Episode # 289 • 25 Aug 2026
Pharmacist Impact on Asthma & COPD Care
What if your pharmacist could help optimize a patient’s asthma treatment before their next clinic visit? On this episode of the BackTable ENT & Allergy Podcast, Dr. Basil Kahwash welcomes clinical pharmacist Dr. Joelle Ayoub to discuss how ambulatory care pharmacists can partner with ENT and allergy clinics to optimize asthma management. Dr. Ayoub shares her experience working in a family medicine clinic, collaborating with providers through referrals, reviewing medications, and providing direct patient education on inhaler use and disease management.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
02:40 - The Role of the Clinic Pharmacist
05:04 - Teaching Patients and Improving Inhaler Technique
12:36 - Choosing Inhalers and Applying Guidelines
18:51 - Comparing MDI, DPI, and SMI Devices
28:15 - Tracking Asthma Control and Monitoring Adherence
33:55 - Inhaler Education and Overcoming Barriers
40:00 - Using Social Media for Patient and Provider Education
44:16 - Pharmacist Collaboration and the Future of Team Care
50:58 - Answering Biologics Patient Questions
53:15 - SMART Therapy and Digital Inhaler Advances
55:19 - Wrap Up
Resources
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More about this episode
They discuss common gaps in asthma care, with a focus on inhaler technique and medication adherence. Dr. Ayoub explains how device complexity, cost, and a patient’s ability to use their inhaler can all affect treatment. She also reviews the major inhaler types, common technique errors, and what to consider when choosing the right device for each patient. With this, Dr. Ayoub shares practical approaches to adherence monitoring, asthma guideline updates, and biologic monitoring. Throughout, Dr. Ayoub emphasizes the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration and how pharmacists can help bridge gaps in care for patients with asthma.
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