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. Setting: University of Kentucky (UK), March 2003 to present. Practice description: A free-standing pharmacist clinic located within an ambulatory care facility owned by UK HealthCare. Practice innovation: PharmacistCARE, a pharmacist-provided patient care service for UK Health Plan members that includes comprehensive disease and medication therapy management. Main outcome measures: 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. Conclusion: 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.