KINGSTON, R.I. -- Aug. 10, 1999 -- Parke-Davis has contributed $50,000
to further the work of the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy-Coastal
Medical Clinical Partnership Program.
"Parke-Davis' contribution to the program signifies the commitment
of this company to excellent patient care," said Kathleen Melbourne,
URI clinical assistant professor of pharmacy and director of pharmacy care
management at Coastal Medical Inc. "With the availability of financial
resources, software support, and patient educational materials, Parke-Davis
is working closely with the clinical pharmacists to provide the best patient
care services possible."
The URI-Coastal partnership, initiated in July 1998, involves the integration
of clinical pharmacists and pharmacy students into the private medical
practices of Coastal Medical Inc., a network of primary care practices
involving 50 physicians, 13 nurse- practitioners and physicians' assistants
and three doctors of pharmacy. Coastal has 15 offices throughout Rhode
Island, and has its corporate offices in Providence. Coastal Medical offers
primary care and specialty care in pulmonology, cardiology and infectious
diseases (HIV-AIDS).
Parke-Davis, a division of Warner-Lambert since 1970, has been in existence
for more than 130 years.
It was through Melbourne's leadership in large part that the College
over entered into a partnership with Coastal Medical. The partnership's
objectives are to enhance patient care and to expand the role of the clinical
pharmacist in the care of patients in the community.
It has opened numerous opportunities for URI's doctor of pharmacy students
and residents of the College to gain experience in new practice environments
and to make a significant impact on patient care.
"The partnership is expected to strengthen the ties between the
medical community of Coastal Medical and the URI College of Pharmacy,"
Melbourne said. "It enhances the collaborative and multidisciplinary
approach to patient care."
Clinical pharmacists and pharmacy students are working with nurse practitioners,
physician assistants and physicians to provide pharmaceutical care to patients
at Coastal Medical.
Issues surrounding the medication use process, such as appropriate prescribing,
appropriate use of medications by the patient, appropriate timing of refills,
presence of drug-drug or drug-food interactions, scheduling of medications
with meals and medication adherence are those which are of particular interest
to the clinical pharmacists and medical providers in caring for patients.
"This partnership program is meant to enhance the medication-taking
processes, decrease medication-related problems and minimize expenses related
to such problems," Melbourne said.
Melbourne said she expects the health care community at large is likely
to benefit from such a partnership.
Coastal has doctors of pharmacy at these three office sites: Cranston,
Providence and East Greenwich.
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