TY - JOUR

T1 - How Clinical Integration of Pharmacists in General Practice has Impact on Medication Therapy Management

T2 - A Theory-oriented Evaluation

AU - Hazen, Ankie C M

AU - de Bont, AA

AU - Leendertse, A. J.

AU - Zwart , DLM

AU - de Wit, NJ

AU - de Gier, Johan

AU - Bouvy, Marcel L.

PY - 2019/1/2

Y1 - 2019/1/2

N2 - Background: Data on medication-related hospital admissions suggest that there is an opportunity for improved pharmaceutical care. Hence, concerns about medication-related hospital admissions is a driver to extend and integrate the role of community pharmacists in general practice.Aim: The aim of this paper is to give a systematic description of 1) what integrating a non-dispensing pharmacist (NDP) in general practice entails and 2) how this integrated care model is expected to contribute to patients’ medication therapy management.Methods: Based on ethnographic data collected by NDPs in general practices in the Netherlands, we conducted a theory evaluation.Results: The impact of NDPs providing integrated care can be explained by 1) the specific expertise NDPs bring into general practice and the tailored solutions they offer for individual patients, including deviation from medical protocols when necessary, 2) the reconciliation of interprofessional tensions caused by overlapping tasks with practice nurses, which results in a distinct patient population, 3) the conduct of clinical medication reviews aligned to the work processes of the GP practice and 4) the integration of quality management work into clinical work.Conclusion: The success of integrated pharmaceutical care is dependent on how NDPs collaborate with GPs and practice nurses. NDPs need to mobilize clinical pharmaceutical expertise into general practice. Yet, integrating quality management into clinical work is key to integrate pharmaceutical care. Paradoxically, full integration requires from NDPs to develop a distinct role in general practice.

AB - Background: Data on medication-related hospital admissions suggest that there is an opportunity for improved pharmaceutical care. Hence, concerns about medication-related hospital admissions is a driver to extend and integrate the role of community pharmacists in general practice.Aim: The aim of this paper is to give a systematic description of 1) what integrating a non-dispensing pharmacist (NDP) in general practice entails and 2) how this integrated care model is expected to contribute to patients’ medication therapy management.Methods: Based on ethnographic data collected by NDPs in general practices in the Netherlands, we conducted a theory evaluation.Results: The impact of NDPs providing integrated care can be explained by 1) the specific expertise NDPs bring into general practice and the tailored solutions they offer for individual patients, including deviation from medical protocols when necessary, 2) the reconciliation of interprofessional tensions caused by overlapping tasks with practice nurses, which results in a distinct patient population, 3) the conduct of clinical medication reviews aligned to the work processes of the GP practice and 4) the integration of quality management work into clinical work.Conclusion: The success of integrated pharmaceutical care is dependent on how NDPs collaborate with GPs and practice nurses. NDPs need to mobilize clinical pharmaceutical expertise into general practice. Yet, integrating quality management into clinical work is key to integrate pharmaceutical care. Paradoxically, full integration requires from NDPs to develop a distinct role in general practice.

KW - clinical pharmacist

KW - integrated care

KW - new roles

KW - primary care

KW - medication review

KW - CONTROLLED-TRIAL

KW - HEALTH-CARE

KW - COLLABORATION

KW - ORGANIZATION

KW - MEDICINE

U2 - 10.5334/ijic.3291

DO - 10.5334/ijic.3291

M3 - Article

C2 - 30622451

VL - 19

JO - International Journal of Integrated Care

JF - International Journal of Integrated Care

SN - 1568-4156

IS - 1

M1 - 8

ER -