PharmacistCARE: description of a pharmacist care service and lessons learned along the way.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the PharmacistCARE program, an innovative pharmacy practice model implemented within a self-insured employer and to describe lessons learned by the authors in implementing and maintaining the program.


METHODS
University of Kentucky (UK), March 2003 to present.


METHODS
A free-standing pharmacist clinic located within an ambulatory care facility owned by UK HealthCare.


METHODS
PharmacistCARE, a pharmacist-provided patient care service for UK Health Plan members that includes comprehensive disease and medication therapy management.


METHODS
Various lessons learned by the authors during development, implementation, and maintenance of the program.


RESULTS
The program has been recognized by the university as a positive contribution to health plan service enhancement and cost savings and has documented enhanced patient care outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The PharmacistCARE program is a unique pharmacist-provided service delivered in a free-standing pharmacist clinic that enhances health outcomes for adult members in a self-insured employer group.
Divine
Holly
H
College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0082, USA. hsdivi1@email.uky.edu
Nicholas
Amy
A
Johnson
Carrie L
CL
Perrier
Donald G
DG
Steinke
Douglas T
DT
Blumenschein
Karen
K
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017046:Cost Savings; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D005791:Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care