Establishing a pharmacist-managed outreach clinic at a day shelter for homeless veterans.

INTRODUCTION

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has developed a homeless patient aligned care team (H-PACT) model to provide clinical outreach to homeless veterans. This model has not been implemented by the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System; however, a day shelter for homeless veterans does exist. Currently, clinical staff at the shelter consists of licensed clinical social workers.

METHODS

A half day per week pharmacy clinic was established and managed by a postgraduate year-2 psychiatric pharmacy resident. Data regarding provider and emergency department (ED) visits, psychotropic medication adherence, and interventions made during visits were collected and analyzed to provide support for need of additional clinical staff and the establishment of an H-PACT at the Reno VA.

RESULTS

Over 5 months, 52 veterans were seen, including some over multiple visits, with a total of 77 encounters. There were an average of 4 visits per clinic day. Total interventions equaled 205 and included medication review, patient education, and adverse drug reaction detection among other interventions. Provider visits and psychotropic medication possession prior to and following clinic visits were tracked.

DISCUSSION

This pharmacist-managed outpatient clinic provided a comfortable walk-in environment for homeless veterans. The difference in provider visits, medication possession, and ED visits before and after walk-in clinic visits provided clinical significance with 205 documented interventions, and the clinic was well received by veterans.