HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Caballero, J. Articles by Heffernan, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Caballero, J. Articles by Heffernan, E.

JOSHUA CABALLERO, PHARM.D., is Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. GARRY SOUFFRANT, M.D., is Medical Director and EILEEN HEFFERNAN, R.N., M.S.N., is Performance Improvement Coordinator, Su Clinica Familiar, Harlingen, TX.

Address correspondence to Dr. Caballero at the College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328 (jcaballe{at}nova.edu).

Purpose. The development and outcomes of an outpatient psychiatric pharmacy clinic serving a mostly indigent Hispanic population are described. Summary. Su Clinica Familiar (SCF) is a community health center in Texas’s Lower Rio Grande Valley that sees over 30,000 patients a year, 20% of whom have a psychiatric disorder. In 2005 SCF began collaborating with a psychiatric clinical pharmacist to provide free psychiatric services within the health center. SCF patients with mental health complications were referred to the clinic by their primary care provider. Consultation notes were reviewed by the medical director, and treatment, if approved, was begun the same day. During the period from April 2005 to June 2006, 96 (77%) of 125 patients referred to the psychiatric pharmacy clinic actually attended it. Fifty-three (72%) of the 74 patients who were asked to return for follow-up care returned. Over 90% of the pharmacist’s clinical recommendations were accepted. Most referrals were for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment; other referrals were for insomnia, medication education, and smoking cessation. The medications most frequently prescribed were sertraline and donepezil. Cost savings were estimated at $22,380. Conclusion. A psychiatric pharmacy clinic in an underserved region appeared to benefit patients’ mental health and save money. Index terms: Ambulatory care; Clinical pharmacists; Clinical pharmacy; Economics; Mental disorders; Pharmaceutical services; Sociology