Assessing the state of comprehensive medication management in a sample of primary care clinics [abstract] Abstract uri icon
Overview
abstract
  • INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is a standard of care that ensures each patient’s medications are appropriate, effective, safe, and being taken as intended. Many primary care clinics offer this service, but it is unclear how closely providers adhere to this definition of CMM. RESEARCH QUESTION OR HYPOTHESIS: What is the state of CMM across a sample of primary care clinics? STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory descriptive survey. METHODS: This study was part of a large implementation and outcomes evaluation project enrolling 40 primary care clinics across five states organized into three cohorts (University of North Carolina, University of Minnesota, American Academy of Family Physicians National Research Network). To be included in this study, all sites self-reported delivering CMM services as defined by the ACCP Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacists and the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative. A 70-question demographic and 80-question baseline survey was administered to the lead pharmacist of each participating practice site. Data were analyzed descriptively and using Chi-square (p < .05) in Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: Pharmacists from all 40 participating clinics completed the surveys. Among participants, 31 (77.5%) stated that throughout the course of working with a CMM patient they always assess the indication of every medication, 24 (60%) always assess effectiveness, 25 (62.5%) always assess safety, and 27 (67.5%) always assess adherence. There were no statistically significant differences among cohorts in delivering the patient care process except always assessing effectiveness (p = .03) and employing a systematic process for categorizing medicationrelated problems (p < .001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the degree to which the practice sites carry out the CMM patient care process varies within and among cohorts. Further research is needed to address these gaps in order to advance CMM services and optimize medication use.

  • publication date
  • 2017
  • published in
  • Pharmacotherapy  Journal
  • Research
    keywords
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Drugs and Drug Therapy
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Pharmaceutical Services
  • Pharmacists
  • Primary Health Care
  • Qualitative Studies
  • Additional Document Info
    volume
  • 37
  • issue
  • 12