Sutter’s Health’s new outpatient and specialty pharmacy in San Francisco advances integrated, patient-centered care.
As healthcare continues to evolve, pharmacies are playing a more central role in supporting patients. Beyond the exam room, they help people manage chronic conditions, stay on top of treatments and achieve better health outcomes. With medications often serving as the bridge between a doctor’s visit and recovery, timely access and pharmacist support are critical.
That’s the aim behind a new outpatient pharmacy now open at Sutter’s CPMC Davies Campus, part of Sutter Health’s broader efforts to strengthen care coordination and reduce barriers to medication access.
“Medications are often a key part of a patient’s recovery or long-term management plan,” said Tapan Shah, Pharm.D., director of ambulatory pharmacy at Sutter Health and project lead for the new pharmacy. “When we can connect with patients right after a clinic visit or hospital discharge, we’re able to answer questions, flag potential concerns and help them get started on the right foot.”
Pharmacy tech Hiram Yu hands a prescription to a patient at Sutter’s new outpatient and specialty pharmacy in San Francisco — a space designed to do more than fill prescriptions. It’s a true extension of the care team, where pharmacy is part of the patient’s journey, not just a pickup counter.
The new pharmacy at CPMC’s Davies Campus is fully integrated with Sutter’s electronic health record — allowing pharmacists to work closely with doctors and care teams to ensure prescriptions are safe, appropriate and accessible.
“This opening is a key milestone in our strategy to bring pharmacy services closer to where care happens,” said Dave Hickman, interim chief pharmacy officer at Sutter Health. “By embedding pharmacists into the care journey, we can help improve medication safety, reduce delays in access and deliver more informed, effective care.”
Specialty Pharmacy Services
Sutter’s new pharmacy also supports patients with more complex, long-term health needs, including cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurological conditions. For these patients, Sutter offers specialty pharmacy services that provide one-on-one education, help with insurance and personalized support for specialized medications.
“What makes this pharmacy special is its focus on patients with high-risk or chronic conditions,” said Michael Federico, Pharm.D., senior director of specialty pharmacy at Sutter Health. “These patients often need the most help – and benefit the most from extra support. Our team provides education, medication counseling and coordination to help keep them on track and out of the hospital.”
“Specialty medications can be life-changing, but they can also be confusing or hard to access,” said Tami Chin, site administrator at CPMC’s Davies Campus. “This pharmacy brings expert support right into the care experience.”
Nicole Gray, Pharm.D., locates the right medication for a patient.
The new outpatient pharmacy is part of a larger effort at Sutter Health to make it easier for patients to get the medications they need, particularly during care transitions. It’s one piece of a systemwide plan to expand pharmacy access, grow specialty pharmacy services, strengthen hospital discharge processes and train the next generation of pharmacy professionals.
“We want every part of the patient experience to feel more connected,” said CPMC CEO Hollie Seeley. “This new pharmacy is one more way Sutter’s delivering safe, timely and personalized care right here in San Francisco.”
The CPMC Davies Outpatient Pharmacy is now open to patients and staff. For hours and services, please visit here.
