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Biomedical subjects

L L Maine

Publications and source records attributed to L L Maine.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Direct-to-consumer advertising: a pharmacy perspective.

This paper explains the current policies of the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) and other national organizations on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, reviews the findings of a survey on DTC advertising conducted by the APhA and Prevention Magazine, and identifies key issues for DTC policy development.

Advertising↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Availability of primary care providers and pharmacists in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rural distribution of primary care providers (primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives) and pharmacists. DESIGN: Five-digit ZIP code mapping to study the availability of primary care providers and pharmacists, alone and in combinations, in rural areas and ZIP code-based health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). National averages for annual physician visits for hypertension, asthma, and diabetes were used to estimate the sufficiency of the rural physician supply. SETTING: Rural areas of the United States. RESULTS: In rural areas, all providers were present in lower densities than national averages, particularly in HPSAs. The primary care physician supply was insufficient to meet national averages for office visits for hypertension, asthma, and diabetes. Among available providers, the most prevalent co-presence was primary care physician with pharmacist. HPSAs showed very low physician density (1 per 22,122), and the most prevalent providers were pharmacists. States varied widely in provider density. CONCLUSION: Despite longstanding efforts and the expansion of managed care, primary care providers remain in short supply in rural areas, especially ZIP code-based HPSAs. Making the best use of available providers should be encouraged. The continued shortfall of primary care providers in rural areas, particularly HPSAs, makes it logical to use other available providers and combinations to increase health care access. Pharmacists could increase care for patients with conditions treated with medications. Other available providers, based on skills and work site, could also offset shortages.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacy immunization partnerships: a rural model.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the Pharmacy Immunization Project, a pharmacy/county health department (CHD) partnership model for immunizing infants and adults in rural areas, and to develop service procedures and disseminate lessons learned for adapting the model to different settings. SETTING: Independent community pharmacies in five contiguous rural counties in West Virginia. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Participating pharmacies varied markedly in space, prescription volume, and population of service areas. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Childhood and adult immunization service. INTERVENTIONS: Pharmacists partnered with nurses from CHDs to offer year-round immunizations at times when other providers were typically closed. Working under standing orders of the CHD medical directors, nurses also conducted routine well-baby examinations in the pharmacy. Promotions involved direct mailing, posters, fliers, direct communication, and ads in newspapers, radio, and TV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pharmacists' and CHDs' continued willingness to participate, use of the service by local citizens, and feedback from participants and other health care providers and the West Virginia Immunization Program (WVIP). RESULTS: All sites except one continued their participation through the life of the project. The one exception was a pharmacy with few infant patients, which discontinued participation during year 4 of the project. Remaining sites were used and well accepted by the community. The WVIP remains a loyal supporter, and no problems arose with local health care providers. CONCLUSION: The model appears adaptable to urban as well as rural practice and to chain as well as independent practice in states not authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccines, for pharmacists who for other reasons prefer not to administer, and for those who prefer to offer adult immunization on a seasonal basis. From the CHD perspective, the partnership model is useful in establishing "satellite" locations to target hard-to-reach patients. Recommendations regarding agreements and responsibilities are available, as are lessons learned during project development.

Adult↗