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Hussain A, Bowen AM. Exploring Pharmacist Roles in Telepharmacy for Chronic Disease Management in New York State: A Qualitative Inquiry into Improving Implementation, Patient Communication, and Healthcare Technology Support. Cureus 2024; 16:e62982. [PMID: 39044868 PMCID: PMC11265808 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.62982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This qualitative study aimed to collect information regarding pharmacists' roles in telepharmacy and chronic disease management (CDM). The literature review was conducted on historical overview, CDM overview, social determinants of health (SDOH), disparities, hospital readmissions, adverse drug events, best practices, and global implications of telepharmacy. Materials and methods Eleven licensed pharmacists from New York working in retail or hospital settings were interviewed using 16 questions. The interview covered topics such as CDM, hospital readmissions, adverse drug events, best practices, SDOH, and health disparities. The recordings of these interviews were transcribed and coded for each open-ended question, resulting in 136 different codes. Results According to the comprehensive review of interview transcripts, there is still an urgent need for communication between healthcare providers and patients, pharmacist training for telepharmacy services and SDOH, and healthcare technology support. CDM can be advanced by pharmacists by understanding patient barriers, SDOHs, health disparities, and pill burdens, as well as incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Pharmacists must facilitate open communication, overcome technological barriers, seek support from stakeholders for telepharmacy training, and integrate new mobile applications to improve telepharmacy implementation and operations for providing interventions. Conclusion The research provides insights into the comprehensive impact of telepharmacy on healthcare delivery and its potential to transform CDM. With the expansion of telepharmacy, individuals living with chronic diseases can experience improved medication adherence and overall health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azhar Hussain
- Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Touro University College of Pharmacy, New York, USA
| | - Alyncia M Bowen
- Healthcare Administration, Franklin University, Columbus, USA
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Thai T, Plotke M, Downing G, Olmsted E, Cook B, Jafri FN. Telehealth Pharmacist Approach to Comprehensive Medication Management in Post-Discharge High-Risk Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Telemed J E Health 2024; 30:976-986. [PMID: 37976134 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2023.0239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Clinical Pharmacist-led Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) has the potential to mitigate medication errors during transitions in care, but current evidence is underdeveloped. The objective of this work was to assess the impact of optimized CMM services through a telehealth pharmacist clinic on hospital readmission and Emergency Department (ED) utilization rates. Methods: A quality improvement study with patients discharged home from an urban, nonacademic Hospital in Westchester County, New York, receiving telehealth CMM was used. Participants included adult patients discharged home from an internal medicine unit considered high risk for preventable adverse medication errors based on comorbidities and prescribed medications. Eligible patients were offered to enroll in telehealth CMM visits with a clinical pharmacist immediately, 30 days, and 60 days post-discharge versus the current standard of care. Results: Primary outcomes included the impact on 30- and 90-day readmission and ED visit rates. Secondary outcomes included quantifying the outcomes on patient engagement, enrollment, and volume resulting from the program's process improvements. In this study, 3,060 patients were discharged from June 14, 2021, to May 10, 2022; 1,547 were eligible and offered CMM visits, and 889 completed enrollment (Treated). There was a 2.1% absolute difference in 30-day readmission rates between untreated and attempted (p = 0.07), and a 2.9% difference between the untreated and treated group (p = 0.04). Thirty-day ED utilization decreased by 1.6% between untreated and attempted (p = 0.3), and 3.5% between the untreated and treated (p = 0.03). There were four Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles in this program, in which the process improvements resulted in an overall average increase in patient volume, enrollment rates, and patient engagement for this QI initiative. Conclusions: This study yielded significant reductions in readmission and ED utilization rates among treated patients, highlighting successful process improvements that improved patient engagement and the potential for enhancing care coordination in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tram Thai
- Cureatr Clinic, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Greg Downing
- Cureatr Clinic, New York, New York, USA
- School of Health, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | - Brennan Cook
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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Expanding comprehensive medication management considerations to include responses to the social determinants of health within the
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Helping Build Healthy Communities Program. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CLINICAL PHARMACY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jac5.1679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Muhammad K, Baraka MA, Shah SS, Butt MH, Wali H, Saqlain M, Mallhi TH, Hayat K, Fahelelbom KM, Joseph R, Khan YH. Exploring the perception and readiness of Pharmacists towards telepharmacy implementation; a cross sectional analysis. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13296. [PMID: 35637711 PMCID: PMC9147315 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Amid the turbulent nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, telepharmacy has shifted the paradigm of patient care by leveraging digital medicine. Government mandated lockdowns and norms of social distancing have further underscored the need for telepharmacy. Many developed and developing countries implemented such initiatives where pharmacists have provided tele-pharmacy services via telecommunications. However, the implementation and utilization of tele-pharmacy services are quite negligible in resource limited settings due to financial and administrative constraints. This study was aimed to ascertain the perception and readiness of pharmacists working in various sectors of a resource limiting country. Methodology A cross sectional study was carried out in all provinces of Pakistan to explore the perceptions of pharmacists towards telepharmacy implementation through a 35-items study instrument. The collected data was analyzed descriptively and scored accordingly. The chi-square test was used for inferential analysis on pharmacist's perception regarding implementation of tele-pharmacy with their demographics. Results Of 380 pharmacists, the mean age is 27.67 ± 3.67 years with a preponderance of male pharmacists (n = 238, 62.6%). The pharmacists (n = 321, 84.5%) perceived that telepharmacy implementation improves patient's quality of life and decreases patients' visits (n = 291, 76.6%). Overall, pharmacists (n = 227, 59.7%) had negative perception towards benefits of telepharmacy implementation, but pharmacists had positive perception towards eligibility (n = 258, 67.9%), regulatory issues (n = 271, 71.3%) and telepharmacy during pandemic and beyond (n = 312, 82.1%). In chi-square testing gender (p = 0.03) and age (p = 0.03) had a significant association with perception regarding regulatory issues. Among perception regarding telepharmacy during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond age had a significant association (p = 0.03). Among perception regarding eligibility job location of pharmacists had significant association (p = 0.04). Conclusion The majority of pharmacists had a positive perception regarding the eligibility of patients and regulatory issues/legal framework regarding the implementation of tele-pharmacy, as well as its use during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The implementation of tele-pharmacy can play a major role in providing timely and better patient care to remote patient areas and may help in the prevention and treatment of different infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khayal Muhammad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Near East University, Northern Cyprus,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Mohamed A. Baraka
- Clinical Pharmacy Program, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr city, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Syed Sikandar Shah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, European University of Lefke, Lefke, Cyprus
| | | | - Haytham Wali
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Saqlain
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Khezar Hayat
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Khairi Mustafa Fahelelbom
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, College of Pharmacy, Al-Ain University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Royes Joseph
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yusra Habib Khan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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