Bridging health disparities: a national survey of ambulatory care pharmacists in underserved areas.

Background: There is a shortage of primary care medical providers, particularly in rural communities and communities of racial and ethnic minority groups. Clinical pharmacists can help fill gaps in care among these vulnerable populations.

Objective: To identify characteristics of ambulatory care pharmacists that pursue and maintain employment within underserved areas.

A multimethod evaluation of an interprofessional IPPE in an underserved clinic.

Introduction: To evaluate the design of an interprofessional introductory pharmacy practice experience (IP-IPPE) designed to integrate third-year pharmacy students in patient care workflow under the direct supervision of non-pharmacist practitioners in a federally qualified health center.

Methods: Data was gathered to evaluate the success of the IP-IPPE from the students', providers', and clinic's perspectives. Preceptors completed a mixed-methods survey to determine satisfaction and value of the IP-IPPE.

Impact on an integrated psychiatric pharmacy service in a primary care clinic.

Introduction: Traditionally, clinical pharmacists have been employed in the primary care setting to help manage chronic disease states, such as diabetes and hypertension. Although the benefits of pharmacists managing chronic conditions have been extensively published, published data for clinical pharmacist mental health services in primary care is limited to Veterans Affairs populations. This article describes a practice model in which pharmacists are providing psychiatric medication management and consultation in a federally qualified health center.

Social and Psychosocial Determinants of Health Associated With Uncontrolled Diabetes in a Federally Qualified Health Center Population.

Purpose: Many people with diabetes have difficulty achieving glycemic targets, and social and psychosocial determinants of health may influence their ability to obtain glycemic goals. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics independently associated with A1C >9% or untested A1C compared to those with A1C ≤9% at a federally qualified health center.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included people with a diagnosis of diabetes, who were 18-89 years of age and had a medical evaluation from a primary care provider between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017.

Changes in pharmacy students' perceptions of underserved populations after a six-week clinical rotation in a federally qualified health center clinic.

Background And Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to assess changes in pharmacy students' attitudes and perceptions toward providing care to underserved populations after a six-week clinical experience within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinic.

Educational Activity And Setting: A pre-post survey design was utilized to evaluate third- and fourth-year pharmacy students' attitudes and perceptions before and after a six-week clinical rotation providing direct patient care to underserved patients in FQHC clinics. Results were collected via self-administered online surveys that collected information on participants' (1) demographics, (2) past experiences interacting with underserved populations, (3) type of clinical activities completed during the rotation, and (4) personal opinions and perceptions of providing care to underserved populations.

Expansion of clinical pharmacist positions through sustainable funding.

Purpose: Expansion of clinical pharmacist positions through sustainable funding is described.

Summary: The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was awarded a 2-year program grant to establish an integrated clinical pharmacy program for underserved residents in family health centers in northeastern Colorado. The grant enabled the hiring of 2 bilingual, full-time, board-certified, postgraduate year 2-trained clinical pharmacists to initiate comprehensive clinical pharmacy services.

Impact of a Bilingual Pharmacy Diabetes Service in a Federally Qualified Health Center.

Background: Diabetes and its complications disproportionately affect Hispanic patients, many of whom receive care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and prefer to receive care in a language other than English. There is little published data on clinical pharmacy diabetes services in this setting.

Objective: This study aims to measure the impact of a Collaborative Drug Therapy Management-driven bilingual clinical pharmacy service on diabetes outcomes in an FQHC that primarily serves Hispanic patients, many of whom prefer to receive their care in Spanish.

Monitoring of Recommended Metabolic Laboratory Parameters Among Medicaid Recipients on Second-Generation Antipsychotics in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Background: In 2004, a consensus statement outlining recommended metabolic monitoring for patients prescribed second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) was published. More than a decade later, suboptimal adherence rates to these recommendations continue to be reported, which could lead to long-term and costly complications.

Objectives: To define the prevalence of appropriately monitored Medicaid patients receiving care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) prescribed SGAs.

Evaluation of medication adherence in chronic disease at a federally qualified health center.

Background: While medication adherence in chronic disease has been evaluated in the general population, limited data are available among Medicaid recipients, especially within federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). This study determined baseline medication adherence for Medicaid recipients receiving care in an FQHC for first-line medications used in hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Secondary outcomes included baseline adherence for individual patient factors.

Clinical outcomes and adherence to guideline recommendations during the initial treatment of acute venous thromboembolism.

Background: Adherence to American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) guidelines for treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been formally assessed in the United States, specifically in the subset of patients with renal impairment.

Objective: Evaluate adherence to CHEST VTE treatment guidelines.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients with acute VTE between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011, for the primary outcome of adherence to CHEST VTE treatment guidelines defined as (1) patients receiving an appropriate parenteral anticoagulant and dose based on renal function and weight, (2) at least 5 days of parenteral anticoagulation during warfarin initiation, and (3) an international normalized ratio (INR) value ≥2 documented before discontinuing parenteral agents.