Charles F. Caley, PharmD, BCPP
The term “mental health pharmacy” is a new one, but the concept seems to be well established. In 2014, when the Foundation started this directory project, a Google search of the term “mental health pharmacy” did not return a useful list of resources. Thus, with the development of The Mental Health Pharmacy™ Directory, the CPNP Foundation has created new internet space that acknowledges a type of pharmacy that proactively serves patients with mental illness. We have defined a mental health pharmacy as one that provides added value services directed at the medication related needs of individuals living with mental illness. These are pharmacies where an individual’s mental illness, or their medications, are not a barrier to receiving care.
The origins and inspiration for this project have come from the convergence of accomplishments made by several individuals. Thus the contributions of Dr. Glenn Stimmel, Dr. Brandy Singer, and Dr. Ashlee Riggs, to name a few, are to be acknowledged. The CPNP Foundation is especially grateful to Otsuka Pharmaceuticals for initial financial support of the website which allowed us to partner with GuideMark Health to work with the Foundation to develop the website that is seen today. The workgroup members include: Carla Cobb, Steve Saklad, Jerry McKee, Rex Lott, and Brenda Schimenti.
Currently, the directory lists over 850 U.S. pharmacies that deliver services to our patients. Many of the pharmacies in this directory are part of either Genoa-QOL or Safeway pharmacies. A smaller percentage of the directory is comprised of free standing community pharmacies that may either be independent pharmacies or specific locations of a pharmacy chain. It is this portion of the directory that the CPNP Foundation wishes to see additional growth in the coming years.
With the establishment of an operational web-based directory of pharmacies that serve patients with mental illness, we as psychiatric pharmacists have new opportunities. First, we have the opportunity to understand if there are mental health pharmacies located near each of us, whether listed, or not listed, in the directory. If you are aware of an unlisted pharmacy that might qualify as a mental health pharmacy, then please take the time to refer them to the CPNP Foundation, or to encourage them to complete the brief survey found on the website. Second, as our awareness and recognition of mental health pharmacy grows, we as psychiatric pharmacists have an opportunity to consider forging new partnerships with our pharmacist colleagues. It is quite likely that each type of pharmacist can offer the other knowledge and support that could lead to improved patient care. This could especially be true when it comes to transitions of care and medication reconciliation.
The CPNP Foundation envisions a world in which individuals with psychiatric and neurologic disorders receive optimal treatment, live free of stigma, and achieve their full potential. We believe that a mental health pharmacy directory and partnerships between psychiatric pharmacists and community (mental health) pharmacists will be an excellent step in the right direction by the pharmacy profession towards contributing to this important vision. After all, shouldn’t everything we do be about the patient?