Advances in International Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Education, or Training
Sunday, October 13, 2024
12:45 PM–02:15 PM
Abstract
Service or Program:
In 2022 Intermountain Health launched a virtual contraception service. We created a collaborative practice agreement (CPA) allowing pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraception, and refer for injectable or implanted device, or further evaluation directly to an obstetrician. A patient completes an online form, results are routed to a remote pharmacy technician who registers the patient for a pharmacist visit. The pharmacist reviews the intake information and conducts a telephone visit. After assessment the pharmacist develops a care plan, then send a prescription for contraception, if applicable, to the Intermountain Home Delivery Pharmacy for mailing to the patient.
Justification/Documentation:
With recent legislative changes expanding pharmacist prescribing of contraception in Utah, and limited access identified (average 10 week wait to see provider for contraception), pharmacy services partnered with women’s health to develop a new service. The state’s department of health and governor’s office also expressed support due to gaps in women’s care and challenges in a rural state, facilitating negotiation with two large payers to fund the service fee.
Adaptability:
Pharmacists have received 387 intake forms and successfully cared for 349 patients (189 new prescriptions, 7 referred to higher levels of care, and many receiving counseling but ultimately not requiring a new prescription; 29% were new patients to Intermountain Health). To allow for better accessibility via virtual visits and expansion to other states, we created a CPA instead of using the current state.
Significance:
Intermountain Health, like other established systems, faces competition from new entrants aiming to draw away simple services, such as contraception in exchange for more costly care. The success of this project has catalyzed development of new virtual pharmacy services to avoid loss of and bring in new patients. Expanding to naloxone, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, simple infectious diseases, etc., efforts are underway to move throughout Intermountain Health’s multi-state footprint.
Presenting Author
Bradly Winter PharmD
Intermountain HealthAuthors
Mason Hilton PharmD
Intermountain Health
Courtney Hugie PharmD
Intermountain Health
Emma Murter PharmD, MPH
Intermountain Health
Jeffery L Olson PharmD, MBA, BCACP
Intermountain Healthcare
Matthew Wells MD
Intermountain Health