Issue link: https://kusm-wichita.uberflip.com/i/1545861
"We've been working with them for a long time," says Kreutzer. "Curant brought that pharmacist in months before it opened, so we could really establish that base relationship with the providers before patients were even being funneled through the on- site pharmacy." The pharmacy is in the clinic's waiting room, with a window for handling scripts and transactions and a private consultation room for pharmacist and patients to meet. "The pharmacist can get in contact with the provider, and a problem is solved within minutes, versus having to wait for faxes and phone calls and things like that," Kreutzer says. "So the patients are definitely seeing the benefits of it as well." And not just HIV-positive patients benefit from the easier access. Being a federally designated 340B pharmacy allows the clinic and pharmacy more options to solve financial barriers for eligible patients whether that be through financial assistance or lower- priced medications. The convenience shows in the numbers. "Our adoption has really exploded since the middle of June, when they got here, and our first couple months have really exceeded everyone's expectations," Ryan says. The clinic provides a range of medical care, but Donna Sweet, M.D., KU School of Medicine-Wichita professor of internal medicine, other physicians and midlevel providers — all certified in HIV care — specialize in treating patients with HIV, those at risk of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis C. Residents and medical students also rotate through the clinic to supply care and build skills. "An on-site pharmacy provides greater convenience for patients and increases the likelihood that they will take their medication as directed," Sweet says. "These pharmacies eliminate the need for an extra stop, reduce wait times and streamline communication between patients and providers." "We felt like it was a great way to provide a better service and experience," says Aaron Ryan, MBA, executive director of the medical practice association, the business side of clinics affiliated with KU School of Medicine-Wichita and its doctors. For years through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, many of the clinic's HIV patients received discounted mail-order prescriptions through Georgia-based Curant Health. The company offers adherence packaging — grouping medications by day and time, for example — that help keep patients on track. So, it was natural to turn to Curant to operate the in-house pharmacy, which opened last July. The company hired a pharmacist for the operation and has hired other staff members. Taylor Williams, Pharm.D., Curant Health pharmacy manager/pharmacist in charge at the KU Wichita Internal Medicine's Midtown Clinic. 23