Fulfilling an Unmet Need: Roles for Clinical Pharmacists in Preconception Care

• Published in: Pharmacotherapy Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 141 - 151
• Main Author: DiPietro Mager, Natalie A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Algorithms; clinical pharmacist; Community Pharmacy Services - economics; Community Pharmacy Services - manpower; Community Pharmacy Services - trends; Contraception - adverse effects; Contraception - economics; Contraception - methods; Contraception - trends; Decision Trees; Drug Information Services - economics; Drug Information Services - manpower; Drug Information Services - trends; Drug stores; Family Planning Services - economics; Family Planning Services - education; Family Planning Services - manpower; Family Planning Services - trends; Female; Health Care Costs; Health care industry; Health Promotion - economics; Health Promotion - manpower; Health Promotion - trends; Health Services Accessibility - economics; Health Services Accessibility - trends; Humans; maternal and child health; Medically Underserved Area; Patient Education as Topic; Pharmacists; Pharmacists - economics; preconception care; Preconception Care - economics; Preconception Care - manpower; Preconception Care - trends; Prescription drugs; Professional Role; United States; Womens health; Young Adult; maternal and child health; preconception care; clinical pharmacist
• ISSN: 0277-0008; 1875-9114
• DOI: 10.1002/phar.1691

Preconception care refers to a set of interventions that identify and address biomedical, behavioral, and social risks to a woman's health that may negatively impact a future pregnancy. A great need for preconception care currently exists in the United States, and women's attitudes about discussions with health care providers about healthy and safe pregnancies are positive. Clinical pharmacists are well positioned to work with other health care and public health professionals to ensure that all women of childbearing potential have access to preconception care. As part of the collaborative health care team, clinical pharmacists can directly provide services or support and referrals to other members of the health care team or to community resources through clinical‐community linkages. Specifically, clinical pharmacists can provide education, counseling, and/or services to women to address family planning, medication and disease state management, immunizations, screenings, health promotion, and substance use. Clinical pharmacists can also impact preconception care through drug information services, advocacy, and research. Preconception care services can be incorporated into daily pharmacy practice, and there are potential means for reimbursement. Multiple roles exist for clinical pharmacists to fulfill unmet needs in preconception care.