Development of a medication synchronization common language for community pharmacies

Renfro, Chelsea; Patti, Michael; Ballou, Jordan M.; Ferreri, Stefanie P.

doi:10.1016/j.japh.2018.04.032

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Effective implementation of medication synchronization core components within ABM is key to ensure that this program is effective. These components include the identification and enrollment of patients, inclusion of a medication review and patient assessment, the alignment of refills, a formal process for preparation of medications, and the delivery of medications and other services [7,30]. There is support in the literature for implementing a vaccination assessment program with ABM also.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Pharmacy Technician Roles in the Implementation of an Appointment-Based Medication Synchronization Program

Renfro

Coulter

et al. 2020

Pharmacy

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The objective of this study was to qualitatively explore the role of pharmacy technicians in the implementation of an appointment-based model (ABM) medication synchronization program. The purposeful sampling of technicians working within six different locations of a supermarket chain pharmacy in Mississippi and Tennessee was carried out, and the technicians were interviewed between January and April 2018. A semi-structured interview guide was developed based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Questions gathered information around pharmacy technician demographics and CFIR domains (process, inner setting, outer setting and intervention characteristics). Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Two members of the research team performed thematic content analysis. Six full-time, certified pharmacy technicians with 8.3 ± 2.7 years of experience were interviewed. Findings suggest that including hands-on experience with program software is needed during training to successfully implement ABM. A barrier to implementation was the time needed to complete ABM tasks as compared to other tasks. Although some barriers exist regarding implementation, technicians believe that overall, this program has positive benefits for patients. Results from this study signify that ABM implementation can be challenging. Better ABM portal integration with the pharmacy patient profile and appropriate workforce budgeting are key to continued success.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Without proper management, nonadherence will continue to increase hospitalizations and raise costs in the health care system. This study contributes important data on pharmacy technicians, an understudied stakeholder whose perspectives are key to effectively implement patient care initiatives in a community pharmacy [7,30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Pharmacy Technician Roles in the Implementation of an Appointment-Based Medication Synchronization Program

Renfro

Coulter

et al. 2020

Pharmacy

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“…It appears that with ongoing monitoring, pharmacists can pick up on patterns in patient refill histories and investigate potential issues by asking questions to identify patient barriers to adherence. Studies suggest medication synchronization process of aligning refills and providing reminders leads to more frequent refills, but some of these studies are subject to selection bias and variable clinical contribution by the pharmacist 15,16,19,20,21,25,35. As a result, the impact of the pharmacist in appointment based models on outcomes like adherence and medication therapy goals is less clear.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective analysis of drug therapy problems identified with a telephonic appointment-based model of medication synchronization

Fitzpatrick¹,

Witry²,

Doucette³

et al. 2019

Pharm Pract (Granada)

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Objectives: To describe the drug therapy problems (DTPs) identified for patients enrolled in an Appointment Based Model (ABM) for medication synchronization, describe the pharmacist-delivered clinical interventions, and assess what patient characteristics are associated with the number of DTPs identified. Methods: A cross-sectional chart review of 1 month of pharmacist notes for telephone ABM encounters at one independent community pharmacy in the Midwest U.S. was performed for a systematic random sample of patients active in the program during September 2017. Included patients were 18 years and older and took one or more synchronized medications. Data included months in the program, gender, age, insurance type, refill interval, medications (synchronized and total), DTP category, and intervention category. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and a multiple linear regression tested the association between patient characteristics and the number of DTPs identified. Results: The study involved 209 subjects, 54% women, with a mean age of 69.5 years and. The average number of medications synchronized was 4.7, the mean total number of medications was 6.3, and mean length of time in the program was 20 months. The DTPs (n=334) identified included needs additional drug therapy (43.1%), inappropriate adherence (31.4%), unnecessary drug therapy (15.0%), and adverse drug reaction (9.6%). The regression showed age and number of medications was positively associated with number of DTPs identified, but months enrolled was not. Conclusions: This ABM approach identified several hundred DTPs with corresponding interventions within a one-month period, suggesting that ABMs have a significant potential to improve patient care. The data also suggest that pharmacist interventions within an ABM program are valuable beyond the first few fills as patients move into maintenance use of their medications, especially for patients of advancing age and polypharmacy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An emerging service provided by community pharmacies to support medication adherence is to consolidate medication refills to the same date in a process often called medication synchronization [28,29,30]. When implemented with an accompanying clinical intervention by the pharmacist, this is called an appointment-based model (ABM) [29,30]. Medication synchronization programs have had a positive impact on medication adherence [31,32], and patients and pharmacists have expressed positive attitudes toward these programs [33,34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot and Feasibility of Combining a Medication Adherence Intervention and Group Diabetes Education for Patients with Type-2 Diabetes

et al. 2019

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Introduction: Controlling diabetes typically requires self-management and medications. Community pharmacists are positioned to support patients with both. Methods: This study assessed the feasibility and potential benefit of combining pharmacist-provided group diabetes education (up to eight sessions) and medication synchronization using a three-group design. Data were collected using pre–post paper surveys and electronic health record data. One group received both education and synchronization services, another group received medication synchronization only, and a third served as control. Results: Of 300 contacted patients, eighteen patients participated in group diabetes education, 14 had medication synchronization only, and 12 comprised a control group. There was little change in HbA1c over the study period. Medication adherence appeared to be positively aided by medication synchronization, although all groups started with high adherence. Some medication beliefs and self-care activities may have been positively impacted by group diabetes education. Both groups receiving medication synchronization were satisfied. Conclusions: Participants strongly agreed they would recommend group diabetes education from the study pharmacy to a friend and were satisfied with medication synchronization; however, it was difficult to tell if there was a synergistic effect by combining the two services. Reimbursement for diabetes education was not obtained despite multiple attempts, hindering sustainability.

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Development of a medication synchronization common language for community pharmacies

Cited by 18 publications

References 23 publications

Exploring Pharmacy Technician Roles in the Implementation of an Appointment-Based Medication Synchronization Program

Exploring Pharmacy Technician Roles in the Implementation of an Appointment-Based Medication Synchronization Program

Retrospective analysis of drug therapy problems identified with a telephonic appointment-based model of medication synchronization

Pilot and Feasibility of Combining a Medication Adherence Intervention and Group Diabetes Education for Patients with Type-2 Diabetes

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