Supervisor Ridley-Thomas visits QueensCare Family Clinics

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Dean R. Pete Vanderveen of the University of Southern California’s School of Pharmacy recently visited QueensCare Family Clinics, Echo Park to learn more about the clinical pharmacy services available at several QueensCare Family Clinics locations.

In clinical pharmacy, pharmacists work directly with patients, managing medication therapy for chronically ill patients. Pharmacists are able to stretch the care of the clinic, by meeting with patients, examining them and counseling them on medications and lifestyle choices. Data shows this method is successful on various levels including, increasing medication cost savings, reducing medication errors and emergency room visits, and decreasing A1C levels in diabetic patients. QueensCare collaborates with the USC School of Pharmacy, which places two pharmacists, pharmacy residents and fourth year pharmacy students at three QFC sites to work in the clinics as part of the disease management team.