Kaiser Permanente Colorado Region Pharmacy Department: innovative leader in pharmacy practice.

OBJECTIVE

To describe innovative programs within the Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Department in the Colorado Region.

SETTING

One of eight regions of the nation's largest nonprofit health maintenance organization.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION

The pharmacy department comprises two services, Clinical Pharmacy Services and Pharmacy Operations/Support Services, which are integrated to provide comprehensive care.

PRACTICE INNOVATION

Within Clinical Pharmacy Services, the Primary Care Clinical Pharmacy Services team works alongside physicians to provide integrated patient care. The Centralized Clinical Pharmacy Service teams manage large groups of patients effectively and efficiently. The Clinical Pharmacy Specialty staff and the Disease State Management clinical pharmacy specialists provide focused drug therapy expertise.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical and economic outcomes; recognition by national organizations.

RESULTS

Technological innovations are used within Pharmacy Operations/Support Services to increase pharmacists' time for patient care activities. The use of technology by the Pharmacy Automated Refill Center and the implementation of ScriptPro in the medical office pharmacies decrease dispensing demands by processing large volumes of prescriptions. Workflow in the medical office pharmacies has also been reengineered to increase efficiency. Various programs have been developed by the Pharmacy Information Technology Service to support patient care initiatives. Benchmark clinical and economic outcomes have been demonstrated. Positive outcomes have also resulted in quality and safety awards and captured the attention of national pharmacy and medical organizations.

CONCLUSION

The Colorado Region Pharmacy Department has been recognized as a leader in pharmacy practice through the development of innovative services that provide exceptional patient care.