Measuring outcomes of a pharmacist-run travel health clinic located in an independent community pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the acceptance and refusal rates of travel-related vaccine and medication recommendations in a pharmacist-run travel health clinic, to evaluate the change in patient understanding of travel-related issues, to determine patient satisfaction with this clinic, and to determine factors influencing both patient acceptance and satisfaction.


METHODS
Southern California (Claremont) between July 2007 and October 2008.


METHODS
Hendricks Pharmacy is an independently owned community pharmacy that is part of the Good Neighbor Pharmacy Provider Network. The pharmacy offers a range of services including home delivery, compounding, and blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol screenings.


METHODS
Comprehensive pharmacist-run travel health clinic.


METHODS
Patient acceptance and refusal rates of pharmacist-made recommendations, changes in patient understanding of travel-related issues resulting from pharmacist counseling, and patient satisfaction with this travel health clinic.


RESULTS
In a sample of 283 patients, overall patient acceptance of pharmacist-made recommendations was 84.7%. The primary reason for patient refusal of a recommendation was self-perceived low risk for infection. A subsample of patients (n = 82) completing a patient satisfaction survey found that 96% were satisfied with their overall visit. Patient satisfaction with the clinic and pharmacist services was correlated with overall patient acceptance.


CONCLUSIONS
The high rate of patient acceptance and satisfaction with this clinic supports adoption of pharmacists as nontraditional providers of travel health services.
Hess
Karl M
KM
College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA. khess@westernu.edu
Dai
Chih-Wei
CW
Garner
Brian
B
Law
Anandi V
AV
D002140:California; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057236:Travel Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data