Development & Pilot of the Technology-Enabled Alliance for Medication Therapy Management

Development & Pilot of the Technology-Enabled Alliance for Medication Therapy Management

The investigators will link community pharmacy and primary care practices via a shared electronic health record to improve medication therapy management for older patients taking complex prescription (Rx) regimens. The Technology-Enabled Alliance for Medication Therapy Management (TEAM) intervention will link a major, national community pharmacy chain (Walgreens) to primary care practices (Access Community Health Network) via a shared electronic health record (EHR) platform (Epic, Verona WI). Through shared access to patients' medical records, pharmacists can perform comprehensive medication therapy management services, document and communicate patients' Rx challenges for review and action by primary care providers. The aims of this investigation are to:

1. Evaluate the fidelity and efficacy of the TEAM intervention to promote healthcare provider counseling, medication reconciliation, and safe regimen use among adults taking complex Rx regimens.
2. Explore patient, healthcare provider (pharmacist, prescriber), community pharmacy and/or primary care practice barriers to implementation.
3. Determine the costs of the TEAM intervention from both a community pharmacy and primary care practice perspective.

The investigators will link community pharmacy and primary care practices via a shared electronic health record to improve medication therapy management for older patients taking complex prescription (Rx) regimens. The Technology-Enabled Alliance for Medication Therapy Management (TEAM) intervention will link a major, national community pharmacy chain (Walgreens) to primary care practices (ACCESS community health network) via a shared electronic health record (EHR) platform (Epic, Verona WI). Through shared access to patients' medical records, pharmacists can perform comprehensive medication therapy management services, document and communicate patients' Rx challenges for review and action by primary care providers.

The investigators will conduct a 2-arm pilot to evaluate the efficacy of the TEAM intervention compared to enhanced usual care. The investigators will enroll a total of 120 English and Spanish-speaking patients prescribed five or more chronic medications. Enrolled patients will complete a follow-up interview two months after their baseline interview.

The TEAM intervention enables a pharmacist to help patients on complex Rx regimens via medication reviews by telephone and clinical decision support. Pharmacists will call patients to conduct a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR). Pharmacists will be able to document and communicate patients' medication challenges for review and action by primary care providers. A CMR will:

1. Ensure the primary care physician knows all medications the patient is taking (reconciliation)
2. Investigate if patients are taking medication as prescribed, in a safe manner (proper use)
3. Monitor and detect any drug-related adverse effects (ADEs) (surveillance)
4. Address any questions or concerns patients may have about their medicine (e.g. side effects, treatment alternatives, dietary restrictions, cost, 90 vs. 30 day scripts; education)
5. Inquire about patients' adherence to regimens, what barriers they may experience (e.g. cost, forgetfulness) and if they need assistance (e.g. synchronization requests, pill box or reminder tools, etc.; adherence).

After performing the CMR, the pharmacist will provide timely notifications via secure, EHR-based messaging direct to prescribers of any medication concerns, based on either 1) pharmacy information (e.g. medications ordered by other prescribers, fill data), 2) patient report of problems during phone-based encounters, or 3) pharmacist review of the patient record.

The aims of this investigation are to:

1. Evaluate the fidelity and efficacy of the TEAM intervention to promote healthcare provider counseling, medication reconciliation, and safe regimen use among adults taking complex Rx regimens.
2. Explore patient, healthcare provider (pharmacist, prescriber), community pharmacy and/or primary care practice barriers to implementation.
3. Determine the costs of the TEAM intervention from both a community pharmacy and primary care practice perspective.

1. Patient is age 50 and older
2. Patient is English or Spanish speaking
3. Patient has established care at one of the involved ACCESS health centers (defined as 1 visit within 18 months)
4. Patient is an existing Walgreens customer (had 1 or more medications filled at collocated Walgreens pharmacy within past 12 months)
5. Patient is currently prescribed 5 or more Rx medications (excluding antibiotics); that includes at least one medication from any of the following six therapeutic classes of medications: hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, and HIV
6. Patient is primarily responsible for administering own medication

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe, uncorrectable vision
2. Hearing impairments
3. Cognitive impairment (as measured by the 6-item screener)