Consultant Pharmacist
Let's Go Beyond The Pharmacy Counter

Most people are not familiar with what a consultant pharmacist does or just how much the services of consultant pharmacists such as myself can benefit them. More often than not, your time spent at the pharmacy primarily involves picking up your prescription with the pharmacist giving you a quick rundown of any new medications you are getting.

Well, that's great! But did you know that pharmacists have so much more to offer you? Consultant pharmacy runs the gamut of what is now known as Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and here's how it works…

You set an appointment with your consultant pharmacist/MTM pharmacist, during which ALL your medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, nutritional supplements, etc. are reviewed intensively. More on this later. You get to ask any questions that you have and at the end of the session you'll get a detailed list of all your medicines along with advice about how to get the most out each of them.

It doesn't stop there though… just as you get to make future appointments with your doctor or other primary care provider, you also get a follow-up appointment (if necessary), with your MTM pharmacist, especially if we unearth any potential medication-related problems such as adverse drug reactions, sub-optimal response to medications, duplication of treatments, etc. I'll also try to help you save money by recommending less expensive, equally as effective medications when appropriate.

You can rest assured that your doctor(s) will kept very much in the loop about what is going on. As your consultant pharmacist, I'll work together with your doctor(s) to help you meet the goals that have been set for your treatment(s), ensuring that:

• your medicines don't interact with one another
• you aren't spending more on your medications than you need to
• you are taking the correct dose of medication for you
• you are taking only the medications that you need… nothing more and nothing less
• any over-the-counter medications, vitamins and/or supplements you are taking are safe for you and effective at doing what they are supposed to do

Who Should Consider Using This Service?

Everyone's situation is different. You might want to avail yourself of this service because you have certain medication concerns… perhaps you're on multiple medications… or you've just been recently diagnosed with a new medical condition and you need help understanding how your treatment plan all fits together. Or perhaps you, or a loved one, take more than one medication and some of the following types of questions swirl through your head:

• Why am I taking all these medications?
• Am I really feeling better using all these medications?
• Are all my medicines working they way they are supposed to?
• Am I taking them the right way… i.e. at the right time of the day and in the right order?
• How can I get the side effects under control?
• Do my medicines interact with each other?
• Is there any way I can spend less on my medications… without compromise?

This is just a random sampling of some of the types of questions an MTM pharmacist/consultant pharmacist can answer for you and help you work through.

So what's in it for you? Lots…! People who use such services tend to:

• have better responses to their medications and thus, improved health
• understand their medications and their importance better
• have fewer emergency room visits and fewer hospital admissions
• have fewer unplanned doctor visits
• have diseases and health conditions much better controlled
• get potential cost savings on medications
• have fewer "missed work"/sick days
• take an active role in their own health and wellbeing
• spend quality one-on-one time with a trained professional who can answer all their medication-related questions

Who Pays For This Service?

Yes… that's a big question… Some insurance companies, as well certain employers, include Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services as a covered benefit, very much the same as they would cover a visit to any other healthcare provider. If you aren't sure whether or not you are entitled to this benefit, then check with either your insurance provider OR your employer to see if MTM services are part of your health plan or benefits package.

If you have Medicare coverage AND you also meet their qualifying criteria for this service, then the U.S. government will pay for you to receive this service. Certain Medicaid programs in different states in the U.S. will also cover this service so be to sure to ask your health plan if these services are available to you.

Now if none of the above apply to you, then I encourage you to be an advocate for change… call your insurance company or health plan and request this service… if enough people create demand for this service then they are likely to include it as a covered benefit. If they aren't sure how to implement it, then by all means… refer them to me… I would be more than happy to help them work through the process. It's been done before and it can be done again and again!

Finally, you can also choose to pay out of pocket for the services provided by your consultant pharmacist. Please contact me directly for rates and fees for this service using the Contact Me form.

You can also visit MTM-Pharmacist for more information.

The man who gets sick calls a doctor,
but the man who becomes ill summons a physician.

This website is updated quite frequently (as things change so rapidly in the world of pharmaceuticals), so if you find the information here useful please subscribe to our monthly newsletter - The Armchair Pharmacist. It tells you each month about new information that has been added to the site as well additional news on the latest goings-on in the world of medications and all things pharma.

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April 26th, 2010