Role of Pharmacists in Primary Health Care: Team-Based Approach

University of Minnesota

Summary

Pharmacists are increasingly recognized as a critical component of the primary care team. Previous literature has not clearly established the connection of how pharmacists and comprehensive medication management (CMM) contribute to the recognized foundational elements of primary care.

In this reflection, we examine how CMM provision supports and aligns with Starfield’s 4 Cs of primary care. We illustrate how CMM delivery supports first contact through increased access to providers, continuity across the panel, comprehensiveness in addressing unmet medication needs, and coordination through collaboration with the care team. primary school and the team in general.

CMM provision addresses critical unmet medication-related needs in primary care and is aligned with the fundamental elements of primary care.

There is growing evidence that healthcare provided by teams is superior to services provided by a single physician. Published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine - University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina, American Board of Family Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, researchers compared key elements of a pharmacist’s practice providing comprehensive medication management. medications to the fundamental components defined for primary care.

Based on a common healthcare team framework, the Four Cs of primary care (first contact, continuity, comprehensiveness, and coordination), this team has articulated, for the first time, the impact of comprehensive medication management services provided by pharmacists.

"We continue to see that pharmacists contribute positively to the health of patients and also to the team," said Kylee Funk, associate professor in the College of Pharmacy. "The results of our work demonstrate that pharmacist-led comprehensive medication management supports and aligns with the fundamental elements of primary care. These are important findings as the healthcare community seeks to better integrate pharmacists as key members of an interprofessional team.

They found in their academic commentary that:

Pharmacists support first contact by increasing access to providers. When the pharmacist follows up with the provider’s patients, the provider has more room in their schedule for visits to other patients.
Pharmacists improve continuity by identifying certain groups of patients who would benefit from a visit to the pharmacist. For example, patients with diabetes who do not reach their blood sugar goals.
Pharmacists support primary care providers’ ability to be comprehensive in their care because pharmacists work with patients and providers to optimize the patient’s medication regimen.
Pharmacists improve coordination by collaborating with specialists and others on a patient’s healthcare team around optimizing a patient’s medications.

"Comprehensive medication management is a service that can advance the mission of primary care while improving patient care," Funk added. "As healthcare leaders consider ways to improve practice, greater incorporation of comprehensive medication management should be a key consideration."

Role of Pharmacists in Primary Health Care: Team-Based Approach

A team-based approach to primary health care, involving pharmacists as integral members, enhances patient outcomes and improves healthcare delivery, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in optimizing patient care and medication management.