Related Experiment Videos
Planning for ambulatory pharmacy services
Contemporary Pharmacy Practice
|January 6, 1981
Summary
A 6-month study of patient demographics at Sunol Health Center pharmacy found female patients visited twice as often as males. This data helps tailor pharmacy services and pharmacist training to community needs.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Practice
- Ambulatory Care
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Understanding patient demographics is crucial for developing effective, patient-centered pharmacy services.
- Ambulatory care settings require specific service models tailored to the patient population they serve.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the demographic profile of patients visiting the Sunol Health Center (SHC) pharmacy.
- To inform the planning and design of patient-oriented pharmacy services and pharmacist training.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month retrospective analysis of patient data was conducted at the SHC pharmacy in Los Angeles, California.
- Demographic information, disease conditions, and medication data were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Female patients accounted for double the number of visits compared to male patients.
- Ten specific disease conditions requiring drug therapy represented 75% of patient issues.
- The average patient received 1.7 prescribed medications, with new prescriptions (70%) outnumbering refills (30%).
- New patient visits (55%) were slightly more common than return visits (45%).
Conclusions:
- The demographic and clinical profile of SHC patients provides actionable insights for service development.
- Pharmacist training and pharmacy services can be specifically designed to meet the identified needs of this ambulatory care patient population.