Clinical Review
Improving Lipid Outcomes for VA Patients Taking Nonformulary Statins
The Role of Pharmacist-Managed Clinics
Fed Pract. 2009 February;26(2):20
Author and Disclosure Information
Corey A. Wirth, PharmD, Jon E. Folstad, PharmD, BCPS, and Mary Beth Low, PharmD
At the time of this study, Dr. Wirth was a pharmacy practice resident and Dr. Folstad was the clinical coordinator of pharmacy services, both at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (LSCVAMC), Cleveland, OH. Dr. Wirth is now a clinical pharmacist specializing in internal medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH and Dr. Folstad is now the clinical coordinator of pharmacy services at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC. Dr. Low is a clinical pharmacy specialist in pharmacoeconomics at the LSCVAMC.
Previous studies have demonstrated advantages for pharmacist-driven clinics over more traditional primary care models with regard to dyslipidemia outcomes. These researchers examined the specific impact such clinics can have on patients who require one of the more expensive antilipemic agents that have been designated as nonformulary by the VHA.