Experiences with the compliance clinic: assessment of the effect

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the clinical and financial impact of a pharmacy-based compliance clinic. Charts of patients referred by physicians to the clinic were reviewed. Data were collected during compliance clinic consultation and compared to pre-clinic data to determine if the pharmacists' services were of merit. During the 33-month study period, 25 patients were referred to the pharmacy. Fourteen (56 percent) of these patients were seen regularly by the pharmacist. Eleven of the 14 patients (79 percent) achieved greater than 80 percent compliance with their medication regimen. Six of the 14 (43 percent) demonstrated significant reductions in emergency room visits comparing pre- and post-clinic records. Eight patients (57 percent) exhibited reduced hospitalization. Aggregate cost savings resulting from these reductions totalled $43,314 for the study period. It is concluded that: physicians are willing to ask pharmacists to assist in managing compliance problems; compliance can be improved when treatment is tailored to patient need; improved compliance may not result in better therapeutic outcome; and cost savings resulting from those patients responding can exceed the costs of providing the service.