Faculty associated with the Center have conducted and published findings from practice based and outcomes research in the following major research focus areas:

Characterization and management of drug therapy problems to improve medication use in the community

• Managing drug-induced illness in the community setting
• Self care and medication management by seniors
• Community-based clinical evaluations and post-marketing studies of the effectiveness and safety of medications

Effective models of interdisciplinary care to improve medication use in the community

• Pharmacist-physician collaboration
• Pharmacist-nurse or physician assistant collaboration
• Integration of community providers to improve medication use in community settings
• Acceptance of new roles for pharmacists in the community

Access to medications for the care of the elderly

• Evaluation of public and private pharmaceutical assistance programs to aid decision makers and policy makers
• Effect of Medicare, Medicaid and insurance policies on access of the elderly to medications

Safe and effective use of medications by the elderly

• Post-marketing, community based, drug studies to determine the most effective, safe and cost-effective drug therapy for elderly patients
• Intervention studies to improve prescribing, patient education and monitoring of elderly drug therapy by physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health providers
• Intervention studies to change the medication-taking behavior of elderly patients
• Effect of professional compensation on the provision of pharmaceutical care to elderly patients by physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other providers

Evaluation of pharmacy practice development strategies designed to improve medication use in the community

• Influences on pharmacist practice behavior
• Evaluation of educational methods for pharmacists (and residents)
• Application of practice standards and compliance with standards in the community
• Role of pharmacists in disease state management
• Role of colleges in practice development for sites used for student experiential learning
• Impact of students and residents on patient care in community settings
• Change process measures in the community setting.