Having an integrated pharmacy partner can lead to both better health outcomes for your consumers – and reduced workload for your team members.
Twenty percent of U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and the demand for behavioral health services has only grown amid the pandemic.1,2 That need, plus the social and economic challenges stemming from COVID-19, has greatly affected vulnerable populations, including people facing multiple physical and behavioral health conditions.3
Adding a pharmacist to your community mental health center’s care team can help provide convenient, seamless care to consumers living with complex medical needs.
The benefits of having a pharmacist on site include:
1. Access to a Clinical Pharmacy Expert
Having an on-site pharmacist means giving your staff access to a clinical pharmacy expert.
A dedicated pharmacist can act as a bridge between your providers — who may be working remotely — and the consumer, supporting your staff by assisting with:
- Medication and insurance questions
- Prior authorizations
- Long-acting injection filling and administration, where available
- Pharmacist consultation services
- Medication therapy management
2. Identify and Address Medication Adherence Issues
Challenges such as stigma, adverse drug reactions, homelessness and lack of social support can impact medication adherence, which is critical for improving health outcomes.4
A pharmacist on your care team can help identify and address medication adherence issues. This is especially important for consumers with complex conditions and complicated medication plans. Pharmacists can help by offering:
- Special medication packaging
- Free medication mailing
- Refill reminder calls
- Medication synchronization
3. An Additional, Trusting Partner for Consumers
In behavioral health, building trusting relationships with consumers is critical.
A dedicated pharmacist allows consumers to see the same pharmacist each time they visit the clinic. The pharmacist gets to know each person, their treatment plans and the challenges they face.
Plus, the on-site pharmacist has a unique ability to work closely with prescribers, nurses and case managers to help them understand their consumers’ needs and challenges, offer solutions and become an important part of their care team.5
Genoa Healthcare’s On-Site Pharmacy Services
Genoa Healthcare’s on-site pharmacists provide these benefits to over 600 community mental health centers — and their consumers — across the U.S. Our pharmacy teams provide support by:
- Helping consumers achieve a more than 90% medication adherence rate, reducing emergency room visits by 18% and hospitalizations by 40%6
- Integrating with center staff to provide comprehensive care to consumers
- Providing pre-filled pill organizers to help keep consumers on track
- Delivering medications at no additional cost
- Offering refill synchronization and reminder calls
- Providing prior authorizations assistance
- Filling and administrating long-acting injections, where available
Interested in adding a Genoa Healthcare pharmacist to your care team?
Sources:
1. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml
3: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db380.htm
4. https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/medication-non-adherence-082918.pdf
5. Benefits of an On-Site Pharmacy for Behavioral or Community Health Organizations
