Charitable Pharmacy Director Named 'Health Care Hero'

Dr. Rusty Curington, PharmD, RPh, BC-AMD, Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy, was recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier as one of its 2022 Health Care Heroes. Curington took home the top honor in the Manager category, in recognition of his leadership of a team of staff and volunteers who deliver free prescriptions and pharmaceutical care to patients across Southwest Ohio. The Charitable Pharmacy, which has filled over 650,000 prescriptions since operations began in 2006, has received accolades both regionally and nationally for improving health outcomes for its patients.

“The markers of success at the Charitable Pharmacy are patient-centric,” Curington says, highlighting measures such as the 51% reduction in patient hospitalizations and 64% of patients with improved diabetes control. “Our pharmacists function as health care’s private tutors, empowering patients to both know and improve their health metrics.”

The Business Courier also highlighted the Charitable Pharmacy’s addition of a nurse practitioner during the COVID-19 pandemic, which Curington explains was born in response to patients’ needs for an accessible primary care provider. Says Curington: “When someone leaves the ER or hospital without a prescription, they need immediate medication access with physician follow-up. Whether in-person or via telehealth, the Charitable Pharmacy now closes both medication and health service gaps to prevent hospital readmissions and improve patient health.”

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