INNOVATIVE PRACTICE FORM

Name : Keith Conner

Address : Vital Care Inc. P.O. Box 5047 Meridian, Mississippi 39302

Phone # : 1-800-447-4095

FAX # : 601-482-7490

Briefly describe innovation
Home IV services. This pharmacy employs a nurse, a marketing person, and five pharmacists. This pharmacy is only one of the many pharmacies in the Vital Care Inc. franchise. The pharmacy is a "closed shop" setting that deals solely with IV therapy. Many patients under the care of Vital Care Inc. employees are on enteral therapy. The services offered are delivered to each patients home. This allows the pharmacist to build a positive, healthy relationship with each patient. During the first visits with the patient the primary goal of the staff is to educate the patient. This education involves teaching the patient how to properly and safely self administer their own IV infusions. The staff also encourages the patients' family members to actively participate in the education and training of proper IV infusion administration. Follow-up care is provided regularly. The patient or family members are observed by the staff to ensure that the IV infusion is continuing to be administered properly.
Other pharmacies in the Vital Care Inc. franchise receive continuing education courses regularly.
In addition to working with Vital Care Inc., Mr. Conner owns and manages a pharmacy in Livingston, AL.

Method of Reimbursement

Payor(s) : Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance companies. Varies with each individual patient.

Is documentation required?
Yes. Vital Care Inc. keeps records on each patient and the patients progress while on the home IV infusion.

Specialized training required? Yes
The pharmacist must become knowledgeable with IV infusion pumps. This includes knowing how to properly operate and maintenance the pumps. The pharmacist must also learn to use proper aseptic techniques. Staff members receive continuing education courses on IV infusion administration.

Software/instrumentation required?
The instrumentation used by Vital Care Inc. is such that allows home IV services to be safely and accurately delivered.

Interviewed by: Bridget Pinson