The service will start scheduling appointments this week and will officially open for in-person patient consultations on Sept. 1.

Through the program, patients will meet one-on-one with an experienced clinical pharmacist to evaluate the prescriptions they currently use, ensure the medications are safe and effective for them, and help them manage their daily drug regimens.

Pharmacists also will help patients identify lower-cost solutions to their health needs, where necessary, and help low-income patients find and apply for medication assistance programs for which they are eligible.

"As patient advocates and UCSF faculty, we have heard many Fresno residents voice an unmet need for medication consultation services in the Central Valley," said Nancy Nkansah, director of the UCSF Medication Management Service in Fresno. "We decided to take the services we offer in other California cities to Fresno and to tailor these services to meet Fresno's needs."

Fresno currently has only four primary care clinical pharmacists with advanced training for every 100,000 residents, in an area with high levels of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

The program is the first of its kind in the Central Valley and will serve patients throughout the area.

The service will be by appointment only and will range in price from $10 to $60 per visit, depending on the type of service and the patient's insurance. These fees are reduced by 67 percent through financial support from the UCSF School of Pharmacy, which runs the program.

Appointments with the UCSF Medication Management Service can be made online at mms.ucsf.edu or by calling (559) 499-6511. Health care providers can also download a referral form at the above site.