Across the University of California, pharmacists are transforming how patients experience care—and the latest UC Population Health Annual Report shows why their role has never been more essential.
Patients can face fragmented, confusing journeys as they deal with appointments, specialists, and medications, especially when a chronic or complex condition is present. Pharmacists are stepping in as crucial members of the care team, helping bring clarity, coordination and continuity to what can otherwise feel like an overwhelming process.
Another important role for pharmacists is to help ensure that there is an ongoing effort to reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals whenever possible. A set of pharmacy strategies from the systemwide UC Population Health Pharmacy initiative has resulted in $2.3 million in overall total cost-of-care savings by building clinician awareness of effective, less costly advanced pharmaceutical therapies and integrating pharmacists into team-based care models. These cost savings for patients and UC academic health centers are even larger when evaluated outside the systemwide initiative.
This work is featured in the recently published UC Population Health annual report – underscoring how pharmacist integration strengthens value-based care, keeps care quality strong and makes treatment more affordable.
A patient-centric role for pharmacists
Pharmacists today do far more than dispense medications. They help patients understand treatment plans, monitor progress, address side effects and coordinate care across multiple providers. They also shape policies that influence affordability and access, especially for high-cost pharmaceuticals.
“[We] help patients meet their health goals by collaborating closely with primary care and specialty providers in a team-based approach. By seeing patients more frequently, adjusting and initiating medications as needed, and providing education on the importance of treatments, [we’re supporting] better health outcomes and [helping] prevent further complications from the chronic diseases [we] co-manage.”
A statewide view: The UC Population Health Pharmacy Initiative
The UC Population Health Pharmacy Initiative focuses on three strategies central to improving patient experience and reducing care fragmentation:
Improving the affordability of pharmaceutical therapies for patients, health plans, and providers
Strengthening pharmacy-related quality metrics, including medication adherence
Integrating pharmacists and pharmacy technicians into team-based models
A major focus over the past year has been expanding access to advanced therapeutic biosimilars, which are near-identical versions of certain complex, specialty medications. By increasing clinician familiarity, improving shared decision-making with patients, and embedding pharmacists early in care planning, the initiative has achieved several million-dollar savings, driving a 120% increase in biosimilar use since its launch in 2023. This work reduces cost barriers for patients while maintaining clinical quality.
To support this acceleration, the UC team launched several systemwide strategies:
Hosting clinician education and training sessions led by UC experts
Using shared decision-making frameworks that incorporate patient preferences and social drivers of health
Leveraging UC pharmacies and physician–pharmacist dyads as effective team-based care models
“Including a pharmacist in a patient’s interdisciplinary medical team results in better outcomes, fewer side effects, and an overall lower cost of total care for the patient.”
Paving the way forward: UC pharmacists serving California
Across UC’s academic health system, pharmacists expand access, strengthen disease management, improve adherence, support transitions of care, and advance new therapies across the state’s diverse communities. And UC continues to prepare the next generation of the pharmacy workforce.
Through integrated education, research, and experiential training, UC’s three pharmacy schools and academic health centers equip graduates and residents to thrive in team-based, patient-centered models. With approximately 80% of UC pharmacy graduates remaining in California, UC’s pharmacy programs ensure the state continues to benefit from a highly skilled, community-focused pharmacist workforce.
About University of California Health
University of California Health comprises six academic health centers, 21 health professional schools, a Global Health Institute and systemwide services that improve the health of patients and the University’s students, faculty and employees. All of UC’s hospitals are ranked among the best in California and its medical schools and health professional schools are nationally ranked in their respective areas.