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. 2023 Jun 7:10:20543581231177840.
doi: 10.1177/20543581231177840. eCollection 2023.

Structure and Function of a Provincial Renal Pharmacy Program: Applying the Chronic Care Model to Address Equitable Access to Medication and Pharmacy Services

Elnaz Roohi  1 , Clifford Lo  2   3 , Dan Martinusen  2   3   4 , Adeera Levin  2   5
Affiliations

Structure and Function of a Provincial Renal Pharmacy Program: Applying the Chronic Care Model to Address Equitable Access to Medication and Pharmacy Services

Elnaz Roohi et al. Can J Kidney Health Dis. .

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: We described the rationale, structure, design, and components of a provincial pharmacy services network for patients with kidney disease as a model for enabling equitable access and universal care to pharmacy services and medications across a wide range of clinical conditions, and geographic expanse in British Columbia (BC).

Sources of information: These include minutes from 53 Pharmacy Services and Formulary (PS&F) Committee meetings held from 1999 to November 2022, documentation available on the British Columbia Renal (BCR) website, direct observation and participation in committee meetings, as well as interviews with key individuals involved in different aspects of the program.

Methods: We reviewed documents and data describing the evolution, rationale, and functioning of the BCR provincial pharmacy services system and used a variety of sources as mentioned above. In addition, a qualitative thematic synthesis of reports of chronic care models (CCMs) was conducted to map the program components into the chronic disease management models.

Key findings: The components of the provincial pharmacy program (PPP) include (1) a PS&F committee, with interdisciplinary and geographical representation; (2) a community of dispensing pharmacies with standardized protocols and information; (3) a dedicated medication and pharmacy services budget, and regular evaluation of budget, outcomes, and performance; (4) provincial contracts for specific medications; (5) communication and education; and (6) information management system. Program components are described in the context of chronic disease management models. The PPP includes dedicated formularies for people with kidney disease at different points in the disease trajectory, including those on and off dialysis. Equitable access to medications is supported across the province. All medications and counseling services are provided to all patients registered in the program, through a robust distributed model, including community- and hospital-based pharmacies. Provincial contracts managed centrally ensure best economic value, and centralized education and accountability structures ensure sustainability.

Limitations: Limitations of the current report include lack of formal evaluation of the program on patient outcomes, but this is relative as the intention of this article is to describe the program which has existed for over 20 years and is fully functional. Formal evaluation of a complex system would include by costs, cost avoidance, provider, and patients' satisfaction. We are developing a formal plan for this reason.

Implications: The PPP is embedded in the provincial infrastructure of BCR and enables the provision of essential medications and pharmacy services for patients with kidney disease throughout the spectrum. The leveraging of local and provincial resources, knowledge, and expertise to implement a comprehensive PPP, ensures transparency and accountability and may serve as a model for other jurisdictions.

Contexte: Nous avons décrit la raison d’être, la structure, la conception et les composantes d’un réseau provincial de services en pharmacie pour les patients atteints d’insuffisance rénale comme un modèle permettant des soins universels et un accès équitable aux services pharmaceutiques et aux médicaments dans un large éventail de conditions cliniques et d’étendues géographiques en Colombie-Britannique (C.-B.).

Sources: Les procès-verbaux de 53 réunions du Pharmacy Services and Formulary Committee tenues entre 1999 et novembre 2022, la documentation disponible sur le site BC Renal, l’observation directe et la participation aux réunions du comité, ainsi que les entretiens avec des personnes clés impliquées dans différents aspects du program.

Méthodologie: Nous avons examiné les documents et les données décrivant l’évolution, la raison d’être et le fonctionnement du système provincial de services pharmaceutiques BC Renal et nous avons utilisé diverses sources, comme mentionné ci-dessus. Une synthèse thématique qualitative des rapports sur les modèles de soins chroniques (MSC) a également été réalisée afin d’intégrer les composantes du program aux modèles de gestion des maladies chroniques.

Principaux résultats: Les composantes du program provincial de pharmacie (PPP) comprennent: 1) un comité des services pharmaceutiques et des listes de médicaments, avec une représentation interdisciplinaire et géographique; 2) une communauté de pharmacies d’officine disposant de protocoles et de renseignements normalisés; 3) un budget dédié aux médicaments et aux services pharmaceutiques, ainsi qu’une évaluation régulière du budget, des résultats et du rendement; 4) des contrats provinciaux pour certains médicaments particuliers; 5) des structures de communication et d’éducation; et 6) un système de gestion de l’information. Les composantes du program sont décrites dans le contexte des modèles de gestion des maladies chroniques. Le PPP comprend des formulaires dédiés pour les personnes atteintes d’insuffisance rénale à différents points de la trajectoire de la maladie, qui sont sous dialyze ou non. Un accès équitable aux médicaments est assuré dans toute la province. Tous les médicaments et les services de conseil sont fournis à tous les patients inscrits au program, par le biais d’un robuste modèle de distribution, comprenant des pharmacies communautaires et hospitalières. Des contrats provinciaux gérés de façon centralisée assurent la meilleure valeur économique, et les structures centralisées d’éducation et de responsabilisation assurent la durabilité.

Limites: L’absence d’évaluation formelle du program sur les résultats des patients, bien que cela soit relatif puisque l’intention de cet article est de décrire un program pleinement fonctionnel qui existe depuis plus de 20 ans. L’évaluation formelle d’un système complexe porterait sur les coûts, les économies de coûts, la satisfaction des prestataires et des patients. Nous sommes en processus d’élaboration d’un plan formel.

Résultats: Le PPP est intégré à l’infrastructure provinciale BC Renal et permet la fourniture de médicaments et de services pharmaceutiques essentiels aux patients atteints de l’ensemble du specter de l’insuffisance rénale. L’exploitation des ressources, des connaissances et de l’expertise locales et provinciales pour mettre en œuvre un PPP complet garantit la transparence et la responsabilisation, et peut servir de modèle à d’autres administrations.

Keywords: Health services research; chronic care management model; chronic kidney disease (CKD); provincial health services authority; provincial pharmacy services program.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: AL is the Executive Director of BCR and DM is Chair of Pharmacy Services and Formulary Committee, and receive funding for those positions.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Components of the British Columbia’s pharmacy services program for kidney patients.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Elements of Wagner’s chronic care model (Wagner, 1999).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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