New Pharmacy Offers More To Hiv, Aids Patients -- Pharmacist Dispenses Advice, Fills Prescriptions On The Spot

Wes Andersen may be a pharmacist by profession, but his new job at the StatScript Pharmacy on Capitol Hill requires him to do much more than fill prescriptions.

All of his customers are either infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, or have developed AIDS. And many need one-on-one attention to help understand the complicated drug "cocktails" that may prolong their lives.

Andersen is the one customers turn to.

The concept behind Andersen's pharmacy is not necessarily unique. Another AIDS-oriented pharmacy in the Queen Anne neighborhood, Specialized Prescription Services, offers education and advice but is primarily a mail-order business. At least two national companies fill prescriptions for AIDS patients by mail. Pharmacies at the Capitol Hill Fred Meyer, Bartell Drug Store and Rite Aid also carry prescription HIV and AIDS medicines and can answer questions.

But StatScript, part of a nationwide chain of 22 specialty pharmacies, is believed to be the first storefront HIV/AIDS pharmacy in Seattle that fills prescriptions on site. It also offers free services such as treatment monitoring and lean-body-mass evaluation.

StatScript pharmacies aren't stocked with general products, such as pain relievers. There's no pharmacist standing behind a counter in back.

Instead, StatScripts are set up like small offices to encourage interaction with customers.

"As a pharmacist, I'm filling a very different role," Andersen

said. "It's much more direct patient contact, which is very rewarding for me."

The store, at 128 Broadway East, has been open about three weeks. Andersen and a technician are the only staffers, but more will be added as needed.

The Seattle store and another recently opened store in San Francisco are the first West Coast locations for the StatScript Pharmacy chain, a subsidiary of Minnesota-based health-care company Chronimed.

A publicly traded company, Chronimed has seen its profit climb substantially in recent years by selling services and products to people who have chronic health conditions. For the nine months ending March 28, Chronimed reported net income of $5.3 million, up 26 percent from $4.2 million in the year-earlier period.

The company also owns treatment centers for diabetics and organ-transplant recipients.

StatScript Pharmacies are geared to communities heavily affected by AIDS.

As of May 1, 2,147 people were living with AIDS in King County, county Department of Health records show.

With more widespread use of complex, life-extending treatments, many of those AIDS patients need long-term access to prescription drugs and professional expertise.

"It's clearly an outgrowth of the emerging complexity of HIV treatment," said Steven Johnson of the Northwest Aids Foundation. "It's an indication that there is a growing need to provide additional services to people receiving treatment."

StatScript can either bill a health plan for products and services or take direct payment from the customer. It is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tyrone Beason's phone message number is 206-464-2251. His e-mail address is: tbeason@seattletimes.com