title: Adherence screening and monitoring.
abstract: Patient adherence is an essential goal of pharmaceutical care and can be an initial focus for cognitive services in a traditional pharmacy. Pharmacists are well placed to manage adherence programs. Activities associated with adherence include screening or assessment, follow-up monitoring, and use of memory aids or refill reminders. Technology is available in many forms to assist pharmacists in this role. The pharmacist's role in adherence should focus on achieving desirable patient outcomes. Services associated with adherence programs need not be attached to distribution activities. Producing cost-effective drug therapy outcomes will continue to be of critical value to patients, health care systems, and third party providers.
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, Ala., USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Felkey
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D017010:Reminder Systems; D013997:Time Factors