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Biomedical subjects

T S Fuller

Publications and source records attributed to T S Fuller.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

When the morning after is Sunday: pharmacist prescribing of emergency contraceptive pills.

Pharmacists are well positioned to play a major role in increasing access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). A pilot project in Washington State is testing direct pharmacist prescribing. Through a collaborative drug therapy agreement, a licensed prescriber, such as a physician, delegates to a pharmacist the authority to prescribe ECPs directly to women who meet the assessment criteria. Currently pharmacists at 111 Washington State pharmacies have collaborative agreements in place, and the number of participating pharmacies continues to increase. The response to this initiative has been extremely positive. Women who have received ECPs directly from pharmacists rate their interactions with the pharmacists positively and overwhelmingly cite convenience as the primary reason for going directly to the pharmacy. Physicians and other providers with independent prescribing authority can play a pivotal role by working with pharmacists to replicate the Washington State initiative in the states that allow it.

Contraceptives, Postcoital↗
PubMed1996

Satisfaction with prescriptive authority protocols.

OBJECTIVES: The use of prescriptive authority protocols by pharmacists and physicians in Washington was described as to: (1) types of decisions made, frequency of use, and nature of working arrangements among participants; (2) their perceived impact on professional practice and care rendered to patients; and (3) their satisfaction with the protocol arrangements. DESIGN: A mail survey of participants currently engaged in prescriptive authority was conducted. RESULTS: Responses were received from participants in 44 of 57 protocols. A total of 135 prescribers and 84 pharmacists responded. On average, 7 pharmacists and 27 prescribers were involved in each protocol, and had been involved for 6 years or more. It was estimated that approximately 10% of all active practitioners participated in protocols. Most protocols involved continuation of drug therapy or authorizing renewals. Modification of therapy (usually involving dosage or dose from changes) was practiced in two-thirds of the protocols, and initiation of therapy in about half of them. Most existed within managed care and group practice settings. Most prescribers (98%) and pharmacists (95%) were satisfied with protocol arrangements. Additionally, they generally agreed that the protocols increase patient convenience and increase the quality of patient care, and they encouraged their colleagues to use prescribing protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Protocol arrangements appear to be working well from the perspective of participants. Based on this experience, the authors encourage the development of similar protocol arrangements in other states.

Clinical Protocols↗