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Under a program launched in 2011,
the Walgreens pharmacy chain has opened more than 500 “HIV Centers of
Excellence” (COEs) in areas of the nation where CDC has found high rates of HIV
infection.
Though many customers may not notice
a difference, COE stores are “stocked in every kind of HIV drug and all kinds
of supplemental products — nutrition, health care products, topical products —
they might need to deal with side effects,” said Collen Armstrong Grosek, a
Walgreens specialty pharmacy territory manager. Regular Walgreens stores do not
stock many of these items, she said.
COE pharmacists complete the
University of Buffalo pharmacy school’s HIV/AIDS pharmaceutical care education
program, which includes social and cultural training and annual renewals to
keep their knowledge current.
COE pharmacists help patients keep
up with their care through periodic calls and confidential meetings. Proper
treatment adherence can reduce medical problems, emergency room visits and
hospital stays, Grosek said. Staff members also assist patients with the
various insurance programs and funding mechanisms.
“When somebody knows they’re being
taken care of properly, there’s a great deal of comfort; there’s no judgment
and there’s no stigma,” said Peter Houle, executive director of the Delaware
HIV Consortium, a nonprofit coordinator of prevention efforts.
A study recently conducted by
Walgreens for CDC found the COE program boosts patients’ medication adherence,
Houle said.
In Wilmington, the Walgreens at
Ninth and Market streets assists patients with many aspects of care, while
providing a safe and comfortable setting — vital aspects of COE work, said
Ambrose Delpino, the pharmacy’s manager. Joe Scarborough, a customer of the
store, said he appreciates that the pharmacists there are “educated on the
different kinds of medications, so they’re going to understand the different
drug interactions.” He added, “I can’t imagine going anywhere else.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
