What is patient consultation?
This may sound simple. The pharmacist tells you a few
things about what your medication is; what it does, potential side
effects, etc. Pharmacy consultation, however, involves
and provides more than what you might expect. Patient
consultations are now a chance to sit-down and talk about your
specific condition(s) with your pharmacist (with a referral from
your physician), who then makes recommendations to your physician
based on your pharmacist's evaluation.
North Pole Prescription Laboratory is on the cutting edge of
pharmacy consulting services in Alaska. We provide in-depth
patient consultation/evaluation services, by appointment and with a
referral from your physician, for a fee.
What kinds of consulting do you provide?
We currently provide personal, professional
consultation for a variety of conditions, including:
How much do patient consultations cost?
Initial consultations and follow-ups are charged at $150 dollars
per hour.
Why do I need a referral from my physician?
We require a referral from your physician for a number of
reasons:
- It helps you get reimbursed by your insurance company.
Most insurance companies will pay for a consultation between you
and the pharmacist, provided there is documentation that is was
ordered by your physician. A referral from your physician
tells your insurance company that it is a necessary part of your
health care.
- A referral builds a triad between you, your physician, and your
pharmacist, the goal of which is better and personalized care for
you. By providing you with a referral, your physician
acknowledges that they know you are going to talk about a specific
topic with your pharmacist, and will be more willing to consider
recommendations arising from that meeting.
How do I set up my consultation?
Give us a call at the pharmacy (488-8555) ahead of time to
schedule the consultation, or contact us via the web (provide
your name, a good phone number to reach you at, and type of consult
you are interested in). Consultatons are
usually scheduled between 11am and 4pm, unless special
arrangements are made.
What should I expect on the day of my
consultation?
Come to the pharmacy about 15-30 minutes
before your consultation. When you arrive, you will be given
a questionnaire to fill out, providing medical history and personal
information (you can request a questionnaire here, print and fill
it out and bring it with you on the day of your
consultation). This is what the pharmacist will use as a
"starting point" for your consultation. The pharmacist
will give in-depth information on your particular condition,
and provide analysis on your specific case. It will last
approximately 45-90 minutes.
I have had my consultation. What happens next?
After your consultation, two possible things can happen.
Some physicians will give the pharmacist dosing
authority. If this is the case, the pharmacist will fill what
he recommends for you at the pharmacy, and you can begin your
medication the day of your consultation. The pharmacist will then
write a report describing the consultation to your physician, and
what was recommended and given to you.
If your physician did not give the pharmacist dosing
authority, the pharmacist will write a report to the physician
describing your consultation, and a recommendation of what drug(s)
you need. The report is sent to the physician, and, if they
concur, they send the report back (usually within 24-72 hours). At
this point we will contact you and let you we are ready to move
forward with approved recommendations.
At the end of your consultation, you will be asked to schedule a
follow-up consultation with us.
Why do I need a follow-up consultation?
A follow-up consultation accomplishes the following:
- It allows us to evaluate current therapy and further recommend
changes if need to maximize your care
- Maintains effective communication between you and the
pharmacist
- Helps maintain communication on your specific condition
and needs between the pharmacist and your physician
We recommend scheduling your follow-up consultation between
60-90 days of your initial consultation, or more frequently if
needed. You can schedule it after your initial consultation, call
us at the pharmacy, or via the web.
Patient consultations are a great way to get personalized
professional healthcare for your specific condition(s), and to
achieve and maintain optimum health. We take pride in offering this
unique patient service, designed to provide personalized healthcare
one patient at a time.
