Pharmacist Prescribing in Idaho

In an article from Pharmacy Today, Idaho ranks 49 out of 50 states in the number of physicians per capita. The Idaho Board of Pharmacy has helped guide the way towards fostering patient access to care in these under-served areas by defining Pharmacist Prescribing in Idaho which require the following steps to prescribe much needed medications:

1. Patient - Provider relationship
2. Pharmacist must have training and education in that area sufficient to perform these duties
3. Have in place current evidence based protocols that will be followed, specifying inclusion, exclusion and medical referral criteria.
   
4. Documentation along with notification of the patient's primary care provider within 5 business days.
   

Example Prescribing Protocols

During the development of the new pharmacy rules on pharmacist prescribing many pharmacists had requested examples of evidence based protocols that would help meet the requirements noted by the Idaho Board of Pharmacy. To help meet this need, clinicians from across the state, including representatives from ISHP, ISPA, ISU, and the Idaho Board of Pharmacy, worked together to draft example protocols for a number of disease states to help provide direction on what this might look like for pharmacists interested in prescribing as a part of his or her own practice. Below are the results of that work, the example protocols are provided by ISHP as a template. Please refer to current evidence based literature in order to validate the information and update if needed before implementation.

1. Seasonal Influenza Treatment with Neuraminidase inhibitors
2. Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis (Strep Throat)
3. Short-Acting Beta Agonists (SABA)
4. Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
5. Cold Sores (herpes labialis)
6. Statins for Patients with Diabetes

I AM ISHP

Marcus has been a pioneer in pharmacist prescribing in Idaho since the rules rewrite just a couple of years ago. As the Pharmacy Supervisor for Broulim's Fresh Foods, covering seven pharmacies in South East Idaho and one in Western Wyoming.

Marcus was born and raised in the great state of Idaho. He has lived in the Boise Valley, Coeur d’Alene, Pocatello and Rigby. Marcus loves doing all the things an Idaho born person does: skiing, hunting, fishing, and camping. After a nine year career in information technology administration he decided to return to school to pursue a career in healthcare. He graduated from the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy in 2014 and spent a few years working for several retail pharmacies. In 2016 he was hired as the Pharmacy Supervisor for Broulim’s Fresh Foods and directs operations for seven pharmacies in South East Idaho and one in Western Wyoming.