Partnership with Community Pharmacies

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

Outpatient pharmacies have always been an essential community partner with the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) in helping meet the mental health needs of those we serve. Traditionally, pharmacies have almost solely been involved with the dispensing of medications to patients. Due to changes in state laws over the past several years, pharmacists in California are now able to administer injection medications and vaccines to patients as well. In order to enhance the ease and options available to DBH patients, DBH Medical Services worked to establish partnerships with many of our community pharmacies, to encourage the option of patients receiving doses of their injectable medications at the pharmacy, rather than at a DBH clinic. The program created a new public-private partnership which increased efficiencies and expanded choice to a patient population often saddled with psychosocial hardships.