The University of Toledo

Pharmaceutical Care and Outcomes Research Lab

The Pharmaceutical and Care Outcomes Research (PCOR) lab was founded in 2005 by Dr. Sharrel Pinto and is a state-of-the art facility with cutting edge research. The PCOR lab is the first of its kind in the United States. The lab applies health outcomes and socioeconomic research methodology to the practice of pharmacy so as to develop, implement, and evaluate programs and practices that lower costs and improve outcomes.

The work done within the PCOR lab is nationally and internationally recognized and has won numerous awards and honors. The PCOR lab resides within the Health Outcomes and Socioeconomic Sciences division of the College and is comprised of faculty and researchers who have a keen interest and expertise in economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes research. The PCOR lab fuels creativity, inspires students and faculty, and nurtures excellence in research and teaching.

The mission of the PCOR lab is to:

• Improve healthcare costs and quality by working collaboratively with clinicians, payers, and patients;
• Advance student learning by providing students a platform to apply their classroom learning to various real-world projects; and to
• Disseminate research findings by presenting at professional meetings, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, conducting educational and training programs, and providing consultation services to individuals and organizations

PCOR Research Efforts

Since its inception, members of the PCOR lab have successfully completed numerous projects depicting improved costs and outcomes. For example: In a study funded by The National Business Coalition on Health and led by Dr. Pinto, a customized and newly developed MTM program saved the employer approximately $200,000 over a one-year period for 93 employees who participated in the program. Employees also had improved clinical outcomes and quality-of-life and were more productive at work.

PCOR has continued to help community pharmacies, employer coalitions, and members of Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) to develop and provide customized Medication Therapy Management programs that have resulted in changing lives, improving patient outcomes, and generating a sizeable Return on Investment (ROI). Since 2005, PCOR has coordinated patient care efforts and evaluated provider performance and patient outcomes across Northwest Ohio and various parts of the country.

The PCOR lab fosters collaborative, multidisciplinary research and translates that research into programs used to train health care professionals, administrators, researchers, and students. PCOR collaborators include, but are not limited to, members of IDNs, Employer Coalitions, Self-insured Employers, Chain and Independent Community Pharmacies, Pharmaceutical Vendors, Hospital and Ambulatory Care Facilities. Research conducted by the PCOR lab is funded by a variety of sources, including federal and state government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and private research foundations, among others.

PCOR Students

In today’s rapidly changing health care environment, PCOR strives to produce leaders within the community by training students who have a strong competitive edge over their peers. Students working within the PCOR lab constitute those earning their PharmD, BSPS, and MS degrees within the College of Pharmacy. On occasion, PCOR has offered internship opportunities to students from other disciplines. PCOR students achieve professional success upon graduation and often attribute their success to their PCOR experiences and training. Students can expect to find themselves in a rich learning environment filled with opportunities that connect them with external collaborators and mentors within the pharmacy and medical community. PCOR prides itself for being able to develop a community of leaders who successfully acquire jobs within primary care and institutional settings, PhRMA, managed care, academia, and research and professional organizations.            Current Students

Funding Opportunities

PCOR offers funding on a competitive basis to students participating within the lab. Funding is offered in the form of scholarships, tuition waivers, and/or stipends.

Current Projects

• Evaluating Economic and Clinical Outcomes and Resource Utilization for the Lucas County Medication Therapy Management Program
• Evaluating Economic, Clinical, and Humanistic Outcomes and Resource Utilization for the City of Toledo Medication Therapy Management Program
• Improving Access to care and Outcomes for Underserved Patients with Diabetes
• Effect of Patient Adherence on Outcomes for Patients with Diabetes, Hypertension, and/or Hyperlipidemia Participating in a Multisite Employer-sponsored MTM Program
• Impact of Academic Detailing on Rx Changes to Decrease Costs and Improve Outcomes for Patients with GERD

Recent Projects

• Identifying Factors that Affect Patients’ Willingness to Pay for Inhaled Insulin
• Evaluating the Validity and Reliability of a Modified Survey to Assess Patient Satisfaction with Mail-Order and Community Pharmacy Settings
• Evaluating clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for patients with diabetes participating in a comprehensive disease management program
• Ohio physicians’ intent to adopt electronic prescribing

Contact Information

Director
Dr. Sharrel Pinto, Assistant Professor of Health Outcomes and Socioeconomic Sciences
419.383.1906
sharrel.pinto@utoledo.edu

Research Associate
Robert Bechtol, Visiting Assistant Professor of Health Outcomes and Socioeconomic Sciences

Photos from presentations at research conferences
Fun times with the PCOR Researchers