In 2002, The 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 to create a mobile pharmaceutical care clinic in north central Montana. IPHARM's mission was to improve the access for disadvantaged rural health practitioners to drug and health information and screening services.
Since their inception, IPHARM has continued to provide wellness testing for people throughout Montana.
IPHARM provides the following screenings and counseling:
- Bone Density
- Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol
- Hemoglobin A1c
- Balance Testing through the Physical Therapy program
- Memory and Depression screening through the 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 professional environments.
IPHARM has logged over 96,600 miles and ranged as far north as Cut Bank, as far east as Wibaux, as far west as Troy, as far south as Dillon, as well as many places in between such as Great Falls, Big Timber, Boulder, Lincoln, Glasgow, 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 2012, IPHARM has completed over 450 events and screened over 13,000 Montana residents.
