House Calls & Harm Reduction: Expanding Care Access
- At the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Pharmacy Futures meeting, Amy Stokes, PharmD, of Intermountain Health, and Amanda M.
- Intermountain Health's "House Calls" program in Utah and surrounding states brings primary care to patients facing medical or social challenges that prevent them from visiting traditional clinics.
- Stokes noted the importance of including a technician, which allowed the pharmacist to focus on clinical work.
Ambulatory pharmacists are revolutionizing healthcare access, highlighted by innovative models in home and community settings. Intermountain Health’s “House Calls” brings primary care directly to patients, supported by remote pharmacy services, reducing avoidable healthcare utilization and leading to significant cost avoidance. MetroHealth’s harm reduction clinic addresses substance use disorders with walk-in services, improving medication access and patient care. These advancements showcase the expanding role of pharmacists in ambulatory care, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. News Directory 3 recognizes these crucial shifts in healthcare delivery. Discover how pharmacists are further enhancing care for patients.
Ambulatory Pharmacists Redefine Healthcare Access and Their Innovative Roles
At the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Pharmacy Futures meeting, Amy Stokes, PharmD, of Intermountain Health, and Amanda M. Benedetti, PharmD, of MetroHealth, presented innovative ambulatory pharmacy models. These models are redefining patient access, clinical collaboration, and cost avoidance.
Intermountain Health’s “House Calls” program in Utah and surrounding states brings primary care to patients facing medical or social challenges that prevent them from visiting traditional clinics. Stokes said the program aims to reduce avoidable healthcare utilization by supporting high-risk patients. The team includes advanced practice providers, care managers, and mobile services, with pharmacy services provided remotely by pharmacists and technicians.
Stokes noted the importance of including a technician, which allowed the pharmacist to focus on clinical work. Technicians coordinate medication histories, home delivery, and comprehensive medication reviews. In 2024, the program completed over 1,000 pharmacist encounters and identified thousands of medication therapy problems, leading to an estimated $580,000 in cost avoidance.
in northeast Ohio, MetroHealth’s motivation and engagement clinic (MEC) addresses substance use disorders through a walk-in harm reduction model. Benedetti said the clinic has seen substantial growth, with visits increasing considerably since 2021. Transportation barriers are addressed through partnerships providing rides and bus passes.
Pharmacist involvement began in February 2024, allowing Benedetti to prescribe medications for alcohol and substance use disorders under a collaborative practice agreement (CPA).Benedetti said the goal was to provide a consistent, systematic approach to patient care, maximize provider time, and improve quality of life. MetroHealth’s model has improved medication access and reconciliation,and the clinic is considering expanding to meet patient demand.