The pharmacist as a public health resource: Expanding telepharmacy services to address social determinants of health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID
Medication management
Social determinants of health
Telehealth
Telepharmacy
Journal
Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy
ISSN: 2667-2766
Titre abrégé: Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9918266300706676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2021
Jun 2021
Historique:
received:
04
03
2021
revised:
01
06
2021
accepted:
02
06
2021
entrez:
28
4
2022
pubmed:
29
4
2022
medline:
29
4
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The advent of COVID-19 exacerbated the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on patients' ability to manage their health, especially those with chronic conditions. Clinical pharmacists are well positioned to expand the patient care services they already provide to address patients' basic social needs, which may otherwise impede medication access and adherence. The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate the feasibility of expanding a comprehensive medication management (CMM) telepharmacy service to include SDOH support. This service was offered as part of four primary care clinics in rural and underserved North Carolina communities. More specifically, the study aimed to describe the expanded service, evaluate stakeholders' experience with the service, and assess short-term impact on patients with diabetes. Data collected over the first 4 months of implementation included administrative data used to describe the expanded service; a clinic survey and interviews to assess clinic team members' experience with the service; and patient surveys to evaluate patient satisfaction, as well as impact on SDOH self-efficacy and diabetes quality of life. Through SDOH screening, the pharmacist identified 26 unresolved COVID-prompted SDOH concerns across 66 patients. These concerns were addressed by the pharmacist through three types of brief interventions, including information provision/education (71%), access to resources (21%), and additional care coordination (7%). Clinic team members perceived the expanded service as highly satisfactory and beneficial These data provide preliminary insights into the expanded role that pharmacists can play to address current population health gaps that can directly impact patients' engagement with their medication regimen and overall health status.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
The advent of COVID-19 exacerbated the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on patients' ability to manage their health, especially those with chronic conditions. Clinical pharmacists are well positioned to expand the patient care services they already provide to address patients' basic social needs, which may otherwise impede medication access and adherence.
Objectives
UNASSIGNED
The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate the feasibility of expanding a comprehensive medication management (CMM) telepharmacy service to include SDOH support. This service was offered as part of four primary care clinics in rural and underserved North Carolina communities. More specifically, the study aimed to describe the expanded service, evaluate stakeholders' experience with the service, and assess short-term impact on patients with diabetes.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
Data collected over the first 4 months of implementation included administrative data used to describe the expanded service; a clinic survey and interviews to assess clinic team members' experience with the service; and patient surveys to evaluate patient satisfaction, as well as impact on SDOH self-efficacy and diabetes quality of life.
Results
UNASSIGNED
Through SDOH screening, the pharmacist identified 26 unresolved COVID-prompted SDOH concerns across 66 patients. These concerns were addressed by the pharmacist through three types of brief interventions, including information provision/education (71%), access to resources (21%), and additional care coordination (7%). Clinic team members perceived the expanded service as highly satisfactory and beneficial
Conclusion
UNASSIGNED
These data provide preliminary insights into the expanded role that pharmacists can play to address current population health gaps that can directly impact patients' engagement with their medication regimen and overall health status.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35481124
doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2021.100032
pii: S2667-2766(21)00032-9
pmc: PMC9030317
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
100032Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Funding sources are reported above.
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