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An Economic Analysis of a Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Study of Clinical Pharmacist Interventions for High‐Risk Veterans: The IMPROVE Study
Author(s) -
Malone Daniel C.,
Carter Barry L.,
Billups Sarah J.,
Valuck Robert J.,
Barnette Debra J.,
Sintek Charles D.,
Okano Gary J.,
Ellis Samuel,
Covey Douglas,
Mason Barbara,
Jue Sandra,
Carmichael Jannet,
Guthrie Kelly,
Sloboda Lubica,
Dombrowski Robert,
Geraets Douglas R.,
Amato Mary G.
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.1592/phco.20.15.1149.34590
Subject(s) - medicine , randomized controlled trial , pharmacist , veterans affairs , psychological intervention , ambulatory , ambulatory care , health care , clinical pharmacy , intervention (counseling) , population , emergency medicine , physical therapy , family medicine , pharmacy , nursing , environmental health , economics , economic growth
Study Objective. To determine if clinical pharmacists could affect economic resource use and humanistic outcomes in an ambulatory, high‐risk population. Design. Prospective, randomized, controlled study. Setting. Nine Veterans Affairs medical centers. Patients. Patients who were at high risk for medication‐related problems. Intervention. Patients were randomized to usual medical care with input from a clinical pharmacist (intervention group) or just usual medical care (control group). Measurements and Main Results. Of 1054 patients enrolled, 523 were randomized to the intervention group and 531 to the control group. The number of clinic visits increased in the intervention group (p=0.003), but there was no difference in clinic costs. Mean increases in total health care costs were $1020 for the intervention group and $1313 for the control group (p=0.06). Conclusion. Including the cost of pharmacist interventions, overall health care expenditures were similar for patients randomized to see a clinical pharmacist versus usual medical care.