INNOVATIVE PRACTICE FORM

Name Paul Abramowitz

Address University of Minnesota Hospital

Phone # (612) 626-3200

FAX # (612) 625-4954

E-mail/Information service N/A

Briefly describe innovation

Medication monitoring clinic. Currently, there is a 100 patient caseload. Physicians write an order for an ambulatory patient to be monitored by a pharmacist in the clinic. This written order gives the pharmacist the authority to order lab tests, change dosages, monitor outcomes, and counsel patients as needed in the drug therapy. Warfarin is the main drug monitored. Clozaril, aminoglycosides, anticonvulsants, and complex therapies are also followed by the pharmacists. This clinic was started six years ago. Initial research was done to show the decrease in cost and hospital visits that resulted from monitoring by a pharmacist. This was presented to the third parties before the services began. Currently, research is being done to update the numbers that show the savings received from monitoring drug therapy.

Method of Reimbursement

Payor(s): Third party payor: HMOs, BCBS

Reimbursement rate: Initial visit is $60.00 for a 30 minutes. A follow-up visit is $30.00 for 15 minutes.

Is documentation required? No. Use standard codes set up for the third parties.

Specialized training required? Every pharmacist has a PharmD and most have completed a residency. No additional certification is required. The pharmacists are trained at the clinic to monitor patients.

Software/instrumentation required? No

Interviewed by: Kathryn Horton