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Cost Avoidance, Acceptance, and Outcomes Associated with a Pharmacotherapy Consult Clinic in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Author(s) -
Galt Kimberly A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1998.tb03941.x
Subject(s) - veterans affairs , pharmacist , medicine , medical prescription , attendance , pharmacotherapy , family medicine , clinical pharmacy , pharmaceutical care , primary care , emergency medicine , medical emergency , pharmacy , nursing , economics , economic growth
A pharmacist‐directed pharmacotherapy consult clinic (PCC) was established in an interdisciplinary primary care medicine continuity clinic. The pharmacist initiated or modified patient care plans in collaboration with primary care physicians and maintained care plans for 336 (32.8%) of 1023 patients enrolled in the continuity clinic. Clinical outcomes were positive in 88.3% of patient visits, with 95.7% attendance at the PCC clinic and 95% physician acceptance of pharmacist recommendations. Average reductions of 2.4 prescriptions/patient and 6.9 doses/day were achieved. Actual and potential cost avoidance totaled $54,730.56, with actual and potential savings realized compared with dollars spent at a ratio of 5.8:1. The pharmacist provided value‐added services and contributed to decreased costs associated with care.