PROMISE CLINIC FAQ 2012
PHARMACY:
What is the exact process to get meds for my patient?
1) Get script from attending.
2) Go to PC pharmacy member and get a voucher.
3) Give script and voucher to your patient who will use both to pick up their medication at Ultracare pharmacy.
Are all these meds free for my patient? what is the $4 list?
No! We only give vouchers for drugs on the $4 Walmart list. You can ask the pharmacy member on duty for a list of medications
covered.
If the meds my patients need are not on the $4 list, what can I do?
You can enroll your patient in a Patient Assistance Program. These programs are run by pharmaceutical companies that provide free
or discounted medicines to low-to-moderate income, uninsured or underinsured individuals. Eligibility and application requirements
vary from program to program. Note: many applications require proof of income.
What procedures can be written on the prescription pads? (x-rays, vaccinations, etc.)
Any necessary imaging, labs, or medication deemed appropriate by the attending on duty can be written on the prescription pads.
LABS:
Do we need scripts for labs?
For in-house screening and labs, scripts are not needed. However, scripts most likely will be needed for send-out labs (i.e. blood
draws).
What are the currently available ON-SITE lab tests?
 Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
 Fingerstick (whole blood) glucose (FSG)
 Urine dipstick (standard, NOT microalbumin)
 Urine pregnancy (HCG)
 Strep A screening
 Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT)
What does Lab offer in terms of assistance to the teams? (will they help me do a fingerstick?)
A member of our PC lab team will be available at every Thursday PC session. Consult with lab team member BEFORE
drawing labs so they are aware of what testing needs to be done. Ask lab team member for any assistance you may need in obtaining
specimens. If you want to practice your fingersticks (which you should!), the lab team can help direct you in doing a fingerstick, or
they can do the whole procedure for you if you prefer. It's up to your level of comfort. The lab team member will run the actual tests
(after blood / urine specimen is obtained).
How do I pick up lab results?
In-house lab results will be delivered to your team same-day once the tests are completed. Be sure to review these results and add
them to the chart. PC Lab staff will notify you when results are ready. See the lab member on-duty at the next Thursday PC session
after labs are drawn to retrieve these results. Be sure to sign the PC lab results log sheet when retrieving results. Review the results
with your team and with the attending. Add the results to the patient's chart. NOTE: in the case of critical lab values, every effort will
be made to notify your team ASAP; please respond promptly to these notices! [ For send-out labs, we are still working out the details,
but most likely results will be available through SCM (Sunrise Clinical Manager)]
What kind of screenings can I offer my patient?
If your patient is a Middlesex County resident and meets certain income eligibility requirements, the following screening services are
available through the Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) program:
Breast cancer screening for eligible women and men 40 years of age and older
 Cervical cancer screening for eligible women age 18 and older
 Colorectal cancer screening for women and men age 50 and over. Clients under the age of 50 may be screened if they are
considered high-risk due to a personal or family history.
 Prostate cancer screening for men 50 and older or high-risk men age 45 and older
As far as STD & HIV testing - we don't currently offer these through promise clinic but I was told via Claudia Carron that patients
needing HIV testing can come to EBCHC during the daytime clinic hours and ask for a rapid HIV test. Joy Robinson is the point of
contact for the HIV screening program at EBCHC. It's possible that RWJUH lab services may be able to offer STD testing at a
reasonable price.
PUBLIC HEALTH:
What materials are available for my patient?
- Smoking (English and Spanish) pamphlets
- Diabetes (English and Spanish) pamphlets
- Diet (English only)
- Flu (English only)
- Stroke (English only)
- Heart Attack (English only)
- Continuity charts
What if I need materials for a topic not in the box?
Contact public health committee (Lisa Gabor) at gaborlr@umdnj.edu
What is a continuity chart?
They are forms to keep inside your patient chart as a way of keeping track of relevant information for chronic diseases. For example,
if your pt has diabetes, you may want to keep track of their weight, blood pressure, Hba1c, and blood glucose levels for each
appointment. This is a great way for M1s and M2s to get involved in the documentation aspects of patient care, and a quick reference
for M3s and M4s when they’re presenting to the attendings.
What chronic diseases are available for continuity charts?
- Diabetes, hypertension, asthma
SPECIALTY CARE:
I need Specialty Care, what do I do?
Talk to the schedulers. They will either refer you to the handy dandy booklet of Specialty Care procedures or directly contact the oncall Specialty Care committee member to guide you through the process.
Specialty Care easily accessible within clinic: psychiatry, stool guiacs (recommended for colon cancer screening)
Specialty Care available: radiology, optometry, cardiology, GI, dermatology, urology, nephrology, ortho, surgery, ophthalmology
(available in Newark),
If you have any questions please contact us at pcspecialtycare@gmail.com (please do not include any patient information (ie: patient
initials or id#).
If you encounter a specialty care doctor who would like to volunteer at promise clinic, please give them our email address.
pcspecialtycare@gmail.com