When it comes to integrating new services into the operations of community pharmacies there are bound to be some obstacl

There is room for improvement in the business model, the level of buy-in from the health care team, the level of patient engagement, and the technology.

 

Medication therapy management, also known as MTM, must comply with standards that were established by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. These standards apply to Medicare recipients who are eligible to receive MTM services. These prerequisites are specified within Medicare Part D, which is a component of the Medicare program.1

Because of this, pharmacists have been given the opportunity to take on increasingly important roles in the care that patients receive. In 2018, approximately sixty-five percent of plans reported using community pharmacists for patient care through the use of vendor contracts.2,3However, there are challenges that need to be surmounted before MTM services can be successfully integrated into the workflow of community pharmacies.

Conquering the Obstacles That Life Throws at You

According to the findings of one cross-sectional study based on a random sample of Medicare beneficiary enrollment data evaluating 2014 Part D MTM files, community pharmacists provided more medication therapy problem (MTP) recommendations (P.001) but resolved fewer MTPs than those provided by non-community pharmacists (such as MTM vendor in-house pharmacists or Medicare Part D plan pharmacists). This was determined by comparing the number of MTPs resolved by community pharmacists to those provided by non-community pharmacists after conducting an analysis of the data provided in the 2014 Part D MTM files, cmm services we came to this conclusion.2. The evidence that is currently available suggests that some of the challenges that must be surmounted in order to successfully implement MTM services in a community practice setting include the following: difficulties in the business model; difficulties in incorporating programs within the health care team; difficulties in integrating into the workflow of the pharmacy; a lack of patient engagement; and difficulties in adapting to changes in technological innovation (Figure 2-5). 3.

There is a challenge involved in training personnel, there is an insufficient amount of dedicated physical space available to carry out consultations, and there is a shortage of time. These are the obstacles that must be overcome in order to successfully integrate MTM services into the workflow of the pharmacy.2,3Because pharmacists have many responsibilities, including the administration of immunizations and the dispensing of medications, busy chain pharmacies may have difficulty implementing MTM services due to the high volume of their daily operations. This is because of the many responsibilities that pharmacists have. According to the evidence that is currently available, having access to technology is an essential component of MTM services. This is particularly true for the purpose of reviewing electronic medical records. Because the vast majority of MTM providers rely on web-based software for documentation and billing, the participation of trained pharmacy technicians in this process is an absolute requirement. The results of another study uncovered the obstacles that need to be conquered and the strategies that need to be implemented in order to successfully implement a web-based medication management application in community pharmacies.4Additionally, the findings of the study demonstrated that leadership training, computer literacy training, and clinical training all played a role in making it easier to implement a web-based program into a practice setting.

This was demonstrated by the fact that all three types of training were included in the training that participants received.4On the other hand, staff members' and providers' unwillingness to change their ways and share data were considered to be obstacles in the way of the implementation of the technology.4

Another obstacle is the patients' apparent lack of interest in receiving MTM services.3In addition, the vast majority of patients are under the impression that clinical training for pharmacists consists of nothing more than the distribution of various medications.3Patients will benefit if their pharmacists develop a standardized method for providing MTM services and understand their CMM Inspection Companies in the process. This will also help pharmacists better serve their patients. Cmm services is possible for physicians and pharmacists to successfully collaborate on the management of drug therapies in order to improve the quality of patient care and the communication between the two professions.3The findings of a third study demonstrated that there was a significant rise (P.001) in the proportion of patients who finished the MTM after an educational intervention was carried out in community pharmacies.5

More than 600 pharmacist practitioners and program directors who participated in the survey and provided responses expressed their belief that comprehensive medication management (CMM) services make it possible for health care organizations to achieve clinician satisfaction, cost savings, improved outcomes, and patient satisfaction, as stated in the findings of a report that was compiled by Health2 Resources.6

The CMM approach prioritizes clinical, patient, and individual goals in equal measure with the intention of achieving superior health outcomes.6The CMM was carried out without a hitch by both Goodrich Pharmacy, a privately owned pharmacy with a location in Anoka, Minnesota, and HealthPartners.6HealthPartners has been the party responsible for footing the bill for CMM services ever since the year 2006.6At the time of publication, the Goodrich Pharmacy had approximately 900 different patients and used CMM with 18 different pharmacists working across 7 locations.6

To Put It in the Author's Own Words
Jennifer Gershman is a contributor to Pharmacy Times® and works as a pharmacist specializing in drug information. She currently resides in South Florida, where she earned her PharmD, CPh, and PACS certifications, and she is a pharmacist.