Abstract
Purpose. The development and outcomes of an outpatient psychiatric pharmacy clinic serving a mostly indigent Hispanic population are described. Summary. Su Clinica Familiar (SCF) is a community health center in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley that sees over 30,000 patients a year, 20% of whom have a psychiatric disorder. In 2005 SCF began collaborating with a psychiatric clinical pharmacist to provide free psychiatric services within the health center. SCF patients with mental health complications were referred to the clinic by their primary care provider. Consultation notes were reviewed by the medical director, and treatment, if approved, was begun the same day. During the period from April 2005 to June 2006, 96 (77%) of 125 patients referred to the psychiatric pharmacy clinic actually attended it. Fifty-three (72%) of the 74 patients who were asked to return for follow-up care returned. Over 90% of the pharmacist's clinical recommendations were accepted. Most referrals were for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment; other referrals were for insomnia, medication education, and smoking cessation. The medications most frequently prescribed were sertraline and donepezil. Cost savings were estimated at $22,380. Conclusion. A psychiatric pharmacy clinic in an underserved region appeared to benefit patients' mental health and save money.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 229-233 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Ambulatory care
- Clinical pharmacists
- Clinical pharmacy
- Economics
- Mental disorders
- Pharmaceutical services
- Sociology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmaceutical Science
- Leadership and Management
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Development and outcomes of a psychiatric pharmacy clinic for indigent patients. / Caballero, Joshua; Souffrant, Garry; Heffernan, Eileen.
In: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Vol. 65, No. 3, 01.02.2008, p. 229-233.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and outcomes of a psychiatric pharmacy clinic for indigent patients
AU - Caballero, Joshua
AU - Souffrant, Garry
AU - Heffernan, Eileen
PY - 2008/2/1
Y1 - 2008/2/1
N2 - Purpose. The development and outcomes of an outpatient psychiatric pharmacy clinic serving a mostly indigent Hispanic population are described. Summary. Su Clinica Familiar (SCF) is a community health center in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley that sees over 30,000 patients a year, 20% of whom have a psychiatric disorder. In 2005 SCF began collaborating with a psychiatric clinical pharmacist to provide free psychiatric services within the health center. SCF patients with mental health complications were referred to the clinic by their primary care provider. Consultation notes were reviewed by the medical director, and treatment, if approved, was begun the same day. During the period from April 2005 to June 2006, 96 (77%) of 125 patients referred to the psychiatric pharmacy clinic actually attended it. Fifty-three (72%) of the 74 patients who were asked to return for follow-up care returned. Over 90% of the pharmacist's clinical recommendations were accepted. Most referrals were for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment; other referrals were for insomnia, medication education, and smoking cessation. The medications most frequently prescribed were sertraline and donepezil. Cost savings were estimated at $22,380. Conclusion. A psychiatric pharmacy clinic in an underserved region appeared to benefit patients' mental health and save money.
AB - Purpose. The development and outcomes of an outpatient psychiatric pharmacy clinic serving a mostly indigent Hispanic population are described. Summary. Su Clinica Familiar (SCF) is a community health center in Texas's Lower Rio Grande Valley that sees over 30,000 patients a year, 20% of whom have a psychiatric disorder. In 2005 SCF began collaborating with a psychiatric clinical pharmacist to provide free psychiatric services within the health center. SCF patients with mental health complications were referred to the clinic by their primary care provider. Consultation notes were reviewed by the medical director, and treatment, if approved, was begun the same day. During the period from April 2005 to June 2006, 96 (77%) of 125 patients referred to the psychiatric pharmacy clinic actually attended it. Fifty-three (72%) of the 74 patients who were asked to return for follow-up care returned. Over 90% of the pharmacist's clinical recommendations were accepted. Most referrals were for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment; other referrals were for insomnia, medication education, and smoking cessation. The medications most frequently prescribed were sertraline and donepezil. Cost savings were estimated at $22,380. Conclusion. A psychiatric pharmacy clinic in an underserved region appeared to benefit patients' mental health and save money.
KW - Ambulatory care
KW - Clinical pharmacists
KW - Clinical pharmacy
KW - Economics
KW - Mental disorders
KW - Pharmaceutical services
KW - Sociology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38749101679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=38749101679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2146/ajhp070266
DO - 10.2146/ajhp070266
M3 - Article
C2 - 18216008
AN - SCOPUS:38749101679
VL - 65
SP - 229
EP - 233
JO - American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
JF - American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
SN - 1079-2082
IS - 3
ER -