets at least twice annually and will publish its first report by October of this year.

In accepting the appointment, Jones said, “Compounding pharmacy plays a crucial role in palliative care. It’s notable that the commissioner appointed a compounding pharmacist to the Council to assure that this specialized component of pharmacy and healthcare practice is fully represented and understood within the context of serving patients receiving palliative care.”

A.J. Day, PCCA’s director of Pharmacist Consulting added, “Nat is an excellent choice to serve in this role. As a compounding pharmacist with 25 years of healthcare and business experience, he is uniquely qualified to represent the important role pharmacy plays in medical care.”

PCCA is a complete resource for independent compounding pharmacies. The company’s members are nearly 4,000 independent community pharmacists in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. PCCA was incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists who recognized the need to help patients requiring customized medications. Those pharmacists became pioneers in the modern era of pharmacy compounding.