Alumna finds creative way to increase access to care
The lack of health care in rural areas is problematic for both patients in need of care and health care providers.
Pharmacists are often the only available provider in these communities, and resources for providing the most effective care can be limited as well.
“Pharmacists practicing in rural areas are somewhat on an island,” says Reagan Barfield, 2019. “I saw an opportunity to ensure they have a network of others working in similar areas where they can ask questions, collaborate on research and education and have communal support.”
Barfield, assistant professor and coordinator of the Tandem Health-USC PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, founded and directs the Southeastern Collaboration of Rural Health Research and Education (SCOR2E) Network.
Pharmacists practicing in rural areas are somewhat on an island ... I saw an opportunity to ensure they have a network of others working in similar areas.
Members meet monthly to discuss patient issues they face, such as finding an affordable medication to treat a specific disease-state.
“Guideline-directed medical therapies are wonderful,” Barfield says, “but sometimes you have to go off script to find a medication that works for the patient and one that is affordable.”
SCOR2E members also benefit from the continuing education provided during the meetings.
“Our members help identify rural health topics for continuing education and have the opportunity to present patient cases, educating other members with the data that supports their care decisions,” Barfield says.
The network, which started with a handful of practitioners from Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter and federally qualified health centers such as Tandem Health, continues to grow. Pharmacists, residents and students take advantage of the opportunity to learn and share about helping patients in that landscape.
“The residents get to learn from pharmacists practicing in rural health, and they
have the opportunity to teach,” Barfield says. “Our students get to network with some
amazing pharmacists with unique backgrounds. Because they see the value that the College
of Pharmacy is bringing to the Sumter area through the SCOR2E Network,
they then want to apply for our residency program, helping to encourage more practitioners
in rural areas.”
That interest has led to an increase in the number of pharmacy practitioners in the Sumter area as well, growing from one full-time pharmacy employee four years ago to eight full-time staff currently. And that means more care for those in need.
Topics: SCOR2E Network, Postgraduate Training, Research