Borne of necessity: Pharmacy-based harm reduction and express sexually transmitted infection services

Report
par
Dickson, Whitney et al

Date de publication

2024

Géographie

USA

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Non

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Non

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

In an Indigenous Health Service hospital in rural Minnesota, the pharmacy sought to integrate harm reduction and express Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) services into its scope of practice.

Constatations/points à retenir

From October 2022 to November 2023, the program had 500 visits from 101 unique patients with a median age of 36. Among users of the service, 71% did not have a primary care provider. Once patient incentives were introduced, express STI testing increased over 10-fold. The laboratory panels had a 44% positivity rate for either an STI or HCV.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

The program was designed with input from tribal counterparts and internal medical staff. The pharmacy window was made the intake point for services for patient education, harm reduction materials, and STI testing and treatment. Collaborative practice agreements and standing orders greatly expanded the pharmacy’s ability to deliver care. 

Mots clés

About pharmacists
Barriers and enablers
Harm reduction
Indigenous