Michael J. Rush

Objective: Describe a mobile health clinic program led by pharmacists to provide services in a primary care shortage area. Methods: ONU HealthWise is a comprehensive pharmacy service offered by Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy with a mobile clinic initiated in 2015. ONU HealthWise is located in an HRSA-designated medically underserved and primary care shortage area and the mobile health clinic visits 11–18 locations monthly plus additional sites for screening or vaccinations. Medical residents from a health-system attend some locations and collaborative practice agreements allow pharmacists to initiate and adjust medications. Student pharmacists rotate through the mobile clinic to gain experiential training toward their Doctor of Pharmacy. The mobile clinic is an integral part of the learning and precepting for ONU HealthWise PGY-1 residents. Results: Over a 12-month period (July 2024–June 2025), the mobile clinic held 148 clinics across 7 rural counties in northwest Ohio. A total of 1265 screenings were conducted at 713 patient encounters (604 unique patients). Of the screenings, 38.1% of blood glucose, 21.6% of cholesterol, and 60.1% of blood pressures were abnormal. All abnormal tests resulted in either a medication adjustment, scheduled follow-up at future mobile clinic, or referral to a provider. Student pharmacists spent more than 3670 h on the mobile health clinic in experiential education. Conclusion: Pharmacists can be an integral healthcare provider by increasing access to primary care services through a mobile health clinic in a medically underserved area. The service provides learners with vital patient experiences.

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Purpose The design and implementation of pharmacist-directed preventive care services within a university-based, employee health and wellness clinic are described. Summary Ohio Northern University (ONU) HealthWise is a multidisciplinary employee health and wellness clinic located on the campus of ONU that offers medication therapy management, disease management, nutrition counseling, and physical wellness coaching services. A pharmacist-directed preventive care program based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) was designed for incorporation into the clinic. Using an electronic search tool provided by USPSTF, pharmacists are able to provide a review of recommended preventive services that are appropriate for each individual patient. Whenever possible, pharmacists within the clinic perform the screenings and other interventions that are recommended by USP-STF; when necessary, patients are referred to other health care providers to receive recommended interventions. To date, nine patients have participated in the preventive care program. For these nine patients 112 recommendations have been reviewed by pharmacists in the clinic. Of these, 16 were found to be inappropriate after further discussion with the patients and 36 were verified as already completed by the patient, resulting in a total of 60 unmet recommendations. Of these 60, 52 recommendations were met through interventions by the pharmacist in the clinic, while 5 possible screenings were declined by patients and 3 unmet recommendations required referral to a provider outside of the clinic. Conclusion A pharmacist-directed preventive care service offered within an employee health clinic helped ensure that employees receive appropriate screenings and preventive care according to current guidelines.