title: Clinical and economic effects of pharmacy services in geriatric ambulatory clinic.
abstract: Pharmacy services were introduced in an established multidisciplinary geriatric ambulatory clinic. The pharmacist collaborated with primary care providers to optimize patients' drug regimens. Over 8 months there were 250 patient visits to the clinic. Traditional medical care was provided at 144 (57.6%) of these visits and traditional medical care plus pharmacist evaluation was provided at 106 (42.4%). The pharmacist identified 220 potential and actual drug-related problems. Acceptance of pharmacist-recommended changes in drug therapy was 98.6%. A mean reduction of 3.4 agents/patient was achieved in the intervention group (p<0.0001). Clinical outcomes of changes in drug therapy were neutral or positive in 99.5% of cases. Pharmacy services resulted in net savings of $7,788 annually.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Blakey
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hixson-Wallace
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005845:Georgia; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs