INNOVATIVE PRATICE FORM

Name: Quent McCoy

Address: 300 W. Pine Street, Blacksburg, SC 29702

Phone #: 803-839-6385

FAX #: 803-839-3513

Briefly describe innovation

Multi-faceted practice. It is an independent pharmacy that specializes in home IV, asthma, compounding, and diabetes. The pharmacy also carries durable medical equipment. The pharmacy is 6,000 square feet with a class 100 clean room for compounding and an area for counseling. The pharmacy is patient-oriented. A pharmacist receives the prescription from the patient, and technicians fill it. This allows the pharmacist time to counsel the patient and address specific needs and problems. The pharmacist then gives the filled prescription to the patient and verifies that the medication is correct. Pharmacists do extensive compounding. They prepare a variety of items such as ketoprofen gel, home IV preparations and nebulizer solutions. They serve 130 nebulizer patients and compound 15 different preparations. Mr. McCoy described preparing one formulation of ipratropium bromide, albuterol, and acetylcysteine in a single vial to shorten the nebulization time. Much of their compounding is performed in a class 100 clean room. In addition to nebulization formulations, the pharmacists also serve asthma patients by helping monitor their condition. Pharmacists perform peak flow meter tests. They educate patients regarding the use of peak flow meters and also teach patients how to recognize asthma triggers. Home oxygen is provided for those patients who need it. Diabetes education is another area of specialization. The patient is taught about diet and exercise. Patients are instructed on how to inject insulin and how to perform finger pricks. Blood glucose monitoring is provided for patients who are unable to self-monitor. They can also perform hemoglobin A1C tests. Patients are referred from various physicians. The pharmacists talk with doctors one day a week and keep the physicians up to date on the patients. As part of this monitoring service, pharmacists take blood pressure readings and perform lipid panels to monitor total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL. The pharmacy does not accept any third party payers. Everything is done in-house, including billing for durable medical equipment and home oxygen service. Mr. McCoy has added these services year by year. He has slowly implemented the changes by focusing on one new area each year. In 1995, the store was remodeled to facilitate work flow and allow technicians to fill the prescriptions. His goal for 1997 is to get a computer system up and running.

Method of Reimbursement

Payor(s): By patient

Reimbursement rate: Blood pressure $3.00; Fingerprick $6.00; Total cholesterol $9.00; Hemoglobin A1C $25.00; Lipid Panel $25.00-$28.00; Counseling $1.00 per minute.

Is documentation required? No

Specialized training required? No

Software/instrumentation required? No

Interviewed by: Samantha Caton