UCSF Health is opening retail pharmacies at its Mission Bay and Parnassus campuses to complement the health system's suite of comprehensive and accessible health services. The new pharmacies build on UCSF Health's history of innovative clinical pharmacy care and are integrated with health records to provide seamless care for UCSF patients and convenience for people who live and work in San Francisco.
The UCSF Health Mission Bay Pharmacy opened Oct. 1. The UCSF Health Parnassus Pharmacy location will open Oct. 29. Both are open to the general public, accept most insurance and offer pickup, mail order and home delivery fulfillment services. Soon, they'll offer vaccinations and are developing other clinical programs such as administration of long-acting injectable medications, smoking cessation and hormonal contraception services, among others.
"The access for our patients, employees, students and faculty to have an outpatient pharmacy available is so important," said Desi Kotis , PharmD, chief pharmacy executive at UCSF Health and vice dean of clinical affairs at the UCSF School of Pharmacy. "Most medications in the pharma development pipeline are self-administered, so medication access is key for the future. Providing care to our community, especially those most vulnerable, is core to our pharmaceutical enterprise mission."
Seamless care with UCSF Health hospitals and clinics
The new pharmacies are fully integrated with UCSF Health's electronic health records (EHR) system and pharmacists will have access to patients' lab results and diagnoses. With EHR access, pharmacists will be able to assess medication interactions and ensure optimal doses based on organ function such as kidney function and communicate this directly with physicians. Pharmacists will also be able to collaborate with providers to optimize patients' medications and provide medication management for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
"A patient shouldn't have to figure out on their own who to call about their medications or their health care," said Noelle Chapman
