Preserving health is a journey that begins at the pharmacy. Whether it's an herbal remedy, vitamin or supplement, your pharmacist can provide you with the resources you need to keep your body healthy.
Community pharmacists face compassion fatigue as they interact with patients navigating opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Developing a community-centered patient journey map may help reduce these barriers.
Preventative Care
A common saying is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It means that preventing disease and illness is a lot cheaper than treating them. This has led to an increased emphasis on preventative care. It also means that more patients will be able to receive screenings, vaccinations, and other preventative services, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. rx pharmacy
However, some of the emphasis has been misplaced. For example, a large portion of the $2 trillion that society spends on healthcare each year goes toward services that have low economic value. It is important that payers and policy makers continue to focus on evidence-based clinical preventive services – including those recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – because they offer the greatest return on investment in terms of improved health and quality of life.
One way to do that is through the establishment of health system specialty pharmacies that work in partnership with physicians, forming a new model that maximizes clinical outcomes. It is this type of approach that JoAnn Blaich, PharmD, director of NDMU’s Pharmacy Practice Residency Program, calls “a new frontier.”
She says it is a way to integrate the patient journey. Patients benefit from a unified team approach that ensures continuity of care and better management of their chronic diseases. It is also a way for pharmacists to collaborate more closely with physicians and reduce the time it takes to fill prescriptions.
This is an important trend as health systems strive to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care to their patients. A growing number of health systems are placing pharmacy staff members in their clinics so they can provide expert care and improve the overall patient experience.
In fact, some are even putting pharmacists on their own patient care teams, creating a direct line of communication between the doctor and patient. This approach can help reduce ER visits and improve adherence to medications. It can also allow for more timely referrals to specialists, which can lead to improved outcomes for the patient. For these reasons, this is an approach that can help address some of the most challenging issues in our health care system today.
Medication Management
Medication management is the process of overseeing a patient’s medications to ensure they are taken properly and that they achieve their intended, therapeutic outcome. A number of studies have shown that effective medication management can reduce costs and improve outcomes. In fact, many organizations like CMS and a growing number of commercial payors have implemented or are actively exploring medication therapy management (MTM) services.
A typical MTM service involves a comprehensive review of a person’s prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins and supplements. A trained pharmacist evaluates the medicines to look for potential side effects and interactions. They also look at a person’s current condition and history to assess whether or not the medications are working. If they are not, the pharmacist may suggest changing the dosage or frequency, or a different medication altogether.
Pharmacists are the medicine experts on a healthcare team, and are uniquely positioned to identify, prevent, and resolve medication-related problems. They can optimize the use of medicines through patient education, communication strategies that maximize interprofessional work, and adherence tools.
eHealth is transforming decision-making, information sharing and patient education across the healthcare system. It is particularly important in medication management where eHealth technologies can improve the safety and efficacy of healthcare systems by reducing transcription errors, checking for drug allergies or adverse reactions, and providing evidence-based recommendations and prescribing guidelines.
Medication adherence is the key to improving clinical outcomes. Tailored pharmacy-based interventions have been shown to improve adherence by focusing on the individual needs of each patient, including reminders and organisation of medicines. They can also facilitate a more holistic approach to care with the inclusion of carers in the healthcare team and support for patients living with polypharmacy.
In addition to these specialised services, pharmacies offer a range of health, wellness and public health services that help people live longer, healthier lives. These include screening programs for common disease states such as asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease; nutritional planning; weight loss; smoking cessation counseling; and a host of other initiatives. These services are a great example of the diverse array of opportunities that exist for pharmacy graduates who are willing to think outside the box and not only go for traditional roles in hospitals.
Addiction Treatment
Substance abuse can have a negative impact on multiple areas of life, including health, family and work. Treatment is important to address these issues and begin recovery from addiction. There are many different options available, depending on the individual’s needs.
Detox is often the first step in treatment, and focuses on safely managing withdrawal symptoms under medical supervision. Inpatient treatment involves residing in a rehabilitation facility for a period of time, which can range from a few weeks to several months. It offers an immersive environment to help individuals begin the process of recovering from addiction while providing education, support and guidance.
Some outpatient programs offer services in a community setting, allowing the participant to live at home while attending scheduled therapy sessions. These can also include educational programs, group support and peer mentorship. Residential rehabilitation programs offer a supervised, short-term stay in housing for people with addictions and include advice on handling finances, finding employment and living independently without using drugs or alcohol.
Addiction can be linked to other underlying mental health issues, or marriage and family problems that may be treated through counseling. Seeking therapy from a licensed therapist or counselor can help individuals find peace of mind and mend broken relationships. Seeing a therapist can also provide encouragement, and help an individual recognize their own strengths and successes in recovery. Family involvement is important, and can help an individual’s support system become more effective. Family therapy can be provided at a rehabilitation facility, or in the community by family-based providers.
Nutritional Counseling
The body needs the right fuel to function well and be healthy. Whether that fuel comes from a healthy diet, exercise, or supplements, a proper amount of nutrition can help prevent disease and meet healthcare goals. Nutritional counselling is a crucial aspect of patient care and can be provided by dietitians, nurses, or pharmacists. However, many consumers do not receive nutritional counselling at their regular physician visits. As the number of patients with chronic diseases increases, it is essential that health systems address these concerns by ensuring access to adequate and timely nutritional counselling.
The plethora of nutrition information available to consumers makes the field an ideal area for pharmacy professionals to offer nutritional guidance. A recent study surveyed consumers on where they obtained their nutrition information, which resources they considered trustworthy, and their willingness to seek out dietary advice from a pharmacist. Additionally, the study determined if there was a difference in the degree of nutritional counseling that consumers received from lean and non-lean pharmacies.
For some, the path to better health can be a daunting one. For those seeking specialty medications, the process can be even more complicated. “You’ve got a bunch of different components that come into play from the time of diagnosis to benefits investigations and prior authorizations,” said Lauren Holesh Meekins, Pharmacy Manager for UNC Shared Services. “It’s a real maze.”
Health system specialty pharmacies strive to remove obstacles for their patients by collaborating with internal and external partners to optimize therapy. They are also often embedded in clinics to provide clinical and pharmacy support throughout the process.
Meekins shared the example of a patient who ran out of seizure medication over the weekend because their mail order from a third-party pharmacy didn’t arrive in time. The health system specialty pharmacy worked with the clinical team to make sure the patient was able to get their medication.
Health system specialty pharmacies are also able to help with other aspects of the patient journey, such as insurance coverage. They can assist with navigating drug rebates, helping to determine what the patient’s copay will be, and finding patient assistance programs when necessary. In addition, they can work with the drug manufacturer to help resolve issues with a medication’s supply.