The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50222

Jane Boggess, PhD, Lili Sims, Sharon Cohen, and Mackenzie Melton. Pharmacy Access Partnership, Public Health Institute, 614 Grand Avenue, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94610, 510-272-0150, jboggess@phi.org

In 2000 California began a demonstration project (“EC Pharmacy Program”) permitting women affiliated with designated health care facilities to obtain emergency contraception direct from participating retail pharmacies without first going to a clinic or doctor. California, like 31 other states in the U.S., permits pharmacist administration of drug therapy in specified situations. Under then current law, pharmacists were able to initiate EC under collaborative protocols (or collaborative practice agreements) for clients affiliated with the authorizing health care facility. More than 80 independent and chain pharmacies participated in the demonstration project. Authorizing health care facilities included local health departments, community based clinics, university health centers, private physician offices and a managed care plan. Encounter data was captured for a portion (n=641) of the women served, including age, ethnicity, reasons for needing EC, use of ongoing contraception, general risk of STD, and pharmacist referral patterns. The project was terminated in 2001 when California enacted legislation permitting pharmacists with signed collaborative protocols to provide EC to the broader community and not just “affiliated” clients.

This report describes the design of the demonstration project, implementation challenges, results of encounter form data, and how the project was used to create sufficient political will to change legislation in California.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session the participant will be able to

• Describe collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and prescribers, and articulate where they are permitted and how they apply to emergency hormonal contraception (EC).
• Recognize how one statewide demonstration project was designed and implemented to allow women to obtain EC directly in pharmacies.
• Articulate the advantages to women of obtaining EC directly from a pharmacy.
• Identify characteristics of California women who used pharmacies to directly obtain EC, including their for need EC and their regular use of contraception.

Keywords: Contraception, Access

Related Web page: www.PharmacyAccess.org and www.EC-Help.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Public Health Institute
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment