INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

The Patient Assistance Program Committee at the Jackson Free Clinic: Discussing the Need, Design, and Implementation

Gregory R. Vance

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Johnny Yang

University of Mississippi Medical Center

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2690-3155

Nickhil Rugnath

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Leonna Conley

University of Mississippi Medical Center

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6917-7699

Victoria Green

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Harshin Sanjanwala

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Chin B. Yen

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Amanda Pham

University of Mississippi Medical Center

John D. Salvemini

University of Mississippi Medical Center

James Pitcock

University of Mississippi Medical Center

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4701-8462

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v16i1.6496

Keywords: patient assistance program, student-run free clinic, student leadership

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Abstract

Many populations face the barriers of high medication costs due to limited resources, especially those served by student-run free clinics (SRFCs). As part of the solution, patient assistance programs (PAP) managed through pharmaceutical companies provide free medications to patients who are unable to afford them. Various PAP-related interventions have proven to improve efficiency and patient care in SRFCs. The Jackson Free Clinic (JFC) serves some of the most vulnerable populations in Mississippi, which as a state has performed poorly nationally in a variety of healthcare metrics. Proximity to such a population and access to service from training health professionals provides a unique opportunity to create change by implementation of student-driven PAP services.

The newly established PAP committee undertakes the tasks necessary to enroll, track, and dispense individual patients’ medications received through enrollment in a specific assistance program. The use of the PAP committee reduces the responsibility of medical and pharmacy teams, increases enrollment likelihood, improves medication adherence, decreases patient wait time, and improves patient care.  

The development of the PAP committee has shown the value of implementing an organized PAP formulary, a consistent organizational structure, and an all-inclusive written hand-guide, which has created an improved training environment. Other results reported by regional SFRCs suggest the clinical and cost benefits of implementing PAP, particularly a committee. However, the novel method employed at JFC requires additional research and development toward the larger effort of improving patient care, which we plan to investigate with future endeavors.