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. 2023 Jul;40(7):218-223.
doi: 10.12788/fp.0379. Epub 2023 May 22.

Pharmacist-Led Management of HIV PrEP Within the Veterans Health Administration

Madison A Cameron  1 , Jenna Kawamoto  1 , Troy A Shahoumian  2 , Pamela S Belperio  2
Affiliations

Pharmacist-Led Management of HIV PrEP Within the Veterans Health Administration

Madison A Cameron et al. Fed Pract. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Uptake and access to HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is key to reducing incident HIV infections. Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care professionals in the United States and are well suited to address this need.

Observations: We describe a model of care at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System in which clinical pharmacist practitioners developed and implemented a pharmacy-led PrEP clinic colocated within an infectious disease clinic. Veterans Health Administration clinical pharmacists provide direct patient care under a scope of practice that includes ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and providing PrEP prescriptions. To improve access and patient acceptability, we also used novel telemedicine modes of care to ensure flexible appointment scheduling.

Conclusions: This model can be used by other federal and community-based health care organizations to implement interdisciplinary pharmacist-managed PrEP clinics and expand telehealth modalities to deliver outpatient services.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest or outside sources of funding with regard to this article.

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