Meeting Patients Where They Are: How Pharmacists Are Helping People Stay on Track With Schizophrenia Treatment

When I first started working with patients living with schizophrenia, one thing became clear right away: the transition from hospital to home is one of the most vulnerable moments in their care journey. It’s a time when people are trying to stabilize, reconnect with their support systems and figure out what’s next. But too often, that’s also when they fall through the cracks.

As a pharmacist, I’ve helped people who face not just mental health challenges, but also housing insecurity, transportation barriers and limited access to consistent care. Genoa Healthcare – a provider of pharmacy and clinical services for people living with behavioral health and other complex, chronic conditions – serves some of the most vulnerable populations. And when someone is discharged from the hospital or inpatient care after starting a new medication, those barriers can make it difficult to stay on track.

That’s why, at Genoa, we built a pharmacist-led long-acting injectable (LAI) program. It started small, with a simple idea: what if we could meet patients where they are, right after discharge, and help them continue their treatment without interruption?

A Real-Life Challenge

Research has shown that administering LAIs to patients with schizophrenia provides consistent medication delivery, reducing the risk of a relapse and supporting better long-term health outcomes¹. One LAI injection can last at least 30 days – a crucial window to transition patients to another care setting if they start the LAI in the hospital.

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, patients were leaving a hospital after receiving an LAI, only to be readmitted weeks later because they couldn’t access the next dose. Sometimes it was a coverage issue because insurance plans often treat inpatient and outpatient medications differently. Other times, patients didn’t know where to go or couldn’t get there.

Since Genoa was already partnering with this hospital for a different program and recognized this gap in care, we approached them to try something new.

If a patient chose Genoa as their pharmacy, we’d step in before they were discharged. We’d verify insurance coverage, initiate prior authorizations, and even enroll them in assistance programs if needed. Then, when it was time for their next injection, they could come to Genoa and get the care they needed in a familiar, supportive environment.

That small change made a big difference. Patients stayed on their medications. They avoided readmissions. And they built trust with our pharmacy team.

Why LAIs Matter

For people living with schizophrenia, staying consistent with medication is critical – but it can also be hard. Oral medications require daily adherence, and for someone managing symptoms like paranoia or disorganized thinking, that’s a big feat.

LAIs offer a different path. These medications are administered every few weeks or months, depending on the formulation, and they provide steady, reliable treatment. That consistency can help reduce relapses, hospitalizations, and the overall stress of managing a chronic condition.

But LAIs only work if patients can access them. That’s where pharmacists come in.

Better Access through Pharmacists

Pharmacists are often the most accessible members of the care team. We see patients regularly, we know their names and we are professionally trained to understand the unique challenges they face. At Genoa, we’ve built our model around that connection.

Our pharmacies are located inside community mental health centers, so patients can travel down the hall after a provider appointment and talk to us. We provide education, financial assistance, answer questions and help coordinate with providers. With more than 740 pharmacies nationwide, Genoa administers LAIs in 47 states, where allowed by law.

To help patients stay on therapy, we schedule their next appointment before they leave, send reminders and follow up if they don’t show up. It’s a hands-on, proactive approach – and it works.

Since launching our LAI program in 2023, we’ve administered more than 50,000 LAIs across our network nationwide. That’s not just a number – it’s thousands of people who stayed connected to care, avoided hospitalization and had a better chance of recovery.

Building a Scalable Model

We’ve developed a standardized training program for our pharmacists, covering everything from injection techniques to empathetic communication. We also work closely with providers to ensure they’re comfortable with the process and know how to refer patients.

In some clinics, we’ve even helped set up dedicated “injection days,” where patients can come in for their LAI and meet with their care team all in one visit. It’s efficient, supportive and centered around the patient.

What’s Next

I’ve been a pharmacist for more than 15 years, and I’ve never seen a program make this kind of impact. It’s not just about the medication – it’s about the relationships we build, the trust we earn and the systems we put in place to support people when they need it most.

As we continue to grow this program, I’m hopeful. I’ve seen what happens when we meet patients where they are. I’ve seen the relief on someone’s face when they realize they don’t have to navigate this alone. And I’ve seen the power of pharmacy to change lives – not just through clinical expertise, but through compassion, consistency, and care.

We still have work to do. But we’re working toward better outcomes, stronger communities, and a more connected system of care.

And that’s something worth showing up for, every single day.

To read more about Genoa’s LAI program and impact, read the case study in the American Journal of Managed Care.

RESOURCES

1. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Long-Acting Injectables (LAIs). Arlington (VA): NAMI; updated August 2024. Available at: https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/treatments/mental-health-medications/long-acting-injectables-lais/ Accessed May 15, 2025.