About Us

In 2002, The University of Montana, Skaggs School of Pharmacy established IPHARM. This Program originated as a one-year, federally funded demonstration project to expand UM's existing campus-based Drug Information Service (DIS) and create a mobile pharmaceutical care clinic in north central Montana. IPHARM's mission was to improve the access for frontier health practitioners to drug and health information and provide health screening services.

Since the inception, IPHARM has continued to provide wellness testing for people throughout Montana. The program's focus is to provide screening services to detect health problems earlier before complications develop. Another goal of the program is to improve access to health care services for those in rural, underserved or otherwise disadvantaged areas across the state.

IPHARM provides the following screenings and counseling:

• Bone density
   
• Cholesterol
    
• Hemoglobin A1c (a measure of average blood glucose)   
• Blood pressure
• Balance testing through Physical Therapy
• Memory and depression screening through Social Work

Health care professionals, faculty, and students work together along with community members to provide IPHARM services at a nominal fee. Additionally, the program provides a valuable teaching tool for fourth year pharmacy students as well as nursing, physical therapy and social work students. This setting provides them with hands on training working directly with patients in real-life settings.

IPHARM has logged over 56,000 miles and ranged as far north as Cut Bank, as far east as Wibaux, as far west as Troy, and as far south as Dillon, as well as many places in between such as Great Falls, Big Timber, Boulder, Lincoln, and Ennis. Events have been hosted in a variety of settings including community health centers, senior centers, community pharmacies, health departments, and community health fairs. As of June 2008, IPHARM has completed over 221 events and screened over 7,400 Montana residents.

IPHARM has continued service across the state since 2002 and plans to keep providing events to Montana communities requesting wellness testing services.

For information or scheduling, contact ipharm@umontana.edu.

OR

Kerry Haney RPh., FASCP - IPHARM Clinical Speialist, kerry.haney@umontana.edu

Donna G. Beall, Pharm. D. - Principal Investigator, donna.beall@umontana.edu

Gayle Hudgins, Pharm. D. - Professor and Director of Experiential Education, gayle.hudgins@umontana.edu