Radiology:
Prescriptions
generated
by
the
Community Based Outpatient Clinic will
Cost benefit analysis must be performed
be provided in a number of ways. Each
to determine the feasibility of providing in-
Community Based Outpatient Clinic will
house diagnostic radiological services
be supported by a main medical facility or
verses contracting for these services in
a Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy
the community and/or referral to other VA
(CMOP). The small (basic) to medium
facilities. Comparisons of availability of
size clinic will provide a consultation room
services, initial cost of space, equipment,
for pharmacy and a minimum storage
equipment maintenance, recurring costs
area
for
initial
supplies
of
of staff, supplies and utilities should be
pharmaceuticals. After providing patient
considered.
consultation on new prescriptions, the
pharmacist will enter prescription data
If
in-house
diagnostic
into a DHCP terminal for transmission to
services are justified, use of teleradiology
the main medical facility or CMOP. The
with transmission of images to the parent
pharmacist may provide an initial supply
VAMC should be considered to reduce or
of medications to the patient or direct the
eliminate the need for costly physician
patient to a contracted pharmacy for
radiologist staff.
medications required immediately. Refills
will be handled by mail from the main
medical facility.
Large (expanded) Community Based
Outpatient Clinics will have a free
standing pharmacy. This pharmacy can
provide a greater number of services but
is designed smaller than the pharmacies
at Medical Centers. In addition to the
required patient consultation on new
prescriptions, the large pharmacy will
provide the initial supply of medications.
Refill requests will be handled by the
clinic but may be filled by remote
CMOPs. The size of the pharmacies is
dependent on the establishment of
electronic communication with all VA
medical facilities. VA pharmacies will
have the ability to share prescription data
on patients treated at medical facilities
throughout the VA health care system.
VA Design Guide
PAGE 2-7
Community Based Outpatient Clinic
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