Limited Time Opportunity To Join The Patient Centric Model—A Synchronized Prescription Refill Pilot Program

Background
The typical pharmacy model has not changed for many years.  The pharmacy is dependent on the patient bringing in their new prescription or calling when and if they remember to get their prescriptions refilled.  The pharmacy staff answers inbound phone calls, contacts physicians, waits for call-backs and then fills prescription orders.  The expectation is that the patient arrives at the pharmacy to pick up their medicines.  This system is both endemic and inefficient.  Patients with multiple prescriptions often call multiple times during the month, which results in inefficiencies for both patients and store operations.  This method of operation is full of “unknowns,” and diminishes the ability of the pharmacy staff to implement efficiencies that would free up valuable time for other pharmacy services.

Introducing The Patient Centric Model (PCM)
The Patient Centric Model (PCM) is a synchronized prescription refill program that allows the pharmacist to take control of his or her practice, ending the “tail wagging the dog” scenario common to community pharmacy practice. The purpose of the program is to improve patients’ medication persistency which could lead to improved health outcomes. The goal is to migrate the patients that are taking multiple, on-going prescriptions for chronic conditions to an appointment-based model.  With the implementation of the program, patients are able to work together with their pharmacy and play a more active role in their own health care. They no longer have to remember to call in chronic prescription refills; they build a relationship with their pharmacy, and save valuable time each month. The pharmacy also benefits as the program improves operational efficiencies such as inventory turnover, inventory on hand and staff satisfaction.

How PCM Works
The PCM program is “opt-in,” so patients are identified by the pharmacy staff.  Ideal patients include those that are on multiple, on-going prescriptions for chronic disease conditions such as diabetes or hypertension. Those patients that agree to participate in the program are assigned an appointment day that is convenient for them, and a list of their chronic medications is compiled.  They will then have refills for their chronic medications “synchronized” to come due on the same day of the month.  Each month, the patient is interviewed by phone about any recent doctor’s appointments, hospitalizations, or changes in medications, and their file is updated.  They are also asked about each medication, and it is determined whether or not they need that medication refilled, and if not, why.  Their medications are then filled and ready to pick up on their appointment day.  Contact with the doctor is done by the pharmacy staff in advance, and patients are notified if for any reason refills are not available.

Benefits
In addition to enhancing pharmacy workflow and inventory efficiencies, the benefits to the pharmacy include the ability to recognize and react to changes in patient therapies and identify medication non-compliance.  By synchronizing patients’ prescription refills, the pharmacy will spend less time reacting to phone calls and last-minute refill requests, and can devote more time to proactively engaging in activities focused on patient care.
For patients, the benefits include greater convenience and less stress from numerous phone calls and trips to the pharmacy, better understanding of their medication therapy, enhanced relationships with their pharmacy team, and improved health outcomes through improved medication persistence.

How To Join The PCM Pilot
Contact:
Patsy Tudor, PCM Project Manager
PCM@naspa.us
Phone:  804-285-4431
Fax:  804-612-6555
You will receive a PCM starter kit that includes:

• PCM Operations Manual
• 50 marketing brochures for promoting the program 
• 25 Patient Enrollment Cards
• Patient Agreement
• PCM Pharmacy and Business Associate Agreements
• CD containing tracking forms, agreements and PDFs of marketing materials

SIGN UP TODAY.  PCM Pilot enrollment ends January 15, 2010.