Pharmacy Focus : Episode 81

Commentary

Podcast

Pharmacy Focus: Community Pharmacy's Role in Social Determinants of Health

On this episode, Amie Stephens, Emilee Kennelly, and Max Baire, discuss social determinants of health and how they can impact patient outcomes and medication adherence.

On this episode, Amie Stephens, PharmD, director of adherence improvement and client services at Rite Aid, Emilee Kennelly, PharmD, manager of adherence improvement and clinical initiatives at Rite Aid, and Max Baire, PharmD, manager of clinical health plan solutions at Rite Aid, discuss social determinants of health (SDOH) and how they can impact patient outcomes and medication adherence. The guests explained how SDOH, like transportation barriers, food insecurity, and language barriers, can prevent patients from taking their medications properly if not addressed.

Key Takeaways

  1. Social determinants of health, like transportation, food access, language barriers, can impact medication adherence and patient outcomes if not addressed.
  2. Pharmacists can screen for social determinants using tools in the pharmacy workflow and EHR systems.
  3. Addressing social determinants involves sensitive conversations but can be done by educating patients on local resources and affordable medication options.
  4. The future role of pharmacists involves expanded health services, point-of-care testing, chronic disease management, and greater integration with other providers through technology.
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