INNOVATIVE PRACTICE FORM

Name John McCollum

Address D&M pharmacy 1772 Cannel Blvd. Thibadoux, LA. 70301

Phone # 504-446-1181

FAX# 504-447-2853

Briefly describe innovation

Cost effective prescribing. After graduation in 1960 from North East Louisiana, Mr. McCullum noticed that his patient were frequently prescribed the most expensive medications on the shelf. With the emergence and benefits of generic medications. While keeping his patients as the primary interest, Mr. McCollum began his fax detailing innovation. For instance, the drug Capoten recently became available as generic Captopril. By printing information on cost of the medication, efficacy, and dosing with his laser printer, Mr. McCollum puts together documents comparing all the drugs in the class, i.e. Ace inhibitors in this case. These documents are then faxed to physicians to guide them in cost effective prescribing. He said that this should be the responsibility of the pharmacist because physicians don't have the training or resources to obtain this information. By faxing the information, physicians don't have the training or resources to obtain this information. By faxing the information, it isn't intrusive on the physicians time. Mr. McCollum said "pharmacists are the Rodney Dangerfield of the health care profession. If you want respect, you have to command respect. Providing this information is not only our responsibility, but also a way to gain the respect we deserve." Mr. McCollum's practice also changed when the Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy relieved him of his obligation to "count, pour, lick, and stick". he now has three patient counseling stations. Two of them are at the pharmacy counter, and one is in an office that opens into the pharmacy. On new prescriptions, patients come into the office for a complete history and profile, and is counseled and given a patient education pamphlet. In the mean time, the medication is prepared by the technician, and later inspected by the pharmacist. He uses this time for good public relations and to establish rapport with the patient. Mr. McCollum says "the practice of independent pharmacy isn't dead. There are both lots of money and satisfaction to be gained from it."

Method of Reimbursement

Payer(S) Patients, Physicians, and Third Party Is documentation required? No. Not now , but he anticipates it in the future.

Specialized training required? Yes He uses 30 years of experience for his knowledge base. He hopes this will be incorporated into curriculum soon.

Interviewed by: Johnny Cleveland