title: VA telephone care program gives pharmacists authority to solve zero-refill problem.
abstract: Running out of refills on a chronic medication is a pain for patient and a burden on the healthcare system. The VA Palo Alto (CA) Health System says its telephone care pharmacy program is a cost-efficient approach to the problem. Program pharmacists can extend prescriptions for chronic medications to last until patients have their next doctor's appointment. Here's how it works.
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*