Integrating Pharmaceutical Care into an HIV Clinic

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the integration of clinical pharmacy services into an already exist ing HIV clinic. Ambulatory care pharmacy services were the only discipline not represented in the hospi tal based HIV clinic. With the move toward ambulatory care, the introduction of the new class of HIV drugs called the protease inhibitors, and the strong physician support of inpatient pharmacy services, the tim ing for pharmacy integration into the clinic was optimal. This article describes our goals for the clinic, the need for justification of pharmacy services through documentation, and the preparation steps made which established permanent pharmacy services in the HIV clinic. Daily procedures, interventions, statis tics of the pharmacy service, and barriers to success are also described. Patient information materials and examples of the documentation forms used by the clinic pharmacists are provided. This article is meant to aid other pharmacists who wish to integrate pharmacy services into an ambulatory HIV clinic setting.