PHARMACISTS UP CLOSE
Allie Fay, PharmD,
BCACP, BC-ADM, CPP
“When you finally help a patient realize what a resource their pharmacist can be, the impact is incredible. My patients come to me knowing that I’m going to build treatment plans around them. That I don’t have just plan A — I have plan B, C, and D, all based on their various needs.”
-Dr. Allie Fay
As a clinical pharmacist for the Family Health Centers in North Carolina, Allie Fay’s mission is to serve as an accessible resource to her patients.
“Being a part of a team in a primary care practice gives me a level of access to patients that really makes a difference. I’m in the office, with their physician, which surprises many patients. If you call our office to ask a question about your medication, you can talk directly to me. Or if you’re coming in for an appointment with your PCP, our office coordinates my schedule, so that I can see and consult with you during that appointment to discuss medication and treatment plans.”
Being a part of a team in a primary care practice gives me a level of access to patients that really makes a difference. I’m in the office, with their physician, which surprises many patients. ”
Because Allie is part of her patient’s care team, she gets to see first-hand the impact health-system pharmacists can have.
“I love being able to see the improvement in a patient after we get them on a successful treatment plan — especially if we’re overcoming significant barriers to their care like costs or comorbidities. Recently, I was treating a patient with an endocrine disorder who also needed knee-replacement surgery. Initially, the patient couldn’t get their A1c low enough for the surgery. But, after working with the patient and trying some insulin adjustments, we finally got them approved for a GLP-1, which brought their A1c down to under 8% and allowed them to have the surgery.”
Allie knows how valuable it is for her patients to have someone in their corner, rooting for their success. It helps her build relationships founded on trust that she can leverage to improve their outcomes.
“The more I work with a patient, the more they come to see my role for what it really is: a medication specialist who’s an integral part of their care. I have patients that I’ve worked with for years, who call me as often as they call their primary care provider, because they know I’m able to help them manage their health.”
Because Allie has built these relationships with her patients, her team knows they can count on not only her expertise, but her understanding of the patient’s needs to help manage their care.
In working together, we decided it was the right alternative therapy option. The patient was able to follow their plan, and their medication was easily accessible and affordable.”
“The physicians I work with trust me to help them develop the medication treatment plans. Health-system pharmacists, like me, help other healthcare professionals navigate the nuances of developing and starting treatment plans.
Being a problem solver for the care team and patients is what it means to Allie to be a valuable resource in patient care and what it means to be your pharmacist.
