title: HIV medication therapy management services in community pharmacies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a rationale and a proposed structure to support pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management (MTM) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV ) disease and to outline challenges to implementing and sustaining the service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Professional literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Historically, the effect of pharmacy services for HIV-infected persons has been demonstrated in inpatient and clinic-based settings. Developing similar programs adapted for community pharmacists could be a model of care to improve patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy and retention in care. Initiation of antiretroviral therapy and regular monitoring of CD4+ cell count, HIV RNA viral load, adverse drug events, and adherence form the backbone of successful medical management of HIV infection. Support for these services can be provided to HIV-infected patients through pharmacist-managed HIV MTM programs in community pharmacy settings in collaboration with primary providers and other health care professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community pharmacists can help meet the growing need for HIV care through provision of MTM services. Although resources have been developed, including the general MTM framework, challenges of adequate training, education, and support of community pharmacists need to be addressed in order for HIV MTM to be a successful model.
authors.affiliation: Underserved Care/Global Health Pharmacy Resident, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. yardlee.s.kauffman@kp.org
authors.forename: Yardlee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kauffman
authors.forename: Vidya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herist
authors.forename: Vasavi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weidle
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents