Beyond EC: Access to reproductive health services in pharmacies - state level approaches and lessons learned

Plan B® emergency contraception's dual-label status continues to elevate pharmacists' role in providing clinical reproductive healthcare services in pharmacy settings. This is the only medication in the U.S. available as both a prescription and over-the-counter product (dependent on consumer's age).

Pharmacy Access Partnership is a national leader in promoting pharmacies as a point of access for reproductive health services and supplies. To this end, Pharmacy Access Partnership convened its Sixth Annual STATES (States Take Action Toward EC Services) Meeting in 2008 at which a national community of reproductive health advocates and pharmacists came together to share best practices and lessons learned about promoting access to EC and other reproductive health services. In this day-long meeting, advocates had the opportunity to report on state-level efforts to promote access to contraception and reproductive health services and to form collaborative relationships with colleagues nationwide working to advance the same goals.

At the STATES Meeting, attendees also participated in workshops identifying characteristics of and guidelines for the implementation of ‘Model Pharmacy' services. The ‘Model Pharmacy' program is a new initiative to promote access to expanded clinical services in pharmacies and to elevate the role of community pharmacists as accessible healthcare providers. Some featured services include: youth-friendly services, direct access to hormonal contraception, injectable contraceptive administration, STI counseling and education, and patient-delivered partner therapy for sexually transmitted infections, like Chlamydia. Attendees identified features of clinical reproductive healthcare services that could be replicated in their local communities, beyond EC access.