Dr. Carrie Koenigsfeld is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice in Community Pharmacy at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  She has been primarily involved in the development of ambulatory care services in the community pharmacy setting.  Dr. Koenigsfeld believes that the DELTA Rx Institute provides support, encouragement, and excitement for pharmacists to join together and show the health care industry what the profession of pharmacy is truly capable of.  She joined the DELAT Rx team because she believes this initiative is the key to giving back to the profession, as well as pushing the profession forward.

As the first clinical pharmacist at Des Moines’ Lakeview Internal Medicine Clinic, Carrie Foust Koenigsfeld has her hands full. With physician support Dr. Koenigsfeld and her team of students are charging ahead this fall with plans for a pharmacist-run anticoagulation clinic, smoking cessation services and annual medication reviews for all patients. This pharmacist practice based in an internal medicine clinic is both innovative and entrepreneurial. While there have been other pharmacists in Des Moines area clinics, this internal medicine practice collaboration is a first.

After completing her residency at the University of Iowa in Community Practice, Carrie joined the Drake University College of Pharmacy faculty. She was successful in implementing three community practice rotation sites with Osco. In the past three years as the Walgreens Director of Patient Care Centers for the Des Moines area, Dr. Koenigsfeld developed and implemented a pharmacist-run immunization program. Now a modified version of that program is being rolled out to five Walgreens markets this fall as Carrie moves on to another challenge.

She feels that she has always been on the cutting edge with her career. Looking for a challenge after pharmacy school, her residency showed her that she could teach, and gave her a glimpse of the type of practice that academia could offer. Being challenged by her faculty peers to present, Carrie is a regular speaker for the APhA Lipid Management Certificate Program.

When Lakeview Internal Medicine contacted Drake University College of Pharmacy with a request for a pharmacist, Dr. Koenigsfeld stepped up to the plate. The physicians and Dr. Koenigsfeld share the vision of an interdisciplinary team of physicians and pharmacist in the clinic providing patient care, with September 2005 as the date patient care began.

Entrepreneurial Leadership Analysis:

1. What changes in the healthcare industry led to the identification of this opportunity?

First, healthcare practitioners are receiving more training. The physician who presented this idea, Dr. Archer, completed pharmacy school before attending medical school. Because of his advanced training and experience with pharmacists he felt that a pharmacist would be a valuable addition to the staff at Lakeview Internal Medicine Clinic. Next, the aging population has led to the need for extended anticoagulation services. Finally, the advent of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) as a payable service through Medicare was a regulatory change that provided opportunity for a new revenue stream at the clinic.

2. How does opportunity identification impact a professional career?

With new venture opportunities come the potential for career changes and advancement. Dr. Koenigsfeld had developed a successful track record in community practice and the position at Lakeview Internal Medicine Clinic was not only a change in workplace, it was a change in practice setting. When a new opportunity has been identified consider the potential it offers you – an opportunity to learn and grow.