Academics >> Residencies >> Community Pharmacy Residency Program >> Rite Aid Pharmacy

Rite Aid formerly known as Eckerd, Patient Care Pharmacy Centers are located in two pharmacies, one in Marietta and one in Smyrna, both approximately 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta. These prototype pharmacies were developed in an effort to explore strategies to advance the practice of community pharmacy.

The residency site at the Marietta location encompasses many pharmaceutical care services, of which the main focus is diabetes education and management. In addition to semi-private consultation areas, each pharmacy has two private patient consultation rooms adjacent to the pharmacy where diabetes education and other services are provided. The Rite Aid Patient Care Pharmacy Diabetes Self-Management Program involves a multidisciplinary team consisting of the pharmacists, a nutritionist, and nurse and covers topics that meet the requirements of The National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education suggested by the American Diabetes Association. Patients are referred to the program by their physician and correspondence is sent to the physician after each visit. Physicians are informed about the program through office visits, “lunch and learns”, and marketing materials which are coordinated by the resident.

Other pharmaceutical care services at the Rite Aid Patient Care Pharmacy include:

• Development of patient specific pharmaceutical care plans for various disease states.
   
• Hypertension, diabetes, asthma and cholesterol screenings.
   
• Asthma education and management.
   
• Comprehensive adult immunization program.
   
• Patient counseling on prescription medication, over the counter products and diabetic supplies.

Rite Aid also provides access to several computers and software programs including clinical pharmacology and Pharmacist’s Letter.

In addition to the Rite Aid Patient Care Pharmacy, the resident spends one morning per week providing diabetes and asthma education at The Good Samaritan Health Center in Atlanta. The Good Samaritan Health Center is a non-profit, Christian clinic that provides healthcare to the indigent population. This site involves exposure to a Spanish-speaking population, patient assistant programs, medication substitutions, deletions, and additions to therapy, laboratory values, monitoring parameters, and referrals to other disciplines related to diabetes and asthma care. A group diabetes education class is offered once a month and a Spanish diabetes education class is offered on occasion. 

The Rite Aid Patient Care Pharmacies have been actively involved in the Mercer University Community Pharmacy Practice Residency Program, accepting their first resident in 1998. The resident’s responsibilities include those mentioned above plus:

• Participation in ongoing clinical programs;
• Review and implementation of policies and procedures including renewal application for CLIA waiver;
• Communication with insurance companies and patients regarding payment of services;
• Correspondence with patients and physicians;
• Maintenance of accurate and complete patient records;
• Reporting of patient care activities to the Rite Aid Corporate Office on a bi-weekly basis;
• Documentation of pharmacist interventions;
• Provision of drug information to patients and other health care providers;
• Perform finger sticks and foot exams;
• Update educational materials;
• Experiential and didactic teaching within Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences;
• Development of a research project, including grant proposals;
• Staffing component;
• Elective rotations;
• Attendance at local and national pharmacy organization meetings;
• Oversight and mentoring of pharmacy students; and other areas of interest to the resident.