CLINICAL PHARMACIST POSITION IN A GERIATRIC AMBULATORY CARE

CLINICAL PHARMACIST POSITION IN A GERIATRIC AMBULATORY CARE CLINIC Kerry Kelly, RPh, FASCP Overlake Senior Health Center Bellevue, WA

Senior Health Center § Primary care clinic § Serving Medicare patients § Living independently and in facilities § Largest age band is 70 -79 (46%) § Team approach § MDs, RN, social worker, pharmacist

Practice Setting § Small busy clinic associated with a hospital system § All employees are team members § Daily routine § Office

Pharmacist Role § Direct patient care § Anticoagulation and hypertension management § § Refill authorization per protocol Drug information and education Maintain medication stock Precept students and residents

Working with the Elderly § Good communication is key § Listen!! § Understand any barriers to communicating § Knowing the patient is the best way to provide high quality care § One small change at a time when it comes to medication therapy

Rewards § Build relationships with co-workers and patients § Geriatrics is a great area to make a difference to patients § Wonderful learning environment § Ability for growth and new challenges

Challenges § § Complex patient population Balancing workload with daily schedule Financial considerations Learning without directly working with other pharmacists

Questions