Skilled nursing facilities--a clinical opportunity for pharmacists

It is suggested that nursing homes, as opposed to hospitals, provide the pharmacist with one of the best opportunities to practice clinical pharmacy. Restraining forces to clinical pharmacy include the reluctance of other health professionals to accept the pharmacist in clinical roles, and inadequate reimbursement for monitoring services. These restraining forces are less prevalent in nursing homes. Further, the great reliance on drug therapy in nursing homes, coupled with regulations requiring the pharmacist to assume a drug monitoring role, create a favorable atmosphere for clinical pharmacy practice. The importance of documenting the benefits of clinical pharmacy service is discussed.