CLINICAL PHARMACY INVOLVEMENT IN A GERIATRIC HEALTH CLINIC AT A HIGH-RISE APARTMENT CENTER

ABSTRACT: During an initial 9‐week period of involvement in the operation of a health clinic for ambulatory geriatric patients in three high‐rise apartment complexes, the activities and opportunities for a pharmacist and pharmacy students were documented. For 120 of the 550 geriatric residents of the center, medication histories were completed during the study period. These 120 patients reported a total of 270 medical problems. They were taking 366 prescription drugs (average, 3.9 per patient). During the 9‐week study, 43 drug interactions were documented, and about 25 percent of the patients interviewed complained of some untoward drug effect. The opportunities for pharmacist involvement and the educational opportunities for pharmacy students were demonstrated. The period since the initial 9‐week study has shown even greater acceptance and utilization of the pharmacy services, with an increased number of visits by patients. 1979 The American Geriatrics Society