Understanding awareness of pharmacist-led medication therapy management among primary care physicians in New York City using qualitative methods: part I

Abstract

Pharmacist-led medication therapy management (MTM) programs have been shown to be an effective method of optimizing patient therapy for multiple disease states through improved clinical outcomes and decreased healthcare costs. Physicians have recognized pharmacists' ability to identify and prevent prescription errors, and educate patients about safe and appropriate medication use. Pharmacist interventions may help ease the burden of chronic disease among primary care providers and pave the way for a team-based approach in caring for underserved patients with heavy disease burdens. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene performed a qualitative study to obtain a better understanding of the perceptions related to pharmacist-led MTM programs among primary care physicians in New York City. Key findings from our study suggest that educating physicians on MTM and the role of pharmacists in the healthcare team is crucial to building trusting relationships for collaborative patient care. Key concerns among physicians included demonstrated pharmacist competency, integration of documentation systems, impact on workload, and effective collaboration between physicians and pharmacists. In this article, we describe our study rationale, design, and preliminary findings. A more detailed report and potential impact of our findings will be provided in Part II of this article.